Sociology
The Social Construction of Virginity Across Cultural Contexts
Quick fact
While societies like the Sambia of Papua New Guinea historically expected young boys to engage in ritualized homosexual practices before marriage, the social emphasis on female virginity remains central in many cultures—yet in some others, such as parts of Scandinavia, virginity holds little social importance for either gender.
Why this is interesting
In some cultures, a torn hymen is proof of impurity; in others, it's a meaningless biological detail. How can the same physical body mean so many different things?