Feminist critics understand new proof of virginity traditions just like the proof the fresh new patriarchy’s double requirements and you will control of women sexuality

By the Anna Temkina and you may Lilit Zakaryan, Department of your Sociology of Social Health and Gender, Eu University at St.Petersburg, Russia and you can Federal Academy away from Sciences, Armenia

Karmir khndzor (Armenia)

Evaluation your ex purity – owing to review the woman virginity – to help you affirm honor and you will updates of the woman family is obtainable from inside the a range of ‘layer ceremonies’ into the patriarchal societies on Mediterranean cultures so you’re able to Latin American peasantry and you may Indian castes, because Middle ages (Kandiyoti 1988, Carpenter 2005, Ortner 1978: 19). Parallels exists on the practice of blaga rakija for the Macedonia. Ladies virginity try associated with social status since the an effective woman’s condition throughout the societal construction is defined from the exactly how ‘pure’ otherwise ‘polluting’ this woman is (Ortner 1978: 24-26). So it trust could have been ‘implemented of the systematic and frequently slightly severe power over women’s public and particularly intimate behaviour’ (Ortner 1978: 19). According to Simone de Beauvoir, virginity is actually a great patriarchal construct and therefore objectifies girls as the Almost every other (1949 ).

Karmir khndzor was scarcely mentioned about Armenian ethnography throughout the later 19th and you can very early 20th ages because Armenian community are mostly quiet toward facts regarding sex. Mostly men ethnographers failed to have a look at the wedding night ceremonies into the enough detail due to their ladies informants. If the fiance was really younger, brand new routine wasn’t performed on the matrimony evening at all and is postponed for quite some time (Shagoyan 2011: 497). Purple oranges familiar with play a special character throughout the regional rituals accompanying the increased loss of new bride’s virginity (Shagoyan 2011). Just like the symbolic of virility in accordance with an erotic meaning, fruit was applied since the a gift container to have gold jewelry, gifted with the bride to be. The newest spherical shape of the fresh good fresh fruit symbolized stability and you can perfection and you will the new virginity of bride to be is actually on the other hand interpreted because the lady ‘integrity’ (tselostnost, compare to tselka, ‘virgin’).

The present day types of karmir khndzor that’s active throughout the Armenia and in several diasporic organizations became popular through the Soviet period into boost from urban migration throughout the seventies. The latest ritual comes with the after the regulations: Toward morning following relationships, a small set of women (the couple’s godmother otherwise groom’s mommy, maternal sister otherwise married cousin), always two or three, promote the mother from bride to be a rack regarding apples, sweets and cognac. New groom’s mom encourages her neighbors otherwise romantic family members, once more a couple of people, over for java, beverage, chocolate and you may fresh fruit. Brand new godmother slices the brand new apples towards four pieces and you may shares them to your travelers. Desserts in the shape of a fruit are the ideal present. This new routine boasts three steps: examination, sanctioning and you will recognition. After the groom’s mommy or any other female choose traces from blood on the bedsheet of one’s bridesmaid partners (examination), the latest bride-to-be obtains something special in case there are their affirmed virginity or a belief and censure in case there is failure (sanctioning). Regarding the step three, a purple fruit or a tray which have apples is distributed as validation into bride’s mommy, just who awaits this signal accompanied by friends otherwise neighbors in the their home (Shagoyan 2011, Pogosyan 2010).

Field search used in the middle-2000s showed that karmir khndzor is actually did really rigorously and you can diligently for the rural places that gender norms were more conventional and you may hierarchical. In the towns and cities, the latest practice grabbed a far more average function – new ritual is actually performed but the virginity evaluation are significantly more easy (Temkina 2008, 2010). Several changes enjoys helped redefine this new habit while the 2000s (Temkina 2008, 2010, Pogosyan 2011). Basic, the brand new ritual might have been articulated on the social commentary of the news, NGOs and the ladies’ way, as well as in informative discourse, academic courses and you will university programmes into sex, sociology, psychology and comparable procedures. Virginity might politicised just after multiple NGOs (Wo-men’s room Resource Heart of Armenia, UTOPIANA, WOW) prepared performances geared towards deconstructing the routine having titles such as for instance ‘Yellow Apple is only getting eating’ and you may ‘We invite that brand new funeral of Yellow Fruit with the 8 off .’ It has swayed the fresh effect away from karmir khndzor by the more youthful generations whom turned very likely to find it because the an old-designed habit of closeness handle. Second, they turned possible to produce virginity. Ladies who got premarital relationships you are going to simulate their virginity due to their husbands and you will/otherwise parents-in-law by the in the process of a health hymenoplastic procedure to help you reconstruct the newest hymen and you will demonstrated their social purity and you can honourable femininity. By the medicalising the karmir khndzor habit, gynecologists may help female to create a regular bio also to boost their existence potential having an everyday age even more popular for partners in order to will not take part in the ritual or to help you ‘save’ the fresh new women’s virginity. As the intimate relationships turned into a great deal more liberal and you can thought to be owned by an independent sphere regarding personal existence, karmir khndzor was directed to help you an effective ceremonial and you may social symbol in the fresh federal relationship and has now missing the connection in order to virginity, in terms of example is the situation from a married relationship veil into the Russia.

Karmir khndzor is caught up from the stress between national term and you can modernity. Given that routine is short for Armenian society and you can traditional gender spots, individuals who reject this new routine chance getting considered below right Armenian residents and you may girls. Yet people that rigidly proceed with the routine might be thought to be backwards and conservative by the its opponents. Yet not, pro- and you will con- perceptions to karmir khndzor be more effective thought of as being proudly located for the a range. Each other young men and you may female can get object toward virginity sample becoming a system out-of command over their closeness and personal lifestyle. In other cases, females may want to remain its virginity just before matrimony and also to think about it an important cultural community one to encourages kinship solidarity. Specific get invest in manage the virginity, but dislike its public verification following the relationship. Of several teenagers have a look at low-relationship intercourse since the appropriate for both males and females and thought karmir khndzor wholly archaic. Due to the fact patriarchal gender program forgotten the rigidness, the range of ranking towards habit indicate too little one societal opinion about the routine (get a hold of in depth issues to own starting the fresh routine inside Pogosyan 2010).

Records

Poghosyan, A great. 2010. A few of the options that come with the latest sales of the community “Yellow apple”: Tradition and you can Modernity into the Armenian People, Yerevan: Gitutyuan, 359-367

Shagoyan, G. 2011. ‘” Seven days, eight night”: Horizon of your own Armenian matrimony, Institute away from Archaeology and you will Ethnography from National Academy regarding Sciences, RA, 496-509