Lesson video

Hello, my name's Ms. Wellow and I'm going to be your teacher for today's lesson.

Today's lesson is called hymenoplasty and virginity testing, and it fits into the unit, "Staying Safe and Healthy: Forced Marriage, FGM, Hymenoplasty, and Virginity Testing".

During this lesson, we are going to be talking about sexual violence and sensitive content so for this lesson, we require you to have an adult with you.

If you don't have an adult with you at the moment, please come back to this lesson when you do have one with you.

If at any point during this lesson you do feel worried or uncomfortable, it's really important that you stop the lesson and that you speak to a trusted adult.

Okay, let's make a start.

By the end of today's lesson, you'll be able to explain why virginity testing and hymenoplasty are harmful illegal practices and you'll be able to explain where to seek help and support.

Before we get started with today's lesson, we need to go over some ground rules.

These help to make sure that everyone feels safe and comfortable during today's lesson.

First of all, Laura says that we need to listen to others.

It's okay to disagree with each other, but we should always listen properly before we make any assumptions or before we decide how to respond.

When we disagree with someone else, it's important to challenge the statement and not the person themselves.

Next, Andeep says that we need to respect each other's privacy.

We can discuss examples, but we shouldn't use any names or descriptions that could identify anyone, including ourselves.

If we want to share a story or an experience, we can refer to someone as "my friend".

This means that we're not going to give away any identifying information.

Next, Jacob says, "No judgment.

We can explore any beliefs and misunderstandings that we have about a topic without fear of being judged by others." And finally, Izzy says that we can choose our level of participation.

Everyone has the right to choose not to answer a question or to join in with discussion.

We should never put anyone on the spot.

We're now going to take a look at the keywords for today's lesson.

Our first keyword is virginity testing.

This is a medically invalid and harmful procedure that attempts to determine whether a girl or woman has had sexual intercourse.

And next, we have hymenoplasty.

This is a surgical procedure to repair or restore the hymen, often linked to controlling women and girls.

Today's lesson is split into three learning cycles.

Our first learning cycle is called, "What are virginity testing and hymenoplasty?" Our second learning cycle is called, "Why are these practices harmful and illegal?" And our last learning cycle is called, "Where can people get help or report concerns?" Let's make a start on our first learning cycle, "What are virginity testing and hymenoplasty?" First of all, we're going to answer the question, "What is virginity testing?" Virginity testing is when someone tries to check if a girl or a woman has had sexual intercourse by examining her body.

This usually involves looking at or touching the hymen, a thin piece of tissue at the entrance of the vagina.

This is not medically possible and it has no scientific or moral basis.

Now we're going to talk about understanding the hymen.

So the hymen varies naturally in shape and size between individuals.

Some people are born with very little hymen tissue.

It can stretch or tear for many reasons unrelated to sexual intercourse, including physical activity, using tampons, masturbation, or simply as the body develops.

The presence or appearance of the hymen tells us nothing about whether someone has had sex, which is why virginity testing cannot tell us anything reliable.

Sophia asks, "So there's no real way to test someone's virginity?" Dr.

Elsie says, "Exactly.

The World Health Organization, often called the W-H-O, WHO, is the world's leading health authority.

They state that virginity testing has no scientific validity, meaning it has no medical basis and cannot prove anything about whether someone has had sex.

Let's do a check for understanding to see how you're doing.

I'd like you to decide if the statement is true or false.

"Virginity testing has no scientific validity." What do you think? Is this true or false? Pause the video, talk to the people around you, or have a think to yourself.

Well done if you said that this is true, but why? You might have said that the W-H-O, or WHO, the world's leading health authority confirms that has no medical basis and cannot prove anything about whether someone has had sex.

Well done if your answer was something like this.

Now we're going to answer the question, "What is hymenoplasty?" Hymenoplasty is surgery that claims to repair or restore the hymen.

It's sometimes done so that a person can appear to bleed during sex, based on myths about purity, being untouched or innocent before marriage.

