Abstract
Virginity testing: UN Human Rights, UN Women, and the World Health Organisation (WHO) call for an end to gynaecological exams that aim to determine whether a woman or girl has engaged in vaginal activity.
The Two Finger Test, also known as the Per Vaginal Examination (PVE) or Virginity Test, is a controversial practice conducted in some countries to determine whether a woman is a virgin. This test involves the insertion of two fingers into the woman’s vagina to determine the presence or absence of a hymen, which some believe indicates virginity. However, using this test has been widely criticized as a violation of human rights, as it can cause physical and psychological harm to women.
“Virginity” is not a term used in medicine or science. Instead, the idea of “virginity” represents gender discrimination against women and girls as a social, cultural, and religious construct. The preconception that female libido should be restrained within marriage underlies the societal expectation that females should remain “virgins” (i.e., without engaging in sexual activity). This idea harms women and girls throughout the world. The Two Finger Test has been a controversial and debated topic in India for several years. This research paper analyses how India dealt with the Two Finger Test and its transition from controversy to progress.
The paper analyzes the legal, medical, and societal perspectives on the Two Finger Test and the alternative approaches proposed by experts and organizations. It reviews the Supreme Court’s observations on the Two Finger Test and the government’s guidelines on the practice. The paper’s conclusion highlighted the need for India to abandon the old-fashioned and intrusive Two Finger Test and embrace victim-centred, scientifically sound alternatives.
Keywords: two-finger test, virginity, Gender Stereotypes, sexual assault, Victim-Centered Approaches.
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