The particular value attached of virginity is a…
““The particular value attached of virginity is a fabrication of the male, due partly to superstition, partly to masculine vanity, and partly, of course, to a disinclination to father someone else's child. Women, I should say, have ascribed importance to it chiefly because the value men place on it, and also from fear of consequences. I think I am right in saying that a man, to satisfy a need as natural as eating his dinner when he is hungry, may have sexual intercourse without any particular feeling for the object of his appetite; whereas with a woman sexual intercourse, without something in the nature, if not of love, at least of sentiment, is merely a tiresome business which she accepts as obligation, or from the wish to give pleasure.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The quote critiques the socially constructed value of virginity, attributing it to male vanity and fear, and contrasts male and female sexual motivations.
In simple terms: Virginity’s value is a male‑created myth.
Key Takeaway
Question societal norms.
Themes
gender
sexuality
social constructs
Mood
critical
analytical
Type
social
philosophical
When to use this quote
- relationship counseling
- sexual education
- feminist discourse
- personal relationships
Key Concepts
masculine vanity
female agency
cultural expectations
Questions to Reflect On
- How do cultural narratives shape sexual expectations?
- What can shift perceptions of virginity?
A Different Perspective
Changing deep‑seated cultural beliefs is challenging.