Throughout history, many cultures have believed that women should bleed during their first sexual experience, viewing this as proof of virginity.

However, not everyone bleeds during first time sex.

Bleeding is not a reliable sign of virginity.

The hymen varies naturally between people and can change for many reasons unrelated to sex.

These ideas about purity were often about controlling women and treating them as property.

Today, we understand that everyone has equal rights regardless of their gender and that no one should be controlled or judged based on their body or their sexual history.

Ideas about virginity can be different across cultures and religions, but everyone deserves the same rights, regardless of what culture or religion they belong to.

No matter what someone believes, bodily autonomy, which is the right to make choices about your own body, and consent are universal human rights that must always be respected.

Jack says, "So it's more about control and expectations than health?" Dr.

Elsie says, "Yes.

It's about social pressure, not science.

No one should feel forced to undergo any procedure to meet someone else's expectations about their body." Let's do another check for understanding.

Which of the following statements about virginity testing are correct? A, it can accurately show if someone has had sex.

B, it has no scientific or medical basis.

C, it's based on myths about purity and control or D, it accurately measures changes to the hymen.

Which of those statements about virginity testing are correct? Pause the video, talk to the people around you, or have a think to yourself.

Well done if you said that B and C are correct.

Virginity testing has no scientific or medical basis and it's based on myths about purity and control.

Well done if you got this right.

We're now moving on to our first practice task and well done for your hard work in this lesson so far.

I'd like you to complete the paragraph with the correct missing words.

"Virginity testing and blank are practices based on blank about virginity and female blank.

Virginity testing involves examining a girl or a woman's blank to try to find out if she has had sex.

It has no blank basis.

Hymenoplasty, is surgery that claims to blank the hymen.

The idea that bleeding during first time sex proves blank is a myth.

Both virginity testing and hymenoplasty go against the ideas of blank, as everyone has the right to make choices about their own body." Let's take a look at the words in our word bank.

Hymen, scientific, repair, purity, consent, virginity testing, myths, truth, hymenoplasty, and virginity.

Can you decide which words from our word bank fit into our paragraph? Pause the video and we'll go through the completed paragraph in a few minutes.

Okay.

Let's see what your completed paragraph should look like.

Your completed paragraph should look like this.

"Virginity testing and hymenoplasty are practices based on myths about virginity and female purity.

Virginity testing involves examining a girl or woman's hymen to try to find out if she has had sex.

It has no scientific basis.

Hymenoplasty is surgery that claims to repair the hymen.

The idea that bleeding during first time sex proves virginity is a myth.

Both virginity testing and hymenoplasty go against the ideas of consent, as everyone has the right to make choices about their own body." Well done if you spotted that the words virginity testing and truth don't fit.

We're now moving on to our second learning cycle, "Why are these practices harmful and illegal?" Dr.

Elsie explains that these practices can cause serious physical and emotional harm.

The pain and trauma can last for months or years.

They can damage someone's trust, self-esteem, and confidence.

Jack says, "So it's not just about physical pain, it's about how it makes someone feel too?" Dr.

Elsie says, "Exactly.

The emotional damage can be just as serious as the physical." People who experience these practices may feel fear or confusion, shame or guilt, difficulty trusting others, anxiety or trauma when thinking about their body, and physical harms can include pain during and after the procedure, infection, scarring, and ongoing medical complications.

Let's do a check for understanding to see how you're doing with this learning cycle so far.

What types of harm can these practices cause? Pause the video, talk to people around you, or have a think to yourself.

Your answers might have included the following, physical pain, infection, fear, shame, and emotional trauma.

Well done if you had these ideas or something similar.

Sophia says, "That sounds like something that could affect someone for years!" and Dr.

Elsie says that it often does.

That's why support and legal protection is so important.

Whether someone needs help to prevent these practices or support to recover from them, it's important to remember that there are people and services ready to help.

Police Officer Kofi says that these practices are often used to control women and girls, not to care for them.

