Having her virginity regularly tested makes South African Nsomawethu Tshobeni feel good. "At 31 I'm very proud to be a virgin, and when I attend the test regularly it gives me self-esteem as a woman," said the nurse who works in the coastal city of Durban.How is it that you wouldn't know -- and more importantly, would have to "test regularly" to determine -- if you were still a virgin?
A revival in the traditional practice among young Zulu women in South Africa is portrayed by supporters as the best way to stop unwanted pregnancies and the spread of HIV/Aids.
But opponents say the practice is sexist and outdated and can even increase the chances of Aids - given the widely held misconception that unprotected sex with a virgin is safe or can cure Aids.
It's also notable that this woman is not some poor, illiterate soul in a shanty town, but a nurse in the city of Durban.
I'm thinkin' anyone who feels the need to do this... has already fallen short of a much more important benchmark.
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