Feminist critics understand new proof virginity rituals given that proof of this new patriarchy’s twice criteria and you will control of women sex

From the Anna Temkina and you will Lilit Zakaryan, Service of your own Sociology from Societal Health and Gender, Eu College or university at the St.Petersburg, Russia and you may National Academy of Sciences, Armenia

Karmir khndzor (Armenia)

Comparison your ex love – due to assessment the woman virginity – in order to affirm honour and you may updates regarding the girl relatives exists in the a selection of ‘piece ceremonies’ during the patriarchal communities in the Mediterranean countries to Latin American peasantry and you may Indian castes, because Middle ages (Kandiyoti 1988, Carpenter 2005, Ortner 1978: 19). The thing is that are present for the habit of blaga rakija from inside the Macedonia. Lady virginity is from the personal esteem because the an excellent female’s condition throughout the societal framework is placed of the exactly how ‘pure’ or ‘polluting’ she’s (Ortner 1978: 24-26). So it belief has been ‘implemented of the clinical and frequently slightly severe power over ladies’ societal and especially sexual behaviour’ (Ortner 1978: 19). Predicated on Simone de- Beauvoir, virginity is a good patriarchal construct and therefore objectifies female due to the fact Almost every other (1949 ).

Karmir khndzor is rarely said from the Armenian ethnography about later 19th and you may very early 20th ages as the Armenian culture try mainly hushed toward products of sexuality. Mostly men ethnographers didn’t check out the the marriage evening ceremonies inside adequate outline due to their ladies informants. When your bride-to-be was most more youthful, new ritual wasn’t performed for the relationship night whatsoever and you will is defer for quite some time (Shagoyan 2011: 497) LGBT iГ§in en iyi buluЕџma uygulamalarД±. Yellow apples familiar with play another type of character about regional traditions accompanying the increased loss of the fresh bride’s virginity (Shagoyan 2011). Because symbolic of virility and with a sexual meaning, apple was utilized given that a present box having gold precious jewelry, talented for the fiance. The latest spherical form of the new fruits symbolized stability and you can perfection and you can the latest virginity of your bride is in addition interpreted given that the girl ‘integrity’ (tselostnost, compare to tselka, ‘virgin’).

The current type of karmir khndzor which is being used during the Armenia and in numerous diasporic organizations became popular during Soviet period into increase regarding metropolitan migration in the seventies. The newest ritual provides the following the regulations: Towards the early morning following wedding, a little number of females (the latest couple’s godmother or groom’s mother, maternal sis otherwise hitched cousin), constantly two or three, offer the mother off bride to be a tray from apples, chocolate and you can cognac. The newest groom’s mother attracts her neighbours or personal loved ones, again two or three ladies, over to own java, beverage, candy and fruits. The brand new godmother slices the apples to your five pieces and shares him or her towards the traffic. Desserts as an apple also are a suitable present. The fresh new behavior comes with about three strategies: test, sanctioning and you can validation. Pursuing the groom’s mommy and other girls look for contours from bloodstream for the bedsheet of wedding couples (examination), the new bride obtains a present in the event of the girl verified virginity otherwise a conviction and censure in case of inability (sanctioning). Regarding the third step, a purple apple or a tray with oranges is sent just like the recognition with the bride’s mommy, exactly who awaits that it sign followed by family relations or neighbours on the girl household (Shagoyan 2011, Pogosyan 2010).

Profession browse conducted about mid-2000s revealed that karmir khndzor is actually did most carefully and you may diligently in rural places where gender norms had been more traditional and you may hierarchical. Regarding the towns, new habit got a far more average setting – this new ritual are performed however the virginity review is actually a whole lot more lenient (Temkina 2008, 2010). Several change enjoys aided redefine new practice given that 2000s (Temkina 2008, 2010, Pogosyan 2011). First, new ritual has been articulated from the public commentary of the media, NGOs together with ladies’ way, and also in informative discourse, academic programmes and you may school programmes on sex, sociology, psychology and you will similar professions. Virginity has-been politicised after numerous NGOs (Wo-men’s room Investment Center out-of Armenia, UTOPIANA, WOW) arranged performances aimed at deconstructing the new routine which have titles such as for instance ‘Yellow Apple is only to possess eating’ and you will ‘We invite one to new funeral service of the Red Fruit towards the 8 out-of .’ This has swayed the brand new perception off karmir khndzor by the younger generations just who turned prone to view it as the a keen old-designed practice of intimacy handle. Second, they became possible to produce virginity. Women who got premarital matchmaking you can expect to replicate its virginity due to their husbands and you can/otherwise moms and dads-in law of the undergoing a health hymenoplastic procedure to reconstruct new hymen and demonstrate the cultural purity and you can honourable femininity. By the medicalising the brand new karmir khndzor behavior, gynecologists could help lady to build a frequent biography and also to improve their lifetime chances to own a normal e alot more common to possess couples in order to refuse to be involved in the new routine otherwise to help you ‘save’ the brand new women’s virginity. Since sexual dating became significantly more liberal and you can considered to be owned by an independent industries away from personal lifestyle, karmir khndzor is directed to help you a good ceremonial and you will cultural symbol for the new federal relationship and contains forgotten the relationship to virginity, as for analogy is the situation out of a wedding veil in Russia.

Karmir khndzor is actually caught up on the tensions ranging from federal term and you will modernity. While the ritual signifies Armenian community and you can old-fashioned sex opportunities, people that deny the fresh routine chance are regarded as lower than best Armenian people and lady. Yet , people who rigidly follow the ritual was seen as backwards and you will traditional of the their competitors. Although not, pro- and you can fraud- thinking in order to karmir khndzor be more effective thought of as being located for the a spectrum. One another teenage boys and you may females can get object with the virginity decide to try acting as a procedure off control over their intimacy and personal existence. In other cases, women may prefer to remain its virginity in advance of wedding also to consider it a significant cultural customs one to fosters kinship solidarity. Certain get invest in keep their virginity, but hate the personal verification adopting the relationship. Many young people consider low-relationship gender given that acceptable for both males and females and you can envision karmir khndzor entirely archaic. Since the patriarchal intercourse system lost its rigidness, the range of ranks towards behavior indicate deficiencies in people social consensus concerning routine (select in depth scenarios getting starting the latest ritual during the Pogosyan 2010).

Recommendations

Poghosyan, A. 2010. A number of the top features of the transformation of heritage “Yellow apple”: Culture and you may Modernity in Armenian Community, Yerevan: Gitutyuan, 359-367

Shagoyan, Grams. 2011. ‘” One week, seven nights”: Vista of Armenian relationships, Institute away from Archaeology and you may Ethnography of National Academy from Sciences, RA, 496-509