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Bo Gu / NBC News
A snapshot of the website that sells fake hymens.
BEIJING – Despite the gradual liberalization of attitudes towards pre-marital sex in China, as well as rampant prostitution and Internet pornography – a woman’s virginity is still highly valued by many men here, especially in rural areas.
So what’s a girl trying to disguise her past sexual experience to do?
Pretend to be a virgin.
Search the words “artificial hymen” on Google in Chinese, and you’ll get seven million results. Search “Joan of Arc Red,” and you’ll get over a million results – it’s the biggest selling brand in China’s growing fake hymen market.
Try to appear ‘shy’ for 'a better effect'
A young woman looking for a solution to her awkward problem can simply log onto the website www.xuexing.org and pay $18.40 for two fake hymens nicely packed in a wooden box. For $14.40, the same products come simply wrapped in a paper box.
The website says the goods were first invented in Japan in 1993 and then became popular in Thailand, followed by the rest of Southeast Asia before eventually making their way to the Middle East.
According to the instructions, the little piece of semitransparent tissue has no side effects and is made of a natural fibrin glue, a medical elastic substance, a soluble base and carboxymethocel.
“After you put this into the vagina, it’ll dissolve and expand. Have sex in about 20 to 30 minutes, and you’ll ‘bleed’,” explains the instructions. “A better effect will be reached if you appear to be shy and in pain.”
Circumventing tradition
I first learned about this product through an anonymous text message that read, “Joan of Arc Red, no surgery, no injections, no pain, and it will re-virginize you in just a few minutes.” I logged onto the website, and an online service agent began chatting with me immediately.
Refusing to tell me how many packs they sell on a daily basis because, the agent said, it’s a business secret, he was frank about the vast market for their product. “A lot of new graduates buy them before they get married,” he wrote. “So do some prostitutes who want to get a better price from their customers.”
A few decades ago, it was commonplace for husbands to expect to see tell-tale red marks on their wedding night. But despite the fact that China is much less conservative today than it used to be, many brides are still judged the same way.
Bo Gu / NBC News
A photo of "Joan of Arc Red" on the product's website.
Lian Yue, a well-known columnist with “Shanghai Weekly,” has been giving love advice for ten years. He says a large number of his befuddled male readers tell him about their disappointment when they find out their girlfriends have had sexual experiences before them. He also hears quite often from women concerned about losing their virginity to Mr. Wrong.
“The Chinese women’s social status is still low, and some of the husbands value wives for having their hymens intact,” said Lian. “This doesn’t necessarily just exist in rural areas. Some urban people have the same idea.”
Reconstructive surgery is an option
If the woman is well-off and prefers a more secure camouflage, surgery is an option to make her feel like a true virgin again.
Li Weifan, deputy president of the Beijing Wuzhou Women’s Hospital, spoke to NBC News quite openly about the “hymen reconstruction” they offer as one of their plastic surgery services.
“Around 10 to 20 percent of our patients come here for plastic surgeries like liposuction or breast implant,” she said. “Some girls – a lot them are newly graduated college students – regret their previous sex life and come here to regain their virginity before they get married.”
Li said the hospital schedules a few surgeries every month, and the patients’ recovery time is about one month. The surgeries cost from $450 to 1,000. Due to privacy issues and the fact that many of the surgeries are done in private clinics, there are no official statistics on how many re-virginization surgeries are performed in China annually. However women’s hospitals like Wuzhou have become popular in China with young, affluent women because they can enjoy better service and greater privacy than in public hospitals.
Although the fake hymen product instructions claim there are no side effects, gynecologists do warn that it could cause infections. Doctors also warn that surgery induced fake hymens could rupture if the girls engage in physical exercise like riding a bike.
Despite the risks, becoming a virgin in a few minutes is not just a dream in China. The easy-to-operate fake hymens are also used by women in the Middle East, where pre-marital sex still has a strong social stigma.
In Syria, an artificial hymen can be bought for $15 on the black market by girls who can’t afford to have hymen reconstruction surgery performed in underground clinics. In 2009, a prominent religious leader in Cairo called for severe punishment of any person who facilitates the sale of artificial hymens, deeming it an immoral and corrupt act.
“It’s really not necessary at all to fake being a virgin, unless you have been raped and this really provides some comfort,” said Wang Xiaoyuan, a young editor in the Beijing office of Bazaar magazine. “Women have no duty to keep their virginity before getting married. If my boyfriend had a virgin complex, I’d absolutely find another guy. I think in the name of no discrimination in China, the difference between male and female does not get the respect it deserves.”
