“When You Talk about Virginity it’s about Females”: Views on Virginity among University of Ghana Students

Abstract

This qualitative article examines views of students at the University of Ghana on the topic of virginity with specific focus on its gendered meaning and relative significance in modern times. One-on-one interviews were conducted with 30 purposively selected research participants with the aid of an interview guide. Through thematic analysis, the results indicated that the majority of the respondents believed that virginity has been stereotyped on women due to the patriarchal cultural systems and the significance of the hymen. It was also found that the participants constructed their perspectives on virginity based on religious obligations, repercussions of sex and sexual health. Reactions to virginity loss also differed on gender. Implications of this study include the need for public conscientization on the repercussions of sexual activities, direct parent–child discourse about sex and the need for counseling centers within social institutions to offer advice and support to the youth on the subject matter.