I recently met a friend who is Turkish. This person is nearly 30 years old, never married, and is a virgin. I have no problem with that infact I admire that. Just curious: Is this common in Turkish culture? I know that Turkish culture is predominantly muslem. Does that have anything to do with it?
Unlike Hulya, I think it’s not that uncommon in Turkey. Men do not have a problem with their own virginity. However, Turkish society, especially at the rural parts of the country, girls are brought up with a traditional sense of virginity. Therefore it is normal that many would still be virgin until getting married. In general for Kurdish people, it is more important I guess.
If your friend is male, he could certainly have some issues. If female, then it is the way she is brought up. If she is living outside Turkey, or even in urban/western parts of Turkey, it wouldn’t sound that normal.
As you mentioned these traditions are related to the muslim culture. The difference is individuals are expected to get married before having sex, whether it is a male or female according to Islamic faith. So since only girls are expected to be virgin, it seems it’s more of traditional thing. In the past, I don’t know if people still do that or not, brides would have a red belt over the wedding dress, to symbolize the virginity.
Anyway, in all cases 30 year virgin sound funny, for a modern Turk. No offense.
Unlike Hulya, I think it’s not that uncommon in Turkey. Men do not have a problem with their own virginity. However, Turkish society, especially at the rural parts of the country, girls are brought up with a traditional sense of virginity. Therefore it is normal that many would still be virgin until getting married. In general for Kurdish people, it is more important I guess.
If your friend is male, he could certainly have some issues. If female, then it is the way she is brought up. If she is living outside Turkey, or even in urban/western parts of Turkey, it wouldn’t sound that normal.
As you mentioned these traditions are related to the muslim culture. The difference is individuals are expected to get married before having sex, whether it is a male or female according to Islamic faith. So since only girls are expected to be virgin, it seems it’s more of traditional thing. In the past, I don’t know if people still do that or not, brides would have a red belt over the wedding dress, to symbolize the virginity.
Anyway, in all cases 30 year virgin sound funny, for a modern Turk. No offense.
References :
In Turkey, Female 30 years old virgin is rare. Male 30 years old virgin is very rare.
It is difficult to explain by religious conservatism because people of conservative background or rural people would have already been married by then.
I think he or she is only shy. Extremely shy maybe.
References :
Turks are generally more uptight about sex than Americans or Europeans are. And yes, that’s partly due to the influence of Islam. In more traditional/conservative parts of the country (and you have such parts even in big cities like Istanbul), people usually don’t have sex before marriage. Guys can sometimes get around this rule by visiting brothels if there are any nearby, but girls have no way out. (Having a secret affair is dangerous. People routinely get ostracized or even murdered over things like that.) So if somebody living in a traditional community doesn’t get married until they are 30, there is a good chance that they may still be a virgin (esp. if they are a woman).
References :
Well, I’d say it’s different from the U.S. There are definitely less virgins in the U.S. than there are in Turkey. Just on the simple fact that statistics have shown that closer family relations makes people not want to lose their virginity until they’re married. Turkey, as most people know, has tight-knitted families that are very close. From my own opinions, I would think that this is the reason to why you’d find more virgins in Turkey. I really don’t think religion has a big part of this, unless the Turk is a very conservative or devout Muslim.
References :
Yes, we call them "Abazan" around here.
References :