Nevermore: The Hymen and the Loss of Virginity

The loss of virginity is irreversible. Even God, who performs all sorts of miracles, parts the seas, raises the dead, cannot, according to our religious traditions, reverse its finality. Even in today's sexually permissive world, the loss of virginity is an important developmental milestone that marks the passage to adult sexuality. On one side of the threshold lies Peter Pan's never-never land, a world of perpetual childhood. On the other lies adult sexuality, procreation and parenthood, and ultimately death. This text focuses on the meanings of the loss of virginity. Using examples from myths, literature, and their extensive clinical practice, the authors demonstrate the importance of this milestone in understanding the psychology of women as well as the ways in which men relate to women.