They send the message that someone's worth depends on their virginity or purity, which is untrue and unfair.

UK law protects people from any act that causes harm or removes their choice.

The Health and Care Act 2022 made virginity testing and hymenoplasty specific criminal offenses.

It's illegal to perform or help perform virginity testing or hymenoplasty.

It's illegal to take someone abroad to have it done, and it's illegal to fail to protect someone under 16 from these acts.

Anyone found guilty of these offenses can face up to five years in prison and or an unlimited fine.

Let's do a check for understanding.

Which of the following statements about virginity testing and hymenoplasty are true under UK law? A, they're illegal to perform or help perform in the UK.

B, it's illegal to take someone abroad for these procedures or C, they're legal if parents or guardians give permission.

Which of those statements about virginity testing and hymenoplasty are true under UK law? Pause the video, talk to the people around you, or have a think to yourself.

Well done if you said that A and B are correct.

It's true that virginity testing and hymenoplasty are illegal to perform or help perform in the UK and it's also illegal to take someone abroad for these procedures.

Well done if you got this right.

These practices go against human rights.

A key human rights is bodily autonomy, but these practices often involve pressure that takes away real choice.

Consent means having a genuine choice without fear, pressure, or control.

These practices are never truly consensual because they often happen when someone feels scared or forced to agree.

If someone agrees because they're scared or pressured, this isn't real consent.

The law protects people from being forced or controlled.

This means that even if someone appears to agree, those performing these practices can still face criminal charges.

Everyone has the right to safety and dignity, to privacy, to control over their own body, to equal treatment regardless of their gender, and to freedom from violence and harmful practices.

Virginity testing and hymenoplasty violate all of these rights.

Let's do another check for understanding.

I'd like you to decide if the statement is true or false.

"If someone says yes because they're scared of upsetting their family, they're still giving consent." What do you think? Is this true or false? Pause the video, talk to people around you, or have a think to yourself.

Well done if you said that this is false, but why? You might have said that consent must be given freely and when someone feels safe.

Agreeing out of fear or pressure isn't real consent.

Well done if you said this or something similar.

We're now moving on to our second practice task and well done for your hard work in this lesson so far.

I'd like you to answer the following questions.

Number one, why are virginity testing and hymenoplasty considered harmful? And number two, what does the law say about virginity testing and hymenoplasty in the UK? Pause the video and we'll go through some model answers in a few minutes.

Okay, let's see what you might have said.

For question one, "Why are virginity testing and hymenoplasty considered harmful?" You might have said that virginity testing and hymenoplasty are harmful because they can cause physical pain, fear, and long-term emotional trauma.

These practices make people feel ashamed or controlled and can damage their confidence and mental health.

Number two, "What does the law say about virginity testing and hymenoplasty in the UK?" You might have said that the Health and Care Act 2022 says that it's illegal to perform or to help perform virginity testing or hymenoplasty in the UK.

It's also illegal to take someone abroad for these procedures or to fail to protect someone under 16 from them.

Well done if your answers with something like this.

We're now moving on to our final learning cycle, "Where can people get help or report concerns?" Josephine, who's a charity helpline worker, says that if someone is worried about virginity testing or hymenoplasty, it's important to know that help and protection are available.

No one should ever face these practices alone.

There are trusted adults and organizations who can help.

Talking to a trusted adult is the first step in getting help.

Jack says, "What if the person they're scared of is in their family?" Ms. Walsh says that they should tell a teacher, safeguarding lead, the police, or a helpline.

They can help to keep them safe.

Every school has designated safeguarding leads who are trained to listen, support, and act if someone is at risk of harm.

If a people shares a concern, they will listen carefully, take the concern seriously, and get the right help to keep that person safe.

Here we have Ms. Walsh.

She's the designated safeguarding lead at Oak National Academy.

Ms. Walsh says that after someone reports a concern, we might contact the police or social care if more help is needed and we'll support them every step of the way.

