Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Doctor Goes Viral With Video Challenging The Notion Of What It Means To 'Lose Your Virginity'

Doctor Goes Viral With Video Challenging The Notion Of What It Means To 'Lose Your Virginity'
@drjenniferlincoln/TikTok

It's no secret that sex education across the USA is an absolute grab bag of different approaches.

Some states require only abstinence is taught. In 22 states and the District of Columbia, HIV and STD education is required. In 26 states, there's no mandate for sex education whatsoever.


But these days, young people don't necessarily have to rely purely on their school's approach to sex ed. Plenty of youth can turn to a space like TikTok to learn about sexual health and what to expect.

Thankfully, there are some TikTok users offering some impressively insightful information about it all.

Dr. Jennifer Lincoln, an OBGYN who moonlights as a TikTok star, recently went viral after she shared her eye-opening approach to the concept of virginity.

It began when Lincoln asked her followers to answer the following, deceptively simple question:

"What is the definition of losing your virginity?"

Some offered answers that prioritized consent.

Brittney Brittain/TikTok


Liv/TikTok


how the hell did I get 70+/TikTok


hehe/TikTok


Others took a more pragmatic approach to the question, in so many words.

Darius Burnside/TikTok


erv/TikTok


Sing Iftheyfine/TikTok


Notifications/TikTok

As Dr. Lincoln continued following a brief pause, she explained the answer to the question is incredibly nuanced.

@drjenniferlincoln QUIZ: what counts as losing your virginity?? Drop your answer in the comments! ##healthclass ##birdsandthebees ##obgyn ##didyouknow
♬ Monkeys Spinning Monkeys - Kevin MacLeod
"Well there is no ONE answer for what losing your virginity is!"
"Maybe it's having vaginal sex. Maybe to you it's anal sex."
"But what about women who have sex with women? Do we just consider them virgins forever? I mean I don't think *they* would agree."
"There's no one scientific definition of losing your virginity. That's the point."

Dr. Lincoln then closed by leaning in and debunking another myth.

"And there's also no such thing as a "virginity test." No, your hymen doesn't matter."

She closed with a straightforward takeaway.

"Virginity is a social construct and not a very useful term, is it?"

Her TikTok followers shared how much they appreciated the safe space she created for learning.

When BuzzFeed News caught up with Dr. Lincoln following the popularity of the video, she explained she was prompted to post the information after some experiences she encountered at work.
"I often get questions from scared teenagers who want to know if they are still considered a virgin if they've done a certain activity. Why? Because society is obsessed with virginity and the idea that it indicates purity, which means you're dirty if you are no longer a virgin."
"Questions range from if just the tip of the penis goes in, or just goes in for a second, or if it's just oral sex – what counts? And my answer is always the same: There's no definition of virginity and your worth is SO much more than society's obsession with purity culture."

Dr. Lincoln went on to share her hope for a reformed approach to sex education.

"Imagine if we took just a percentage of the energy that goes into telling young people why they need to remain virgins until marriage and instead emphasized consent and understanding how their bodies worked in a medically accurate, comprehensive way?"
"Think of how impactful and empowering that would be! It is completely fine if you choose not to have sex or have your own definition of virginity – but don't let society define it for you, and through that define your worth."

One TikTok comment confirmed her approach was garnering the desired effect.

Ashely/TikTok

Of course, not all social media sources would be a good substitution for the lessons schools are typically tasked with teaching to young people.

But at least we have reputable experts like Dr. Lincoln to put out trustworthy content.

More from Trending

Donald Trump
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Trump Blasted For Announcing New Additions To The White House Lawn As Global Tensions Escalate

President Donald Trump was criticized after announcing that two new flagpoles would be added to the North and South Lawns of the White House—not the greatest look amid heightened global unease as tensions between Israel and Iran ramp up.

According to the Associated Press, Trump watched as a crane installed the newest flagpole on the South Lawn, remarking, “It’s such a beautiful pole.” He later returned to the site to salute as the American flag was raised for the first time.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshots of Donald Trump from CNN supercut
CNN

Trump Mocked For 'Two Weeks' Iran Deadline With Supercut Of All His 'Two Weeks' Promises

President Donald Trump has a history of promising to resolve problems within "two weeks," and a new viral supercut mocks him for all the times he's said as much—including right now with tensions in the Middle East higher than ever.

Trump said Thursday he will decide within two weeks whether to involve U.S. forces directly in the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran, citing what he called a “substantial chance” for renewed nuclear negotiations with Tehran.

Keep ReadingShow less
Lynda Carter; Screenshot of Donald Trump
Stephane Cardinale/Corbis via Getty Images; Newsmax

Lynda Carter Hilariously Channels Wonder Woman In Response To Trump's Claim About 'Undetectable' Planes

After President Donald Trump touted the U.S. military's "stealth" planes that he described as "undetectable," Wonder Woman star Lynda Carter responded to his claim with a funny quip sure to delight fans of her iconic character.

Earlier, Trump boasted about the military's capabilities in remarks to reporters in the Oval Office amid heightened concerns about the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict that is sending shockwaves throughout the Middle East and around the world:

Keep ReadingShow less
red flag with pole on seashore
Seoyeon Choi on Unsplash

People Break Down The 'Silent Red Flags' Folks Tend To Ignore In Relationships

A red flag has come to mean any warning sign in life, in addition to the literal red flags that are placed on beaches or industrial sites to warn people of danger.

People will respond to situations by saying, "That’s a red flag." But before that language evolved, they'd just call them "warning signs."

Keep ReadingShow less
Ted Cruz; Tucker Carlson
The Tucker Carlson Show

Tucker Carlson And Ted Cruz Get Into Shouting Match Over Iran In Bonkers Interview Clip

Texas Republican Senator Ted Cruz—a harsh Donald Trump critic-turned-MAGA minion—sat down with fired Fox News personality Tucker Carlson for the conservative influencer's self-produced online content,The Tucker Carlson Show, for the Tucker Carlson Network.

On Tuesday, Carlson shared a 1.5-minute clip revealing that things got contentious when the pair touched on the Trump administration's escalating tensions with Iran.

Keep ReadingShow less