1. Objectifs

Intentions :
«The present work centres around the question of the virginity imperative, a social contract and regime of power that regulates women’s bodies through disciplinary devices surrounding the socially constructed notion of female virginity. Through participant observation and interviews with young people of Iranian origin residing in Montreal, I explain why the virginity imperative persists among this population. » (p. iv)

Questions/Hypothèses :
«Why does the emphasis on female virginity persist among Iranians, even those who claim to be more ''modern'', ''secular'' or ''enlightened'' (roshanfekr)?» (p. 103)

2. Méthode

Échantillon/Matériau :
L’échantillon comporte 30 jeunes, dont 21 femmes et 9 hommes, tous d’origine iranienne et résidant à Montréal.

Instruments :
Guide d’entretien

Type de traitement des données :
Analyse de contenu

3. Résumé

«Through description of women’s social navigation […] of marriage and education, I argue that women’s apparent collusion with restrictive norms does not undermine their agency, but indicates their ability to make decisions that maximize social benefits given their particular circumstances. […] I argue [that] the virginity imperative operates to categorize women according to a virgin/whore dichotomy, rendering unliveable the lives of those who do not adequately perform virginity.» (p. iv) «[F]or these women, performing to the standards of such imperatives was instrumental to living liveable lives, for saving (or maintaining) face, and for ensuring a chance at what they considered a good marriage, something that remains incredibly important in the lives of young Iranians, women in particular. Specifically, hypergyny entails financial benefits for women that it seems many aren’t ready to let go of, and with justification. The support and stability of marriage seems to be something these women are interested in, while sexual relations are something they tended to downplay, even if they conceded that a good sexual relationship was important to marriage.» (p. 104) Furthermore, «I argue that men’s preference for virgin women is incompatible with the love marriages they claim to aspire to, and that men lack reflexivity of the consequences for women of attitudes that reinforce the virginity imperative.» (p. iv)