Leave a Comment:
What a disgusting double-standard!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ann,
That Chinese women are perpetrating on themselves.
Hello because the men demand it. A little blood on the sheets that they can show their new bride is chaste.
I have never laugh so hard in my life. The image in my head is of a ladyjust faking it all the way and the guys is like: Yeah, look at me. lol (btw: I am sure a guy wrote the instructions.)
*wipe tears* God, guys are silly and so is the societall norms. I feel so bad for some women. We have a society where our women have to be bread winners, but they still have to adhere to the same old patriarchal structures. I see no fairness in that...and no I am not a feminist. I just a dude that think we need to drop the double standard for women.
They already have the same thing for guys. It's called the game is on in 3 minutes.
I do hope to marry a woman who is a virgin, and I'd be happy if she hoped to marry a man who is a virgin. It seems right to me, as it did to many others in the not-so-distant past. But honor seems also to be a thing of the past, both among men and women. As they say, 以古讽今.
@Really?-3147684
What is the "not-so-distant past?" The '50s? The '20s? 1800s? 1500s? 500 BC? If you research history a bit, you'll find that women (or men) not being virgins upon marriage is hardly anything new. Hoping the woman you marry is a virgin could indeed happen, but don't be too surprised or disappointed if reality doesn't match your fantasy. In any event, hopefully you'll control your urges and remain a virgin for her too, if you feel so strongly about the matter.
Indeed. It's hardly anything new, but in the past it seems to me that it was still a principle to strive for, even if one could not live up to it. There is nothing new under the sun. That of which our consciences once condemned us now is excused, tolerated, and even justified by the fact that it's common. Believing that a principle is right and honorable doesn't mean necessarily having the ability to meet that same principle. God help us when we, on account of our own imperfection, discard the ideal.
Who knew. Virginity in a box.
You think I could sell Honesty in a bag? Or Christianity in a six pack?
Virginity in a box. Nice pun even if it wasn't intentional. :)
What about your stupidity by the truck load?
Please learn to distinguish apples and oranges before replying to the article like this.
Why not? Christianity is already being sold in a book. And in a church. And in a politician.
mba....you are a fool. Taking a shot at christianity for no reason shows you are are slower than forrest gump.
Hey Breweyez,
Thanks! I'm one of those fools that always admired the honorable character of Forrest Gump. He did the right thing even when no one was looking.
Breweyez: ahahah, I see what you did there.
"Taking a shot"? True genius xD
Geez, what's next...........faking organism
Well you're doing an excellent job of it---I'm astonished that a steaming loaf can blog. Its ORGASM, you couch lint.
Sounds like mike in portland is sexually deprived. Nice way to respond to someone. He's a candidate for permanent removal from this forum.
Aye, I voted him off the island already.
John G, Please remove your tongue from your cheek!
And spell checker isn't the final solution.
I hate to burst your bubble (pun intended), but women have been faking orgasms for centuries!
Ya OBXMARCIE, I'm pretty sure that was sarcasm...
I swear, there should be a sarcasm font!
mike in portland, you are suspended for a day for violating rule # 1 of the Code of Honor.
Oh come on! Mike in Portland's comment was the funniest thing I've read all day. Suspended for calling someone couch lint? Yet the guy calling others moron can just keep repeating it? How about the ones throwing racist around like hand grenades (in other news story comments)? Talk about double standards.
I agree Sundiver. It seems like you can say whatever you want as long as it's not directed at a person on the board. I'd much rather see someone get kicked off for calling a black person in the story n****r or monkey than for calling a poster couch lint.
Well, Mike in Portland has demonstrated that he can't play well with others, so a one day time-out might cause him to be nicer to the other kids in the future. It's not like he was banned from the whole schoolyard for eternity... :)
Don't know what men see in virgins. I would much rather have an experienced woman.
Now there can be experienced Virgins.
Because some dudes would rather not have some other guys dick in there before them.
Yes, but it's okay for them to have stuck theirs in other girls before them? WHY??
Whatever. This is ridiculous. Get rid of the double standards, it's 2011, not the 1800s.
