VIRGINITY IN THE OLD TESTAMENT AND CONTEMPORARY NIGERIAN SOCIETY (A CASE STUDY OF GOMBE STATE)

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

The word “virginity” first appeared in the 13th century, most frequently in reference to a young woman who has never had sexual intercourse with any man. This does not mean that only heterosexual young women are virgins. Anyone who has never had sexual intercourse, male or female, can be considered a virgin. Virginity is associated mostly with girls for two reasons. First, virginity traditionally has been, and still is, viewed form society’s dominant male and heterosexual perspective. A girl is considered to have lost her virginity only when a male organ has penetrated her. The second reason is because a girl’s hymen is ruptured which is associated with bleeding, which has long been considered as an evidence of sexual intercourse, (Annie Leah& Michael A. Sommers, 2000). Physical health and the emotional well-being of a person represent the central components of a person’s sexual health, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). As defined by the WHO in 2002: Sexual health is a point of physical, emotional, mental and social well-being of a person related to sexuality; it is not absolutely the absence of disease, dysfunction or infirmity. Sexual health requires a positive, respectful and proper approach to sexuality and sexual relationship, and also the possibility of having pleasure and protected sexual experiences which is free of coercion, discrimination and violence from the other partner.

Throughout human history a women's life was said to have depend on her virginity. A woman who loses her virginity before getting married legally was punished: she was not honored, her family loses honor, no man wanted to marry her and in different cases she was killed. It did not matter if she lost her virginity voluntarily, or if she was raped. Women who lost their virginity when they were not yet married were denied the right to their family inheritance. This made life extremely difficult for them and as a result of that, many of these women ended up in prostitution. In most parts of the world, till today there are known as “honor crimes." Women who lose their virginity before marriage, whether she lost it voluntarily or if she was raped, she can be beaten or killed by the family. Justification for this was that her father, brother or another male relative thinks she has done an abominable thing "not fair". According to the “Kanun of Lekë Dukagjini” (a 15th century Law instituted in Northern Albania), which was used by Albanians until the beginning of the 20th century because of lack of state laws,” if a girl refuses a person that has proposed and there are no intensify circumstances she must therefore, remain a virgin till she dies”.

STATEMENT OF THE GENRAL PROBLEM

Virginity in the Old Testament was seen as a thing of pride and people strive to remain virgins before marriage but regrettably that has not been the case in the contemporary Nigerian society. The menace of sexual rascality hand the low level of sexual abstinence has been a major problem especially for the Nigerian youth. the moral decadence in the Nigerian society has led to the high level of disvirginity as youths have thrown caution to the wind and has attached little or no importance to virginity as before marriage, this has affected several young marriages as the issue of trust has always reared its ugly head thus leading the broken homes and high level of divorce in the society.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The major aim of the study is to compare virginity in the Old Testament with the contemporary Nigerian society. Other specific objectives of the study include;

1. To examine the importance of virginity in the Nigerian contemporary society.
2. To assess the current level of the importance attached to virginity in the contemporary Nigerian society.
3. To recommend ways of reducing the moral decadence in the Nigerian contemporary society

RESEARCH QUESTIONS

1. What is the relationship between virginity in the Old Testament and the contemporary Nigerian society?
2. What is the importance of virginity in the Nigerian contemporary society?
3. What is the current level of the importance attached to virginity in the contemporary Nigerian society?
4. What are the ways of reducing the moral decadence in the Nigerian contemporary society?

RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS

H0: Virginity is not seen as an important topic in the contemporary Nigerian society.

H1: Virginity is seen as an important topic in the contemporary Nigerian society.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The study would be of immense importance to the generality of Nigerians as it would examine the concept of virginity in the Old Testament while at the same time compare it with the contemporary Nigerian society. The study would also be of immense importance to students, scholars and researchers who are interested in developing further study on the subject matter.

SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

The study is limited to virginity in the Old Testament and the contemporary Nigerian society.

LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

Financial constraint- Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).

Time constraint- The researcher will simultaneously engage in this study with other academic work. This consequently will cut down on the time devoted for the research work.