Fearing of Losing Virginity, Tunisian Families Prevent Their Daughters From Riding Bikes!

In 2021, there are still families in Tunisia who prevent their daughters from riding bicycles because they fear losing their virginity! Despite the scientific studies that deny this idea, Tunisian parents, especially in rural areas, still adopt this belief.

In fact, this is not surprising, because the virginity of women in the Arab World, is still a controversial issue. When they lose it, they are socially and ethically dead. Indeed, hymn is directly related to the honor of families and protecting it is the mission of every member until the day of marriage. 

 

Still Exist

Fearing of losing their virginity, many Tunisian families prohibit their daughters from riding a bicycle because for them, they may lose their virginity; they may even lose their whole life. In fact, girls are deprived not only from riding a bike but also from practicing other sports and activities like running, equestrian, ballet. Despite medical affirmation that such activities have nothing to do with losing virginity, parents do not allow girls to enjoy these specific activities in their pastime. 

Regarding this issue, the psychologist at The Tunisian Ministry of Women, Childhood and the Elderly, Faten Ben Salem told Al-Estiklal that what the parents do not know is that they are depriving their daughters from their basic rights as children to enjoy their time and have a healthy childhood and this is considered as a crime. 

Thinking that only boys are allowed to ride a bicycle, will lead girls to ask many questions that have nonsense answers, if there are any, and so, the inner conflicts start to appear. The parents believe that their own responsibility towards their daughters is to protect the girl until her future husband comes. She is deprived of riding bikes, laughing in the street, and even running freely with some friends. The hymn may be distracted by these " violent" actions, so there is no more future for the girl. Faraway, the whole family will be neglected, rejected and even unaccepted by the society sharing the same belief. Another time, the child is the only victim.

 

It Is Not True

There is a common mistake that has been spread for years that practicing some sports, especially riding a bicycle for girls, causes loss of virginity.

Years ago, many studies and medical research have confirmed that the hymen is never affected by the young woman riding a bike, stressing that what causes this to happen is only the introduction of hard tools into the hollow of the vagina, and this will cause the descent of a quantity of blood.

Studies have also pointed out that the hymen is protected because it is located 2 cm from the outside, and therefore exercising of all kinds of activities, as well as carrying heavy objects, never affects the hymen.

Opening the pelvis is a sporty movement that affects the muscles of the thighs, the muscles of the calves, and the tendons associated with and surrounding the bones, which makes them very effective for lengthening the legs and helping to strengthen the knees, and it has nothing to do with the membrane. Doctors from all over the World confirmed that riding a bike is completely safe and even healthy for boys as for girls. Generally, in the Arab World, girls are the victims of old and wrong thoughts the parents still believe in. Doctors, especially gynecologists affirmed that the hymen is only distracted by the entry of a solid object into the vagina, other than this does not affect it at all.

 

What They Should Fear 

“There’s nothing quiet and beautiful like the relationship of a child with his bicycle, the endless adventures two wheels and a pair of strong legs offer.” Doctor Feten again said that no video games, Covid-19 lockdown or computer simulation can replace the liberation of being alone on a bicycle for a child. It is an important and a basic right for a boy as for a girl to have a bike and to ride it, and depriving children from this right is a real crime.”

“As parents and as a society, to deny children the simple pleasure of riding a bike is an abdication of our responsibilities to raise independent stable young citizens.” added the doctor. We should be offering our sons and daughters a healthy alternative to hours in front of a mesmerizing screen, this is what parents should really fear.” 

According to the Guardian, studies have shown that cycling promotes not only muscle growth but brain growth. Guess which country has children and teenagers with the best mental health outcomes and is regularly top of listings of happiest young people? No surprise it’s the bicycle-evangelist Netherlands, according to the same source.