Because you can't tell with us. With women, take a club hoe for instance, it's like throwing a hotdog down a hallway. Not to mention women can get pregnant and we can't. When people get married they like to think they have at least one thing that's special and usually it's the first of something. First pregnancy or baby, first time having sex, something. Mostly it has to do with men being competitive and always comparing themselves to every other man. When we're the first there's no need for it. Not saying the double standard is right but it is what it is. Women have plenty of double standards themselves so don't pretend to be a holier than thou feminist.
It's all about control. Why can't they just pee on us to mark us instead! It's
also about ego. No man wants to be compared to another.
BandMachine...thank you for my belly laugh of the day!! :)
Yeah cadet, the jealousy factor is very real.
Wow
John G. 860214
Hmm. Fake organisms. Been doing that for years as have lots of other women I know.
Sorry to hear you have to fake it - for years. Maybe it's time to find a real man.
Organisms?
Lydia, by faking organisms you are lying to your partner. Also, you aren't giving him the opportunity to grow up and mature. Sex for him may center around his pleasure, his attaining climax. Help him grow up and demand he service you tee hee.
Grrrr the self perpetuating typo LOL
orgasms!!!!!!!
You might hurt his feelings if you just blurt out, "Damn you're a bad lay!" But you can put it nicely, too. Try saying, "You know, I really love it when you ____" Hopefully he'll get the hint and you can get off too.
This is to all chinese women just be your self sex is a natural thing in life . Don't allow stupid men on this earth to control what is natural feelings ok please don't Just be safe about what you do with your body .And enjoy what is natural to us all on this earth.
Amen!
Won't sell in America, that's for sure, I don't think females here, are even born a virgin, anymore.
It does sell in America. I know a surgeon who has performed many of these reconstructions...
I hear the stone lions outside the town hall in NYC stand and roar whenever a virgin passes.
HAHAHA...that was hysterical, kflann! Thanks!
I'd buy one just to see if it really "works"........LOL
I love the statement that prostitutes use them to make more money! It makes the guys who value virgins look like the idiots they are! I love it!
I know- it's kinda awesome. Also, this makes me kinda curious- if it didn't perpetuate the value of woman's sexuality as a commodity, I might want to buy a pair and try it out- see if my husband notices ;)
LOL
Guy: "You're a prostitute AND a virgin??"
Girl: "Well. I'm not very good at it, as you can see...."
So you start a relationship with a lie - I don't get it...
That's because the men can't handle the truth. Pretty sad.
Then why would they marry the guy, if he can't handle the truth? Find someone who can!!! There's already a shortage of Chinettes over there, due to female infanticide. Seems like they'd be in a strong bargaining position.
Wow, this takes the Madonna/Whore complex to a whole new level. Be a virgin, yet be awesome in bed. Any guy who seriously expects that deserves the deception he gets.
So you start a relationship with a lie - I don't get it...
I would say your relationship is probably doomed if you start it with sex. The lies with the sex just compound it.
I've known women who said they faked "orgasms" but to fake an organism, I'm thinking that would take some kind of scientific genius. LOL
FINALLY! Someone gets the absurdity of some people trying to act all high and mighty, yet don't even have the simple vocabulary to know the definition between an organism and an ORGASM! Methinks they have never even experienced an orgasm if they can't get that right. Sheesh! *eyeroll*
I think the original poster was being facetious....and maybe it was a typo?
WhatAWorld - you must be being sarcastic, right? I mean, everybody knows there aren't typos on the Internet!
Don't pro wrestlers pop these in their mouths before getting smacked by a folding chair?
Men that prefer virgins most likely do so for a few reasons:
A. They are not well endowed.
B. They are sexually inept/inexperienced.
C. They are intimidated by strong women.
D. They are pedophiles.
At the same time, women that would be willing to do this are just as warped. Not only are you starting a relationship off with a lie, (one you will need to cover up for the rest of your life... let's hope you don't run into that waiter you had a one night stand with five years ago while you're out to dinner with your husband.) - but you obviously don't expect your mate to love you for who you are - completely. So, in reality, it's all just a facade, it's all just a bunch of illusory bull@!$%# so that the two of you can satisfy the projected image of what you think you need to have to be fulfilled by another person. So ridiculous.
And here I thought we were beginning to evolve as a species. As long as dimwits like this keep procreating, we're screwed. Wake up people. Be who you are, completely. Claim yourselves damnit, and drop the fake bull@!$%#.
How does prefering a virgin have anything to do with your option D??? Seriously.
