Key Takeaways:
- The Helen Clark Foundation is calling for better laws to protect victims of sexual violence in New Zealand, including eradicating virginity testing.
- Virginity testing is a harmful practice that involves a physical inspection of a woman’s hymen to determine if she is a virgin.
- The practice is not illegal in New Zealand, but the UN has called on governments to ban it and carry out awareness campaigns.
- A proposed bill seeks to amend the Crimes Act to criminalize virginity testing and related practices.
- Education and consultation with communities that may be practicing virginity testing are crucial to addressing the issue.
Introduction to Virginity Testing
The Helen Clark Foundation is urging for urgent law changes to better protect victims of sexual violence and reduce offending rates in New Zealand. One of the key areas of concern is the practice of virginity testing, which involves a physical inspection of a woman’s hymen to determine if she is a virgin. Researchers say that this practice is happening in New Zealand and is causing harm to women. The foundation’s report, Addressing Sexual Violence in New Zealand, makes several recommendations, including adopting a clearer definition of consent in law, banning sexually explicit deepfake abuse, and eradicating virginity testing.
The Harmful Effects of Virginity Testing
Researcher Sophia Harré notes that the extent of virginity testing in New Zealand is unknown, but it is believed to be happening in some communities. The practice is damaging, especially in cases involving sexual assault, and can have significant impacts on a woman’s position in society, relationships, education, and career opportunities. Virginity testing is based on myths around the hymen, which is believed to bleed or be damaged when sexual contact occurs. However, this is not the case, and the practice is a form of violence against women. Harré emphasizes the need for education and awareness to address the issue, as well as legislation to ban virginity testing.
The Current State of Virginity Testing in New Zealand
Virginity testing is not currently illegal in New Zealand, but the UN has called on governments to ban the practice altogether and carry out awareness campaigns. The Helen Clark Foundation’s report recommends several steps to address the issue, including improved education for medical practitioners and legal professionals, research to inform community-led interventions, and legislation to ban virginity testing. Labour’s Priyanca Radhakrishnan has lodged a members’ bill that seeks to amend the Crimes Act to criminalize virginity testing and related practices, such as hymenoplasty. However, Harré notes that education and consultation with communities that may be practicing virginity testing are crucial to addressing the issue, as simply banning the practice without proper consultation could drive it further underground.
The Importance of Education and Awareness
Auckland clinical nurse specialist in family violence, Kathy Lowe, has been educating medical professionals and communities about virginity testing for 30 years. She emphasizes that virginity testing is a human rights issue, not just a women’s issue, and that it affects both men and women. Lowe notes that the hymen is not a skin or membrane, but rather a collar of stretchy tissue at the entrance of the vagina, and that it is not possible to tell by looking at a hymen whether someone has had sex. She also notes that the practice of hymenoplasty, which involves stitching the edges of the hymen together to make it appear intact, is also harmful and unnecessary. Lowe emphasizes the need for education and awareness to address the myths and misconceptions surrounding virginity and the hymen.
The Need for Legislative Action
The proposed bill to amend the Crimes Act to criminalize virginity testing and related practices is a step in the right direction. However, it is crucial that education and consultation with communities that may be practicing virginity testing are prioritized to ensure that the issue is addressed in a culturally sensitive and effective manner. The Helen Clark Foundation’s report emphasizes the need for a comprehensive approach to addressing sexual violence in New Zealand, including legislative action, education, and awareness. By working together, it is possible to eradicate virginity testing and other harmful practices that perpetuate violence against women and girls.
