The Supreme Court, on 29 September, ruled that all women, whether married or unmarried, are entitled to safe and legal abortion till 24 weeks of pregnancy. This judgment is historic, for it ultimately ensures that a woman alone has the authority over her body. The ruling has received praise from women's rights activists and health professionals alike, with many pointing out its significance in a post-Roe v Wade world.
The fact, however, remains that the permeation of patriarchy with respect to a woman's body is not limited to pregnancy or abortion. Even for basic tests concerning reproductive health, women must hold up their marital status, and often, they are denied services if they are unmarried.
Why? Because of a little tissue called the hymen in the vagina, which is widely associated with the concept of virginity, but in reality, has nothing to do with it. The myth of virginity, or the misogynist misconception that a woman's worth is defined by whether or not her hymen is intact, is so pervasive that women often face discrimination when they are undergoing vital tests for reproductive health.