Human history is obsessed with virgins and virginity. They’re in religious texts, as alternating terms in our vernacular, peppered throughout our mythology, and embodied in our urban legend horror movies, teen dramas, and novels. We use the term “virgin” to refer to both purity and our first time trying something new. But what is actually behind the virgin curtain?

This episode delves into the complex and often stigmatized narratives surrounding virginity, especially on the roots of its significance and meaning and the role of media in shaping perceptions.