Virgin Values: Wondering When Women Will Ever Get Even…

I happen to be a very big fan of the royal family, from the Kings and Queens of medieval times, to William and Kate in the present, I am relatively fascinated by those seated in the monarchy. I was one of the millions of devoted followers to watch the “Wedding of the Century” on television last April, and as the one year anniversary approaches, I can’t help but consider the pressures Kate has to deal with as a newly minted royal. One aspect that I’ve paid particular attention to is the discussion of her virginity.

Diana was selected at age 19 to become the next “breeding machine” as she would call it, because she was a virgin from nobility. We all saw what happened to that marriage… it literally destroyed her. However, as the next generation comes to the throne the topic of the future queen’s sexual past has been under much speculation and investigation, and I can’t help but find it all ridiculous. A much more experienced bride of 29, Kate has lived in a time and place much different. The world has adapted and science has evolved, but it seems that age-old ideals have not. While I respect the traditions rooted in the monarchy that stem back to the Victorian era and beyond, it remains quite obvious that  the evolution towards equality is still up for deliberation. I personally find it outrageous that the Duchess’ sexual history is discussed as a critical factor, while her husband’s past is virtually irrelevant. No one cares if he’s a virgin, no one’s bothered if he’s been seen out in public kissing many women in his college years, no one’s perturbed by the idea of him having many drunken nights out at various clubs in London. And they shouldn’t be.

He’s a young human being like the rest of us, who has every right to experience, whether it be physical, sexual or drinkable. But why then, is it so difficult for Kate? Why must she be scrutinized, and maintain the highest sense of discretion for fear of being portrayed inappropriately in tabloids? Why would the public see her as a slut if she would reveal her sexual history? Why is she supposed to be a pristine little being of ultimate purity, while her spouse is held to much lesser standards? It’s not only the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge who represent this disconnect in gender roles, we see it every single day. In comments such as “it’s different for a woman” or “I have a low number” are all ways that women are held within the narrow boundaries of a world that views their sexuality much harsher than it does a man’s. Women, while more liberated than before, still have to defend their choices to be sexual, to avoid being cast as a whore who no longer has any  value associated with her, or her body. In a collegiate environment, we see this issue on a weekly basis, as so many guys go out, get drunk, and can openly (and proudly) announce how much action they saw that weekend. Yet if a girl was to replicate this pattern, her peers would think quite the opposite of her than they do her male counterpart. She becomes a lowly individual, who’s undesirable and used up.

It’s sad, when we think about how hard we are still fighting for reproductive justice, and how simple it still is for jerks like Rush Limbaugh to make comments that only prostitutes need birth control paid for by the healthcare system. In these “effortless” remarks Rush is chopping down ALL women’s rights to a sexually fulfilled life by referring to them as hookers who are milking the system for an act so “wrong.” Despite the fact that he’s on his fourth wife, and seems to have been around the block a fair share of times (although that thought is rather repulsive) he feels perfectly entitled, (probably because he’s well supported) to make such hypocritical statements on national radio. It must end here. Women are so much better than anything Rush Limbaugh can think to describe, and it’s about time we cut out the stereotypes once and for all, except, wait… let’s keep one about old impotent men. If you can dish it out, you better take it Rush!