Why is it okay for men to sleep around and then demand a virgin woman for a bride? The hadith says: “The woman and the man who fornicate – scourge each of them a hundred whips; and in the matter of God’s religion, let no tenderness for them seize you if you believe in God and the Last Day; and let a party of the believers witness their punishment”

What’s On-Gambiaspoke with a few young people in the Greater Banjul Area and they all said the way society views virginity is biased.

“If you are asking for a woman’s virginity, you should also prove yours. But you know what the problem is? We still live in a country where they use religion and culture to oppress women,” said one Maimuna Njie of Brusubi.

She revealed some girls spend thousands of dalasi to undergo reconstructive vaginal surgery at privately run clinics.

Derrick Jarju of Bijilo said: “I think it is very unfair of guys to insist on virginity when they themselves are not. It is all rubbish!”

In The Gambia, being a promiscuous girl is frowned upon. No one seems to believe that men should also stay virgins before marriage.

More on virginity coming soon!