Czy dziewictwo może być problemem? Wizyty ginekologiczne osób nieaktywnych seksualnie z perspektywy socjologicznej
Can Virginity Be a Problem? Gynecological Appointments of Sexually-Inactive Persons from the Sociological Perspective

Summary/Abstract: A gynecological appointment begins with an interview in which a question about sexual initiation is asked. The patient’s response determines the course of the appointment. The article shows how different strategies are adopted by doctors of gynecology when a so-called virgin comes for an appointment. Individual in-depth interviews (with 11 persons) and statements in online forums were qualitatively analyzed. Strategies for examining virgins adopted by doctors contradict scientific knowledge about the hymen, as well as recommendations toward the first gynecological appointment. One of the recurring experiences of sexually-inactive patients is that examinations are limited to taking only a medical interview. This article shows that virginity is, therefore, valued and placed higher than the health of patients. Gynecologists actively participate in the creation of sexuality by expressing their opinion on the sexual status of the patients. These, on the other hand, fully submit to the medical discourse by handing over power over their corporeality to doctors.

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