Changing to Stay the Same? The Re-Invention of Virginity Testing in South Africa

Abstract

Along the banks of the Umzimvubu River in the former Transkei1 several hundred girls wearing only skirts and coloured beads follow a group of eight older women through the burned veld to a circle of green grass. Once they reach the designated spot they take off what little clothing they are wearing and form a queue, waiting for their turn to be inspected. Our vantage point at the top of a hill overlooking the valley makes it difficult to make out exactly what is being done, but we are able to make out the woman who is performing the inspections – this is relatively easy since she is the only clothed figure in a mass of naked bodies.