Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ASHGABAT1136
2008-08-28 12:14:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:
TURKMENISTAN: RESTORING VIRGINITY GAINING
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 001136
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV SOCI TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: RESTORING VIRGINITY GAINING
POPULARITY DESPITE MEDICAL AND SOCIAL RISKS
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 001136
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV SOCI TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: RESTORING VIRGINITY GAINING
POPULARITY DESPITE MEDICAL AND SOCIAL RISKS
1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet.
2. (SBU) SUMMARY: Strong cultural traditions demanding a
girl be a virgin on her wedding night have made operations
designed to surgically recreate the semblance of virginity
more popular among young Turkmen women. While the operation
is relatively cheap compared to similar operations in Europe,
Turkmenistan has no qualified doctors or clinics capable of
safely perfoming the operation, and the procedure carries a
high risk of medical complications. Those who can't afford
the operation will try to marry in another region or risk
lying to their husbands. Showcasing a double standard, it is
also common for a man to have extramarital relations with
another woman and support her financially as a "second wife."
Because the value of virginity is grounded in cultural
practice, not religion, it is possible that as Turkmenistan
becomes more liberal, the perceived need for the procedure
will lessen. END SUMMARY.
3. (SBU) In Turkmenistan, strong cultural traditions demand
that a girl be a virgin on her wedding night. Premarital
relations on the part of a fiancee are considered perfidious,
and a husband will often kick her out if she is found to be
'tainted,' humiliating her family and severely limiting her
future opportunities. However, since the beginning of the
new regime, word of mouth has begun to popularize
hymenoplasty, an operation designed to surgically recreate
the semblance of virginity.
A DANGEROUS OPERATION AND NO QUALIFIED DOCTORS
4. (SBU) Turkmenistan has no sophisticated clinics capable
of safely performing the operation. Furthermore, most
Turkmen cannot travel easily outside the country to places
like Tunisia, where the procedure is routinely carried out.
Instead, Turkmen women must rely on gynecologists to secretly
perform the surgery, sometimes in their homes or in the
backroom of a clinic.
5. (SBU) The operation is frequently quite cheap - $100-200
or even less, as compared to Europe, where the surgery costs
several thousand dollars. It is a purely cosmetic procedure,
generally performed a few days before the wedding night.
However, there are practically no qualified Turkmen doctors
and few Russian-trained doctors available. Therefore, the
procedure is often performed painfully and incompetently,
possibly leading to further medical complications.
NO OPERATION, NO EXIT
6. (SBU) Those who cannot afford the operation have few
options. Some will lie about their virginity and hope the
husband will not find out. Others may be forced to marry in
another region, far away from their hometown. Even in
Ashgabat, the capital, it is customary for men to "do a
background check," finding out everything about a girl they
intend to wed. As one local put it, "Ashgabat is a small
city - everybody knows someone who knows you."
THE "TWO WIVES" PHENOMENON
7. (SBU) To a certain degree, some of these strict
traditions are loosening. Some couples will disclose
previous sexual activity to each other without seeking
approval from their families. Others are aware of it but
simply choose not to acknowledge it.
8. (SBU) A contradictory parallel to the increase in these
operations is the well-established "two wives" phenomenon,
when a man has obligations to two women. Usually the result
of loveless arranged marriages, the husband is bound to
support his legal wife but will frequently have a
relationship with another woman, whom he does not consider
ASHGABAT 00001136 002 OF 002
his mistress. He will support this "second wife" financially
and raise children with her. However, because this liaison
exists outside the realm of legal marriage, there is
potential for a lot of problems. For example, if the second
wife dies, who will take care of the children? These gray
areas illustrate the tension between an official legal system
and the often stronger cultural traditions of Turkmen
society.
9. (SBU) COMMENT: Although Turkmenistan is a predominantly
Muslim country, women seek out hymenoplasty for cultural, not
religious reasons. As increased Western investment brings
with it Western cultural practices, Turkmen youth are pulled
between a desire to be more sexually liberal and the demands
of a more traditional community. The risk of medical
complications arising from the procedure is heightened by the
ineptitude of doctors and the need to perform the surgery in
private. Still, because the value of virginity is grounded
in cultural prejudice, it is possible that as Turkmenistan
becomes more liberal, the perceived need for the procedure
will lessen. END COMMENT.
