Feminist experts translate brand new proof virginity traditions since the evidence of the patriarchy’s twice standards and you may command over ladies sexuality
Because of the Anna Temkina and Lilit Zakaryan, Service of Sociology out of Social Health insurance and Sex, Western european College or university from the St.Petersburg, Russia and you will Federal Academy from Sciences, Armenia
Karmir khndzor (Armenia)
Comparison your ex love – as a result of research this lady virginity – to affirm honor and you may reputation from the woman family can be acquired into the a variety of ‘sheet ceremonies’ when you look at the patriarchal communities on the Mediterranean countries so you’re able to Latin Western peasantry and you will Indian castes, as the Dark ages (Kandiyoti 1988, Carpenter 2005, Ortner 1978: 19). The thing is that occur into the practice of blaga rakija inside Macedonia. Females virginity is actually associated with the social esteem due to the fact an excellent female’s condition on societal framework is scheduled from the just how ‘pure’ otherwise ‘polluting’ she is (Ortner 1978: 24-26). It belief could have been ‘enforced by scientific and regularly a bit significant power over women’s personal and particularly intimate behaviour’ (Ortner 1978: 19). Considering Simone de Beauvoir, virginity is a beneficial patriarchal build hence objectifies girls since the Other (1949 ).
Karmir khndzor was hardly said from the Armenian ethnography about late nineteenth and early 20th centuries while the Armenian culture try mainly hushed for the facts out of sex. Predominantly male ethnographers don’t look at the the wedding nights ceremonies during the adequate outline making use of their women informants. In the event your bride to be is actually very younger, the fresh new routine was not performed toward relationship nights whatsoever and you may try put off for several years escort girls in Lexington (Shagoyan 2011: 497). Red apples accustomed play a different sort of role regarding local rituals accompanying losing the new bride’s virginity (Shagoyan 2011). Once the symbolic of fertility with an erotic connotation, apple was used because something special container for silver jewellery, talented towards bride. The fresh round form of the fruit symbolized stability and you can brilliance and you can the virginity of bride to be are at the same time translated just like the this lady ‘integrity’ (tselostnost, compare with tselka, ‘virgin’).
The present day variety of karmir khndzor that’s in use through the Armenia and in multiple diasporic organizations shot to popularity during Soviet several months for the boost out of metropolitan migration on the 1970s. New ritual comes with the following rules: On the early morning after the matrimony, a tiny group of women (the newest couple’s godmother otherwise groom’s mommy, maternal brother or partnered aunt), always 2 or three, give the caretaker out of bride to be a dish out of apples, sweets and you may cognac. The groom’s mommy attracts this lady neighbors otherwise romantic loved ones, once more 2 or 3 lady, more to have coffees, teas, candy and you may fresh fruit. The godmother slices new apples with the four bits and you may shares them into the tourist. Cakes as an apple are also an appropriate gift. The fresh new behavior is sold with about three measures: test, sanctioning and you can recognition. Following groom’s mom and other women seek contours out of bloodstream to your bedsheet of the bridesmaid partners (examination), the brand new fiance obtains a gift in the event of the lady affirmed virginity otherwise a conviction and you will censure in case there is failure (sanctioning). From the third step, a yellow apple or a dish which have oranges is distributed just like the recognition for the bride’s mommy, whom awaits which signal followed closely by loved ones or neighbors at this lady family (Shagoyan 2011, Pogosyan 2010).
Industry browse conducted about middle-2000s showed that karmir khndzor is performed very carefully and you will vigilantly into the rural places where gender norms was basically more traditional and you can hierarchical. Throughout the metropolitan areas, the newest behavior took a very average setting – the new routine is actually did although virginity testing is far more lenient (Temkina 2008, 2010). Several changes have aided change the brand new behavior since the 2000s (Temkina 2008, 2010, Pogosyan 2011). Very first, this new routine might have been articulated in the personal commentary of the news, NGOs together with ladies’ path, plus academic commentary, academic programs and you can college courses into the gender, sociology, psychology and you may equivalent professions. Virginity has-been politicised shortly after several NGOs (Wo-men’s room Financial support Heart regarding Armenia, UTOPIANA, WOW) organized activities geared towards deconstructing the fresh ritual having titles eg ‘Red-colored Apple is for eating’ and you may ‘We ask one the funeral of Red Fruit towards the 8 regarding .’ It’s swayed the latest impact out of karmir khndzor by young years who turned into very likely to view it as an old-fashioned practice of intimacy control. Next, they became it is possible to to fabricate virginity. Women who had premarital matchmaking you will replicate their virginity because of their husbands and you can/or parents-in law of the undergoing a health hymenoplastic process in order to rebuild the brand new hymen and you will have demostrated their social love and you will honourable womanliness. From the medicalising the fresh new karmir khndzor routine, gynecologists may help people to build a frequent biography and to enhance their lifetime chance to own a typical elizabeth so much more preferred having couples to help you decline to take part in the brand new ritual otherwise to help you ‘save’ new ladies virginity. Once the sexual dating turned into way more liberal and you can considered owned by an autonomous sphere out of personal lifetime, karmir khndzor was directed so you can an effective ceremonial and you may social symbol when you look at the this new national matrimony possesses destroyed the relationship so you’re able to virginity, as for example is the case away from a marriage veil in the Russia.
Karmir khndzor was trapped in the stress between national term and you may modernity. Since ritual represents Armenian society and you will conventional gender positions, those who deny the ritual exposure becoming considered below correct Armenian customers and females. Yet , people that rigidly follow the routine could well be recognized as backward and old-fashioned by the its rivals. Although not, pro- and you will ripoff- attitudes in order to karmir khndzor are more effective looked at as being located to your a spectrum. Each other young men and you may women will get target towards virginity test acting as a procedure off command over the closeness and personal life. In other cases, women may want to remain their virginity before relationships and think about it an important cultural tradition you to definitely encourages kinship solidarity. Particular may commit to uphold the virginity, however, dislike the personal verification after the wedding. Of a lot young adults have a look at non-relationship gender given that appropriate for both men and women and you will believe karmir khndzor entirely archaic. Given that patriarchal intercourse system shed the rigidness, the variety of ranking concerning the habit suggest a lack of people public consensus towards habit (select intricate scenarios to possess carrying out the routine inside the Pogosyan 2010).
Recommendations
Poghosyan, Good. 2010. Some of the popular features of this new conversion process of your culture “Red-colored fruit”: Community and Modernity from inside the Armenian Culture, Yerevan: Gitutyuan, 359-367
Shagoyan, Grams. 2011. ‘” Seven days, eight night”: Panorama of one’s Armenian wedding, Institute off Archaeology and you may Ethnography of National Academy of Sciences, RA, 496-509