Many debates have taken place recently, especially in the Middle East, and many articles have been talking about sex before marriage. But the thing is, despite what the majority’s opinion is, it always concerns women… Can women have any sexual relations before marriage? Or is it a death penalty in religions? What does God have to say about it? Does it bring shame to the family of a woman? All these questions have been asked, and sure enough the answer is against sex before marriage, it is always about what society believes is true, what people believe God said, and that it’s something a woman has to do to preserve the honor of her family.
But when it comes to men, the rule doesn’t apply… Strange… People forget that women AND men are both equal human beings. So when this rule applies to one ‘category’, it has to apply to the other. You can’t be against premarital sex for women, but for men… sure… why not??!!! It proves how “strong” and “manly” they are. On the other hand, a woman who has slept with one man is called a sl**, but a man who has slept with a bunch of women is a “hero”. I’m not saying what’s wrong and what’s right… I’m not saying what you should or shouldn’t believe. All I’m saying is, as long as you put your arguments for or against it, let it be fair, and equal, for both sexes. For example, about the religious arguments:
For Christians who hold the Bible and say that God said NO to premarital sex, and that’s why a woman must stay a virgin until her wedding day, I quote: [Jesus] said, “It is what comes out of a person that defiles. For it is from within, from the human heart, that evil intentions come: fornication, theft, murder, adultery, avarice, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, envy, slander, pride, folly. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a PERSON.” (NRSV, Mark 7:20-23)
It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.” But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband. The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband. For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.(English Standard Version,1 Corinthians 7:1-5)
For Muslims who hold the same beliefs, here’s a quote from the Qur’an: Chapter 24, verse 2 : “The woman and the man guilty of adultery or fornication, – flog each of them with a hundred stripes: Let not compassion move you in their case, in a matter prescribed by Allah, if ye believe in Allah and the Last Day: and let a party of the Believers witness their punishment”.
These quotes cited above don’t need to be explained… Clear enough!!
Men and women are creatures of the same species. They both share the same needs, including: eating, drinking… and even SEX. In this case, why should women be forced to ignore one of their needs, while men have the right to fulfill it? Religion (or religious interpretations) seems to be just a cover for what society thinks of women: lesser human beings!!! It seems to act as an excuse to keep traditions/opinions/beliefs that have been around for thousands of years. While in reality it all comes down to sexism. Unfortunately, sexism isn’t only found in the issue of premarital sex…
“- Are you with premarital sex?
HELL YEAH!
– Would you marry a girl who had premarital sex?
ARE YOU INSANE? ”
(Typical Middle Eastern guys’ opinions/beliefs)
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References
(n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.mediterraneas.org/article.php3?id_article=390.
(n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.fdcd.org/media_r.php?Id=4&t=Articles&Id1=41.
(n.d.). Retrieved from http://sexisminlebanon.blogspot.com/.
(n.d.). Retrieved from http://amptoons.com/blog/2005/05/23/middle-eastern-women-going-to-extremes-to-save-their-lives/.
(n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.christianbiblereference.org/faq_premaritalsex.htm.
(n.d.). Retrieved from http://amptoons.com/blog/2005/05/23/middle-eastern-women-going-to-extremes-to-save-their-lives/.
(n.d.). Retrieved from http://amptoons.com/blog/2005/05/23/middle-eastern-women-going-to-extremes-to-save-their-lives/.