Final Ant39 Virginity Testing South Africa1

Virginity Testing in South Africa By : Erica M. Berkowitz

Zulu warriors (late 19th Century) ,[object Object],[object Object]

Flag of South Africa ,[object Object]

What is Virginity Testing? ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

The Hymen ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

The original use of Virginity Testing ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

Virginity testing today in South Africa ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],Before testing, mud is applied to body

These Virginity tests raise such questions as: ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

Who does the Virginity testing? ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],Photo of a tester

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“ We don’t force them,” a tester said, as the girls lined up. “The girls want to protect themselves.” A few girls attributed the turnout..57 in all, aged five to 24..to parental pressure. Many others said they enjoyed the camaraderie and took pride in the ritual. ,[object Object]

Boys are also tested by examining the penis. A hard foreskin is a sign of purity. The boys are instructed to urinate through a wire (which is placed between two trees three feet off the ground) without using their hands. If they urinate in a straight line, they are virgins. They also test boys by having them urinate in the sand. A virgin makes a straight hole. However, it is mostly girls that are tests and expected to remain “pure” until marriage.

The Virginity Test as a means for celebration ,[object Object],[object Object]

Prizes For Virginity The result of the test is proclaimed on the spot with some virgins receiving documents certifying their status. Having passed the test, the girls are free to take part in “Umhlana”, the annual reed dance ceremony celebrating virginity.

New Uses for Condoms ,[object Object]

Politics and Virginity Testing ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],Jacob Zuma

The Children’s Rights Bill This Bill was passed in July of 2005 by the National Assembly but awaits approval from the National Council of Provinces, bans virginity testing, saying it violates the human rights of girls. ,[object Object],More than 300 virgins march in protest in Pietermaritzburg in July against the passing of the Childrens Bill approved by the National Assembly .

The Children’s Rights Bill ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

Recommendations for The Bill ,[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]

Are Virginity Tests Useful? ,[object Object],[object Object]

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Bibliography SA Leader urges virginity tests. BBC News [online] September 23,2004. Available from: http://news. bbc .co.uk/2/hi/africa/3683210. stm [cited 19 May 2007]. Whitty,K., 2005. Virginity testing-have your say. Lifestyle iafrica.com [online] August 4,2005. Available from: http://lifestyle. iafrica .com/herlife/womansday/469224. htm [cited 20 May 2007]. LaFraniere,S.,2006. Tradition binds African women, despite laws. International Herald Tribune [online] January 1,2006. Available from: http://www. iht .com/articles/2005/12/30/news/women. php [cited 20 May 2007].

Elmendorp, E.,PHOTOGRAPHS:African Culture and Equal Rights. The New York Times [online] Available from : http://query. nytimes .com/search/query? query=zulu +virginity+testing& srchst=nyt [cited 20 May 2007]. Kinoti,K.,2005.Virginity Testing and the War against AIDS. AWID August 12,2005. Available from: www.awid.org/go.php?stid=1515 [cited 20 May 2007]. 2005. SA to ban virginity testing. News 24.com December 12, 2005. Available from: http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/Politics/0 ,,2-7-12_1850099,00.html [cited 20 May 2007].

SA Places-South African Places CC. Available from: http://www.places.co.za/maps/kwazulu_natal_map.html [cited 20 May 2007]. Zulu-Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Available from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zulu [cited 20 May 2007].

Final Ant39 Virginity Testing South Africa1

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