I say more power to them. If a hymen is what these guys want and the ladies have found a way to hand over the illusion in style I applaud them.

At a time when I was sure only cobwebs were inhabiting that area (for me) …here comes new hope…………..I will try it in my the next life. If men like to be fooled with false breast then let them be fooled by this too.

When Japanese women still held value as reliable sexual and relationship partners, hymenoplasties were common. Beats me why feminism is so celebrated. Perhaps feminism was really a male plot to give us the best of all possible worlds with getting sex as easy as pie and being no longer responsible for supporting the family. For women to throw away the power of chastity and the assumed right to be supported is as irrational as me giving up living on stocks dividends to return to work like a dog. Feminism is all about criticism rather than critical thinking.

As a Western woman, I am horrified by the thought of this procedure, but I think I understand the rationale behind it. During the 70s and 80s I taught students from all parts of the Middle East. The majority were men, but it was my women students who were most interesting for their ability to live two lives, seemingly without difficulty. Because they had separate classes, they spoke frankly to me about their homes, their marriages, and their aspirations. There was the world of the expected…virginity before marriage was of upmost importance; arranged marriages were the norm; walking a few paces behind one’s husband was natural; cooking lavish meals and eating in the kitchen while one’s husband and his friends enjoyed the food in another room was what one did. These and other cultural customs and mores that were so different from mine and were sometimes offensive to me were the topics of our long, fascinating conversations. Their “other” lives included wearing the lastest designer clothing under their abayas, conversing openly (to me) and often with contempt about the way they were treated in their marriages; pouring through magazines to find the latest news about celebrities; and asking me numerous - sometimes embarrassing- questions about American women’s views on sex. They were devout Muslims, obedient wives, wonderful mothers, and hilariously funny women. They appreciated the familial custom that allowed them to spend most of their time together…they were their own support groups, and, surprisingly, they had no desire to drive cars because they enjoyed being ferried around. Despite our cultural differences, we decided that, as women, we had enough in common that we could be friends. These women were a gift to me and often helped me to understand why the Middle Eastern men in my classes found it so difficult to have a woman instructor. All of this experience was instructive, and I can fully understand that even the appearance of virginity is so important that the pain from the surgery would be worth it for some Muslim women.

I’ve read that more and more; ingenuity and the human spirit will get around more situations! Marjane Satrapi’s third book, Threads, I believe deals with that. She’s wonderful. More power to these women! I also realize that for some women their lives are at stake. This procedure saves them!