CURRAN
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV SOCI TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: RESTORING VIRGINITY GAINING
POPULARITY DESPITE MEDICAL AND SOCIAL RISKS
1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet.
2. (SBU) SUMMARY: Strong cultural traditions demanding a
girl be a virgin on her wedding night have made operations
designed to surgically recreate the semblance of virginity
more popular among young Turkmen women. While the operation
is relatively cheap compared to similar operations in Europe,
Turkmenistan has no qualified doctors or clinics capable of
safely perfoming the operation, and the procedure carries a
high risk of medical complications. Those who can't afford
the operation will try to marry in another region or risk
lying to their husbands. Showcasing a double standard, it is
also common for a man to have extramarital relations with
another woman and support her financially as a "second wife."
Because the value of virginity is grounded in cultural
practice, not religion, it is possible that as Turkmenistan
becomes more liberal, the perceived need for the procedure
will lessen. END SUMMARY.
3. (SBU) In Turkmenistan, strong cultural traditions demand
that a girl be a virgin on her wedding night. Premarital
relations on the part of a fiancee are considered perfidious,
and a husband will often kick her out if she is found to be
'tainted,' humiliating her family and severely limiting her
future opportunities. However, since the beginning of the
new regime, word of mouth has begun to popularize
hymenoplasty, an operation designed to surgically recreate
the semblance of virginity.
A DANGEROUS OPERATION AND NO QUALIFIED DOCTORS
4. (SBU) Turkmenistan has no sophisticated clinics capable
of safely performing the operation. Furthermore, most
Turkmen cannot travel easily outside the country to places
like Tunisia, where the procedure is routinely carried out.
Instead, Turkmen women must rely on gynecologists to secretly
perform the surgery, sometimes in their homes or in the
backroom of a clinic.
5. (SBU) The operation is frequently quite cheap - $100-200
or even less, as compared to Europe, where the surgery costs
several thousand dollars. It is a purely cosmetic procedure,
generally performed a few days before the wedding night.
However, there are practically no qualified Turkmen doctors
and few Russian-trained doctors available. Therefore, the
procedure is often performed painfully and incompetently,
possibly leading to further medical complications.
NO OPERATION, NO EXIT
6. (SBU) Those who cannot afford the operation have few
options. Some will lie about their virginity and hope the
husband will not find out. Others may be forced to marry in
another region, far away from their hometown. Even in
Ashgabat, the capital, it is customary for men to "do a
background check," finding out everything about a girl they
intend to wed. As one local put it, "Ashgabat is a small
city - everybody knows someone who knows you."
THE "TWO WIVES" PHENOMENON
7. (SBU) To a certain degree, some of these strict
traditions are loosening. Some couples will disclose
previous sexual activity to each other without seeking
approval from their families. Others are aware of it but
simply choose not to acknowledge it.
8. (SBU) A contradictory parallel to the increase in these
operations is the well-established "two wives" phenomenon,
when a man has obligations to two women. Usually the result
of loveless arranged marriages, the husband is bound to
support his legal wife but will frequently have a
relationship with another woman, whom he does not consider
ASHGABAT 00001136 002 OF 002
his mistress. He will support this "second wife" financially
and raise children with her. However, because this liaison
exists outside the realm of legal marriage, there is
potential for a lot of problems. For example, if the second
wife dies, who will take care of the children? These gray
areas illustrate the tension between an official legal system
and the often stronger cultural traditions of Turkmen
society.
9. (SBU) COMMENT: Although Turkmenistan is a predominantly
Muslim country, women seek out hymenoplasty for cultural, not
religious reasons. As increased Western investment brings
with it Western cultural practices, Turkmen youth are pulled
between a desire to be more sexually liberal and the demands
of a more traditional community. The risk of medical
complications arising from the procedure is heightened by the
ineptitude of doctors and the need to perform the surgery in
private. Still, because the value of virginity is grounded
in cultural prejudice, it is possible that as Turkmenistan
becomes more liberal, the perceived need for the procedure
will lessen. END COMMENT.
CURRAN