Remember when TI decided that it would be a really great idea to announce to the world that he takes his daughter to the doctor so that she can have her hymen checked? It feels like a million years have passed since then, but it was actually all of a month ago.
After being dragged to hell and back, and finally admitting that he regrets making the comments, New York State have moved to ban hymen checks.
State lawmakers over in New York have introduced legislation that would make it illegal for any doctors in the state to perform the sorts of ‘virginity checks’ that TI described. A note about the bill written by lawmakers said that it was designed “to prevent the performance of hymen examinations on women as a means to ascertain whether a woman is a virgin.”
“These examinations are not only a violation of women’s and girls’ human rights, but in cases of rape can cause additional pain and mimic the original act of sexual violence, leading to re-experience, re-traumatization and re-victimization,” the note said.
“Many women suffer from adverse short- and long-term physical, psychological and social consequences of this practice. This includes anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress. In extreme cases, women or girls may attempt suicide or be killed in the name of ‘honour.'”
Virginity is a social construct, but it’s also something that is used to control women on an unprecedented scale. If a celebrity like TI is seen laughing off the seriousness of taking his daughter to get hymen checks, then what sort of message does that send to people who might be considering doing the same? Not a good one, that’s for sure.
New York State realising the seriousness of his comments is a breath of fresh air in what’s been a ridiculous saga. The whole situation is bad, but at least something good has come of it all.