They're never left to deal with it alone.

There are free confidential helplines that anyone can contact, including Childline on 0800 1111, NSPCC on 0808 800 5000, and the Forced Marriage Unit, who can be contacted on 020 7008 0151.

It's also important to know that the FMU helps with forced marriage and related concerns, including virginity testing and hymenoplasty.

The helpline worker will listen without judgment and help the caller to talk about how they feel.

The worker can also give confidential advice and connect the caller to organizations that keep people safe.

Let's do a check for understanding.

Which of the following are safe and confidential ways to get help? A, Childline.

B, NSPCC.

C, social media influencers or D, the Forced Marriage Unit.

Which of those are safe and confidential ways to get help? Pause the video, talk to the people around you, or have a think to yourself.

Well done if you said that A, B, and D are correct.

If we want to get safe and confidential help, we can contact Childline, the NSPCC, or the Forced Marriage Unit.

Or a DSL at our school.

Well done if you got this right.

Dr.

Elsie says that the NHS can help with medical care and emotional support too.

Doctors and nurses can treat any physical pain or injury safely.

They can also help someone talk about how they're feeling, arrange counseling, and connect them with safeguarding services if they're at risk.

Everything shared is kept confidential unless someone's safety is in danger, then we act to protect them.

Police Officer Paula says that the police can protect anyone at risk and stop a crime from happening.

Our role is to protect, not to blame or shame.

We could stop someone at risk of hymenoplasty or virginity testing from being taken abroad, investigate what's happening, and make sure that the people involved are held accountable under the law.

Let's do another check for understanding.

Who could someone tell if they were worried about virginity testing or hymenoplasty? What do you think? Pause the video, talk to the people around you, or have a think to yourself.

Well done if you had some of the following ideas.

A teacher, the school's DSL, a designated safeguarding lead, a helpline like Childline, a police officer, an NHS worker, such as a doctor or nurse.

Well done if your ideas were something like this.

We're now moving on to our final practice task and well done for your hard work in this lesson so far.

Ann's family is planning to take her abroad for a medical check before her wedding.

She's worried and she's not sure who to speak to.

How could each of these people help her? Here we have a designated safeguarding lead, a helpline worker, and a police officer.

Pause the video and we'll go through some model answers in a few minutes.

Okay, let's see what your answers might have looked like.

For designated safeguarding lead, you might have said that A DSL would listen carefully to Ann, take her concern seriously, and make sure that she's safe.

She would contact the right services such as social care or the police to protect Ann and prevent her from being taken abroad for something harmful.

She would support Ann throughout the process and ensure that she doesn't have to deal with this alone.

You might have said that a helpline worker would listen without judgment.

Help Ann talk about how she feels and explain her options.

They'd give her confidential advice and connect Ann to organizations that help keep people safe, such as the NSPCC or Childline.

A police officer would act quickly to keep Ann safe.

They could stop Ann from being taken abroad, investigate what's happening, and make sure the people involved are held accountable under the law.

Their role is to protect Ann, not to blame her or her family, and she would work with other services to ensure Ann's safety.

We're now going to summarize the key learning from today's lesson.

In today's lesson, we've learned that virginity testing and hymenoplasty are harmful and illegal practices.

They're based on myths about virginity and purity, and the WHO confirms that virginity testing has no scientific validity.

These practices can cause serious physical pain and emotional harm, and they take away a person's right to make choices about their own body, often called their bodily autonomy.

UK law protects people from these acts even if they happen abroad.

The Health and Care Act 2022 made these practices criminal offenses with penalties of up to five years in prison.

If someone needs support, they should speak to a trusted adult like a DSL, GP, or a nurse, or they could call a helpline like Childline for safe and confidential support.

During this lesson, you might have found that you've got some worries or questions, and if you do, it's really important that you share these with a trusted adult.

There's also some resources on the screen that are there to help you too.

Well done for your hard work today.

I hope to see you again soon.