Men vs. Women

Carpenter’s article says the labels of “virgin” and “non-virgin” hold different meanings in terms of one’s gender identity.

“I found that women and men tend to interpret virginity loss differently, with women more apt to view virginity as a valuable gift and men more likely to see virginity as a stigma,” Carpenter says.

Mike Spear says there is a negative stereotype associated with men and virginity. {larger}

Mike Spear, sophomore marketing major, doesn’t like to talk about his virginity.

“I don’t tell people if they don’t ask,” Spear says. “For guys, there’s a really negative stereotype. The title bothers me because being a virgin is considered a definite flaw if you’re male.”

Spear compared the stereotype he faces with the one applied to women with multiple partners.

“It’s not right,” Spear says. “But I guess that’s just the way it is.”

Pat Blech, senior computer information systems major, lost his virginity at 15, but says he has witnessed this type of discrimination.

“If a girl walked in here right now and asked me to have sex, I would totally go for it. Unless she had a cold sore or something.”

“Calling a guy a virgin is almost like calling him a loser,” Blech says. “I don’t think that way, but a lot of people would say it’s like there’s something wrong with you.”

Spear admitted there are times he feels like “just getting it over with,” to escape being profiled.

“If a girl walked in here right now and asked me to have sex, I would totally go for it,” Spear says. “Unless she had a cold sore or something.”

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