Personally I'd prefer a woman with experience, but in say the middle east where I think (I could be wrong) pre-marital sex is illegal I'd use the fake hyman rather than get stoned to death. Just my 2 cents.
blue8embers, very true.
Like a virgin! next we will have a reconstructed penis product for retired truckers, like a peterbuilt...
I prefer non-virgins.
I simply hate training new people.
I don' t know why anyone would want to reenact that bloodyexperience...
let's do a survey: of all of you men out there, tell us what you think.... prefer virgins or experience???
I want to marry a virgin! and I want to give myself as a virgin. There are lots more people that feel the same way.... If a girl has made mistakes in the past, theres forgiveness, but I think virginity is special...
I prefer experienced girls, for sure. They really know what to do and how to work it good. Also, once we get past the used part, its really good.
Stephen, you should check out "Theology of the Body." You have the right idea. Now next don't fall for the "well, I'm married so anything goes" mentality. Even in marriage we should avoid lust and degrading practices. Sex is very beautiful when it's about giving to and loving the other and not about what we can get out of the other person. If you agree you'll like the book I recommended.
I guess when you're young, you think it's something really special, but I don't believe it is. It's a hurdle you need to get over, and a skill/talent you should be well versed in BEFORE you meet your future life partner. I wouldn't want to marry someone, then we have sex for the first time and it's new and awkward and painful. I would want my mate to be experienced as well, so that we can both fully enjoy making love with passion and fervor. But that's just me. I find nothing dirty about being passionate and experienced in the bedroom. It's a quality I think most people want, but are probably too afraid to admit because it may sound "sinful" to them, (those that believe they must be virgins before marriage.)
Blue that's a thoughtful comment. But again the focus is on the sex act itself when the focus should be on the person you are loving and sharing love with.
That's exactly what making love is all about, convict. I'm not talking about just empty sex with some random person. I would have to say that this is a mixture of enjoying something that you are experienced in with someone that you are in love with. It's like a fine wine... I don't know how else to explain it. I'd want all of the factors to be in my favor and I'm lucky because they already are - but even if it weren't the case - love is love. If my man wasn't that experienced I wouldn't love him any less - and I would show patience and understanding, as he would do the same for me. That is love. I'm just talking about having QUALITY all around.. or at least striving for it in your relationship. Also, being good in the sack only boils down to ONE thing: truly enjoying yourself. It if feels good for you and you are enjoying yourself- guaranteed that your partner is as well.
I agree with you 100%.
Well, yeah striving for a quality sex life in a loving, committed relationship is something I think we all can agree upon.
blue,
Have you not seen the rate of STD infection in this country, among other things? How has our liberal attitude helped us, because I see a ton of social problems. And people think that wanting to be truly alone with their beloved in the bedroom -- not a threesome with their HPV or their baggage -- is some kind of freakish thing? Sorry, I don't get it and probably never will.
A hurdle to get over? Gosh, how romantic.
Awkwardness...whatever, that only happens for a little while anyway. Getting back to the idea of marriage being a bond for life would probably help with that as you have your whole life to practice and learn together. And I know when you love someone, you want to make them happy, but I think there's a big difference between that and all this anxiety I see over having to perform just so -- for someone who is supposed to love you in spite of your imperfections, at that!
The idea that we think sex itself is dirty and sinful is a fib that people tell themselves to help rationalize and convince themselves that having lots of "experience" will make them truly happy. The truth is, it's not necessary for total fulfillment and it may even be harmful.
So glad to see a few people value virginity before marriage. I know God certainly does and He knows best! After all, He created it "good." You can't deny that the first time is special, and who better to share that with than the love of your life - someone to whom you've made a real commitment? My wedding night was wonderful and my husband and I both waited.
On topic, however: I think this is a silly product (mainly cause it's deceptive) and that the double-standards between men and women are stupid. Sorry that more women in China are afraid to be honest about their past.
Stephen - you're in the minority, I believe. Most guys that want a virgin don't necessarily want to keep their own virginity to give to their wife. Good for you.
I'll be honest, of course this whole market is sad and pathetic, and people have the choice to do what they want sexually. But, I don't think that merits knocking every person who actually values the personal intimacy in marriage. My wife and I were both virgins when we were married, and there were no fake hymens or "organisms" or lies, we just both cared about that and I think that is special. Maybe not for everyone, but it made us happy. Would I have loved her one whit less if she wasn't? Not at all. But, that doesn't mean it was a bad thing that she was.
