Virginity is a construct. Critiquing Mina Loy “Feminist Manifesto”

Write a response, either agreeing or disagreeing, with Mina Loy’s revolutionary suggestion that women should undergo “unconditional surgical destruction of virginity” 

Virginity as a construct is a fact of innocence. The convolute qualities of this can mislead people to objectify and or interpret virginity with weakness, vulnerability and subservience. Mina Loy was a modernist poet and dada avant-garde artist who relentlessly pushed the envelope in every way possible to place her audience within the societal constraints and values of women at the time; as well as, make them reflect on their own morals and ideals.

In her feminist manifesto, Loy seeks to abolish the patriarchal tyranny and the unequal contextual confines women are stuck within as she states that “only method is absolute demolition.” Loy has the intense desire to destruct all the psychological and social institutions that keep women quiet and idle. Loy motivates women to abandon the reliance upon being validated by a man, instead, “seek within yourselves to find out what you are.”

“unconditional surgical destruction of virginity”

Loy argues how destructing this concept will relieve women of the material value of their  intimacy and sexuality. It will deter the notion of validity from man and allow women to lead independent and authentic lives without the reliance upon others to define such an integral part of it. Concepts like marriage, motherhood and domestic duties will be rewritten under this new liberation from ‘virginity’. 

Indeed, as a metaphor for women’s value and role in society, the destruction the concept of virginity would be beneficial. However, the compulsory and unconditional surgical destruction of it… isn’t that just another ‘person’ or ‘government’ telling women what they have to do with their body? Doesn’t this hinder the liberative movement of the cause?

The motivation for women to believe in themselves and seek justice, ironically relies upon the mans alleviation of domestic and crude prejudice’s as well as values that commodify and objectify women’s sexuality. Without this movement from both parties the cause can remain stagnant.

Women and men should both undergo the “unconditional surgical destruction of virginity” in order to highlight equality and remove the negativity associated with “virginity”.