Relationships | 06/11/2008 10:28 am

Is a New Hymen the New Botox? Among Some Muslim Women, the Answer Is Yes

By The Staff at wowOwow.com

Cosmetic surgery for hymen restoration is becoming more and more popular in European cities where otherwise Westernized, jeans-wearing young Muslim women face the need to become "virgins" before getting married. Some doctors in European cities with larger Muslim populations such as Paris and Frankfurt find they are doing two to four of these operations a week.

The procedure, called a hymenoplasty, is a restoration of the internal tissue that usually "breaks" during a woman’s first sexual encounter. Traditionally in Muslim culture, the virginity of the bride is of great importance to the groom and the groom’s family.

"In my culture, not to be a virgin is to be dirt," a young European Muslim student told The New York Times.

At a time when women in America are debating whether the failure of Hillary Clinton is based on some lingering glass ceiling, it is amazing to hear how complex the issues of love and sex are in cultures so different from ours.

Read more about: Botox, Culture, Health, Muslim, News, Sex, The New York Times

89 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment

I don’t know what we can do about it, but it’s barbaric and should not be tolerated. Even the women in the Muslim families condone it as justice. Can you imagine allowing your husband or sons do this to your daughter(s)? I don’t care what God they worship or what religion they practice-it’s just wrong.

By JJ GB on 06/11/2008 7:44 pm

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I’m with you JJ GB……..Men use religion and culture as an excuse to brutalize woman and children. I can’t believe any God……would want his creations so abused. It’s pure and simply a way to have total control over women. It disturbs me to see women in this Country (who came here for our freedoms) still be under the Yoke of their husbands. Wearing the clothing of their former culture……….This is America. As the saying goes “We’ve come a long way baby” The people who come to this Country bringing their ancient belief’s of control interfere in our belief’s…….which are Freedom to all our Citizens. I see how it is changing the way Americans live and think. It’s disturbing to me. I love that people desire to come to America….and welcome them with open arms……..but when they get here they should be willing to embrace our belief’s of Freedom (other wise, why did they come?) I for one do not want My Country ‘The United States of America’ to allow people who don’t believe in ‘Freedom for all’ to be dictating their belief’s onto me or my family or neighbors. Maybe I’m old fashioned but I see a new way of life emerging that disturbs me. My heart goes out to these women all over the World……..but it especially concerns me when I see it happening here in Our Country. We American Woman have fought long and hard for our Freedoms and rights as Citizens. When women come here from Muslim Country’s I want them to have the same freedoms. Not be slaves to their husbands archic belief systems. I’ll get down off my soap box now………..

By Dona Howlett on 06/11/2008 10:50 pm

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Dona, if you come down off your soap box take off your gloves as well and keep swinging! America can be diverse, yes, but that need not and does not include aprroval of atrocities. Men have no right to continue their ignorant treatment and behavior towards womenand girls!! Gentlenass has its place and typicallly we are the nurturers but my male friends are expected to have a brain and some sense of understanding if they are going to remain engaged in the life of my giirls or me. I demand it from them and by and large they are reasonable. American / western women have such different opportunities, and we’ll assuredly not be able to bomb other societies into awareness, but through the long process of our political freedoms we will represent to the world the true nature of humanity and politics. I hope everyone will read GERALDINE BROOKS “Nine Parts of Desire” very insightful look at the lives of women in islam. She adresses the issue of clitorectomy in Ethiopia. Grand mothers still holding on to the traditional practicesimply because it is the tradition. Male dominance disallowing education for girls. Change must occur and the question is how we can effect a positive result from here??? Slavery still exists throughout Africa as it has for 1000 years. America is truly the best hope. KEEP SWINGING LADIES!!! Cause change ain’t gonna happen without a fight. And why exactly did Nancy Pelosi take impeachment off the table?

By immoddesta godessa on 06/12/2008 10:53 am

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Carol L. You are exactly right. And, in addition to this horror, many young girls, especially in Africa must endure (if they survive) the atrocity of female mutilation. Why, when humans are so advanced in so many ways, does this still occur? I just don’t get it.

By Diana T on 06/11/2008 10:51 pm

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Diana, about 15 years ago, Here in the Bay Area (CA) where I live a young Muslim girl was murdered by her father and brother because they caught her sleeping with her boyfriend. Their defence when taken to trial was it was their custom and they had the right to take her life….Our Courts informed them very quickly their idea of justice didn’t work in this Country……..They were both sentenced to prison. I can’t remember how long their sentence was……..I do remember how outraged our community was when this happened.

By Dona Howlett on 06/12/2008 5:49 am

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I take it that these European Musim women are not planning to marry European Muslim men. Wouldn’t these men know of this practice?

By Harriet C. on 06/11/2008 7:38 pm

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Harriet, This is a cultural issue. Of course European Muslim know about this practice. But, unfortunately, there are those Europeans who still have that mindset about virgins. And, don’t forget: many Saudis, Kuwati men, Jordanese, etc are educated in both the UK and/or the States. While many of them are very Western in their lifestyles, they still resort to the old customs. Not all, of course, but quite a few of them.

By Diana T on 06/11/2008 10:56 pm

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to restore the hymen is a moderate barbarity. to scrape the area till it is all scars is a horrific practice. when will the men of these cultures learn empathy?

By mary lou s on 06/11/2008 9:14 pm

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How can we judge these women for getting hymen restoration when girls in their teens in this country are getting new noses and/or biggerbreasts?

By Laurel Bowman on 06/11/2008 10:52 pm

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Laurel, Because the women getting hymen surgery aren’t doing it out of choice. They are doing it because their whole future depends on being intact for their husband. It can even mean being shunned by their families, or worse, being killed. Bigger noses/breasts are done out of choice. Not always a good choice, but a choice nonetheless.

By Diana T on 06/11/2008 10:59 pm

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Laurel, you cant account for stupidity………

By Dona Howlett on 06/11/2008 11:10 pm

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It is totally beyond me how any woman over 40 is not a feminist.

By Mugsy Peabody on 06/13/2008 2:23 pm

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Mugsy, I understand what you mean. My 19 year-old daughter is a feminist. My mother raised her 5 daughters to be feminists and her 7 granddaughters carry on the beliefs.

By Kathrine Gluvna on 06/16/2008 12:19 pm

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I remember when virginity in this country was highly valued and I’m sixty-four. Our way around it was called “the great American ballet” —everything but penetration. By the time I gave up my virginity, my partner didn’t believe I could be a virgin since I was so experienced in everything else. And I knew American women who got around this in a smarter way. They’d say their gyn broke their hymen so their wedding night wouldn’t be painful. I couldn’t criticize these women; at least they found a way to beat their culture.

By Flora Dora on 06/11/2008 10:59 pm