I don't think that that makes me a pedophile, though. Or that my commitment to my future wife was bullsh*t, or that I am intimidated by strong women. I think it takes a pretty strong woman to commit to abstinence even with a whole lot of guys showing interest.
I just think it's ironic that it is often the people claiming liberation that mock people who choose differently than they do.
基本上，假处女膜呢？他们发疯了。
Frankly, I don't care. If you love someone, you should love them for who they are. Honesty should be far more important than appearance.
Sex should be secondary in a relationship. If you love the woman or man you are with you will overlook any shortcomings in the bed until they are worked out in time. "love" is the key.
I have to say I'm speechless.
LOL...so much for proofreading before submitting your comment eh?
That explains the "virgin birth"
Here's the problem, the hymen can be broken in so many ways other than sex. Strenuous exercise especially bike riding, horseback riding, the use of tampons and just day to day activities. And in our fast paced world where women are much more active than ever before having an intact hymen in their 20's and beyond is very rare. The hymen starts thinning at puberty and continues to do so until there is a very, very thin membrane left if one at all. So even a woman who is a virgin may not have the telltale sign on that first time.
And then again there are women like my daughter who had to have a hymenectomy, not a common thing. at 15yo her hymen was so thick she couldn't use tampons. She had been checked when she was 13 and they were sure that in time it would thin and there would be no problem, 2 years later it was no better. She was very active in sports and swimming and as all you women are aware there are times when tampons are just better. So she had to have surgery to open/remove her hymen. The doctor was surprised because it was still so thick and only had a pinhole opening, which was unusual for her age and her activity level.
But if men are going to expect women to be virgins then we women should be able to expect the same thing from the men.
I have a 15 year old I know who was raped by the balance beam in gym class when she fell one day. She informed me later on that day about her "losing her cherry to it" and it didn't even cuddle with her afterwards. I think I laughed for a good 3 hours.
I've known for the "cherry to pop" with a few girls that are horseback riders too. I guess uh.. because of the motion of riding a horse..? (Don't wanna go indepth there.. no pun intended) :S
Ah, the old double standard. She really ought to be a virgin, but he is supposed to be experienced.
Just where does anyone think he gets the experience?
Goats?
LOL. Thanks, Romilio.
baaaaaaaaaaa, run sheep, run....
Ahahaha good one romilio :D
This would work really well in Latin markets also. Yes there is still a stigma with not being a virgin before marriage in latin / hispanic cultures. My mother almost had a heart attack when at the age of 18 in an arguement I blurted out "I'm not even a virgin anymore" This was in 1990. I personally would never buy one of these. Quite possibly in China like in other cultures marriage is more about a "contract" than actual love. Your parents "marry you off" to the best suitor. If you're a virgin you're "worth more". So sad, but it's true. Hopefully cultures will realize that there are a lot more important things about a person than petty crap like this.
What does a Redneck Girl say as she is losing her virginity,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, Get off me Daddy, You're crushing my cigarettes ,,,,,,,,,,,
Thats Bad,,,,, I know,,,, sorry
that was truly bad.......laughing so much i can almost not key
I would like to see the comments from China, these are all very American responses. Does anyone here in America have any understanding of other countries cultural differences?? While we all take for granted the equality and freedom we live in, this is a gift to many young ladies in other countries. Your comments make it sound like a marrage over there is one of honesty and love, that is not always the case in other countries. Let's just be thankful for what we have and understanding that others are doing the best they can with what they have, God Bless America!
The most ridiculous thing about this is that just because your hymen isn't intact, doesn't mean you're not a virgin. Girls who are athletic are likely to tear their hymen long before they start thinking about having sex.
don't forget about the women who didn't have much of one to begin with. It didn't hurt or bleed atoll the first time or ever. I've heard that in some parts of the world it is standard for mothers or other older women to make a girl bleed on her wedding night or use some other way to fake it in order that there is proof, even though most of these girls are virgins.
Yeah well I bet Iowa girls like to role in the hay too :) Btw Im from Iowa too.
I'm a 63 year old fart and still a virgin any takers?
Try NorthEastern University they have a stage and power tools waiting for you
Jose tee hee! Really though, you should value your virginity. Now try and develop the purity of heart that goes along with it so you aren't a slave to your sexual desires.