Holy Hymen, the Might of a Small Membrane – Experiencers’ Views About Virginity Testing
Kortman, Ellimari (2023)
Kortman, Ellimari
2023
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2023060722767
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2023060722767
Tiivistelmä
This thesis’ purpose is to answer to the World Health Organization’s call to raise virginity testing awareness among health care and social work professionals by offering a voice to few people, whose lives virginity testing has relation to or has affected somehow. Virginity testing and virginity myths are global health issues. The test is specified to be invasive, unscientific and a form of gender-based and honor-related violence which happens all over the world.
This thesis is an independently conducted qualitative study. The theoretical framework includes the definitions of different forms of gender-based violence, virginity myths and cultural notions of honor, consequences of violence and prevention of violence.
The aim of this thesis was set to study and reveal the experiences and views of people, who have experienced virginity testing-related issues in their personal life. The objective was to construct customer-oriented recommendations for health care and social work professionals for addressing virginity testing in healthcare encounters based on the collected qualitative data.
The recruitment of participants was implemented using a recruitment poster that was disseminated for professionals who encounter the target group, stakeholders and possible participants. The data were collected through a completely anonymous online survey and analyzed using thematic analysis. There were five participants who produced 2567 words of their experiences, views and wishes. One collective narrative was formed to showcase their voices and different aspects to virginity testing. The findings are parallel and in line with WHO’s and other health care and human rights organisations’ definitions, petitions and guidelines.
Based on the results of this thesis it is recommended that more education about virginity testing, honor-related violence and violence in general is organized among professionals, communities and individuals. There is an unrecognised, hidden group of people in Finland who potentially have needs for health care, psychoeducation and other support due to their experiences. Experiences of virginity testing are not visible or obvious for the eye and clients and patients might not speak about them hence they need to be mapped by asking. Cultural sensitivity and trauma-informed approaches are suggested to be utilized.
This thesis is an independently conducted qualitative study. The theoretical framework includes the definitions of different forms of gender-based violence, virginity myths and cultural notions of honor, consequences of violence and prevention of violence.
The aim of this thesis was set to study and reveal the experiences and views of people, who have experienced virginity testing-related issues in their personal life. The objective was to construct customer-oriented recommendations for health care and social work professionals for addressing virginity testing in healthcare encounters based on the collected qualitative data.
The recruitment of participants was implemented using a recruitment poster that was disseminated for professionals who encounter the target group, stakeholders and possible participants. The data were collected through a completely anonymous online survey and analyzed using thematic analysis. There were five participants who produced 2567 words of their experiences, views and wishes. One collective narrative was formed to showcase their voices and different aspects to virginity testing. The findings are parallel and in line with WHO’s and other health care and human rights organisations’ definitions, petitions and guidelines.
Based on the results of this thesis it is recommended that more education about virginity testing, honor-related violence and violence in general is organized among professionals, communities and individuals. There is an unrecognised, hidden group of people in Finland who potentially have needs for health care, psychoeducation and other support due to their experiences. Experiences of virginity testing are not visible or obvious for the eye and clients and patients might not speak about them hence they need to be mapped by asking. Cultural sensitivity and trauma-informed approaches are suggested to be utilized.