Survey

Table 2 (male) and Table 3 (female) shows the male and female responses on how they
perceived the following statements. As gleaned in both tabular presentations it showcases the
number of respondents answer in a particular category and also its percentage so we can easily
determine the highest obtained value of each item.
In item 1, A woman who is pure and chase is desirable to a potential partner. Out of 30
respondents, 13(43.33%) of male answers Strongly Agree while 15 out of 30 (50%) female
respondents said that they Strongly Agree that a woman who is pure and chase is desirable to a
potential partner. Its almost the same with statement 2, that says, A womans purity and chastity
is a gift she can give to her future husband. Most male answer Strongly Agree, 17 (56.67%)
falls into this answer and 20 (66.67%)out of 30 female respondents also Strongly Agree that
chastity is the best gift you can give to your future husband.
In item 3, states that Man and Woman can have sex just for fun if both agree to it.
obtained a computed percentage of 36.67% (11 out of 30) of male respondents which was
descriptively interpreted as Strongly Disagree. 15 (50%) out of 30 of the female respondents
answered Strongly Disagree. Their answer shows that pre-marital sex is not acceptable.
Item 4, A couple who is planning to get married can engage to premarital sex. That
capture 12 (40%) out of 30 of the male respondents, it gains the descriptive value as Neutral.
But the researcher gets a different view in the female respondents, most female falls in Strongly
Disagree. We can see that in this item both gender have their different perceptions. Male
respondents said that it is fine to practice premarital sex to those couples that is planning to get
married in the future while female respondents said that it is not fine at all.
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The next statement that follow is item 5, states A woman is still respectable even if she
practices premarital sex. Both 10 from male and female respondents falls on neutral.
Respondents perceived this item as just fair. Some say that they still see a woman respectable
even if she already practices premarital sex. Two female respondents and 4 from male
respondents strongly disagree that women deserves respect after engaging in premarital sex.
In the same table, item 6, Sex is an important personal milestone for woman. Most
male respondents said that they are Agree but not strongly that it is a breakthrough for a
woman when they have sex for the first time. While female has a different view in this item,
most woman said that it is just neutral means that most women is the middle of decision whether
sex is an important personal milestone or not. It is the same manner in another item, item 7 says
A woman is engaged in premarital sex is socially acceptable. Both respondents say that they
are Agree to this statement.
Further examination of the same table, item 8 states that Unmarried woman who retains
her purity is view as respectable. Obtained a highest value of 36.67% or 11 out of 30 male
respondents answered Strongly Agree. Likewise, female respondents say that they are
Strongly Agree.
It is almost the same thing with the next item as what item 9, states Chastity is a value
that every woman has to maintain. As to relate in the previous item it also get the descriptive
value as Strongly Agree. 12 out 30 male respondents fall in to this category. And 12 out of 30
female respondents Agree but not strongly. Male respondents believed virginity is of great
value for every woman while other female respondents do not share the same perception.

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The final item state that, In a pre-marital relationship, sex is necessary. Most male
respondents answer under the Neutral column. Ten (33.33%) out of 30 of them think that it is
sometimes needed to a relationship to have sex while female respondents also find it as a
Neutral. They are open to idea that sex is sometimes necessary. Nine male respondents
strongly agree that sex is necessary to pre-marital relationship while 2 (6.67%) of female
respondents share the same thought. However, one (3.33%) male respondent and nine (30%) of
female respondents strongly disagree that sex is necessary to pre-marital relationship.
Focus Group Discussion
In this section, were going to present the main findings of our research drawn upon our
participants insights regarding values on virginity. Findings focused on three main topic
sections, including: (1) the meanings of the female virginity, (2) virginity value before or after
marriage, (3) virginity as an attribute of woman.
First of all, there existed different perceptions about female virginity and the cultural
meanings of virginity. The common definition of female virginity is an intact hymen. The moral
aspect of virginity played a crucial role in participants perceptions; it relates to a variety of
characteristics that men applied to define a virgin woman, such as: faithfulness, purity, selfcontrol, respectfulness, and being a good woman. Men only value the virginity of the women
who they consider as potential wives. For other relations (friendships or prostitution), virginity is
not a concern. As for female participants, virginity is a moral attribute of a woman.
Cultural values of virginity
Female virginity is defined differently among different participants. In the literal sense,
virginity is understood as the state of the hymen being untouched and sexual abstinence. In the
figurative sense, it refers to a numbers of moral attributes of the woman, such as: purity,
Cabaltierra,marasigan,banto,abuan,deato

faithfulness, dignity, the respect she gives to her future husband, and her self-control. Some
participants distinguished two aspects of virginity; some just referred to the biological meaning
(the hymen untouched); some others looked at the figurative sense of virginity as interpreting the
womans moral value.
Virginity value: before or after marriage. When it comes to valuing virginity, participants
were asked if the only way to show it is to give up virginity through the presence of marriage. Or
if a woman doesnt believe in marriage but she give up her virginity to someone she really in
love with, could that be considered valuing virginity? Responses from the participants vary.
Female participants believed that to show value on virginity one must give up virginity under
matrimony. Regardless of any emotion attached to the act, once it is done outside marriage, there
is no value given to it. Contrary to male participants responses that they considered an act with
emotion or feeling such as love even without matrimony, there is still value given to virginity.
Even without matrimony. It depends on the woman, lets say youre not married but she
loves you thats why she gave you her virginity. If there is a presence of love when she give
that up then I can say that she still value her virginity.
Male, 27 years old
For me there should be matrimony first before you give your virginity so as to say that you
really value your virginity. I think I had read something before that you will only give
yourself to someone who will give you a ring.
(Female, 20 years old)
Virginity as an attribute of woman. Male and female participants agreed that retaining
virginity is a good characteristic of woman. However they differ on degree, male participants
believe that though its a good trait for a woman to remain virgin before marriage it is not the

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whole thing that makes a woman. On the other hand female participants strongly agreed that
virginity is a must possess characteristic of every woman.
Retaining virginity before marriage can create a good impression on any woman. What
happens if a woman is not a virgin? How do men react to this situation? Participants had
different reactions when asked how they would respond if their future wife were not a virgin.
Responses are temporarily divided into two groups (objecting and tolerating). According to the
participants it will surely has some effect on how someone appear on public. As for the two male
participants, knowing that someone already touches their women before them is a punch to
their pride. Having a virgin as future wife adds to their masculinity. They believed that men want
their women to stay pure and untouched.
Of course as a man we want our woman to be virgin. It has points or merits. Its like, I am
her first. Nobody touched her before me. Like I put fingerprint to it. I think it lessen the
moral value of the woman if she is no longer a virgin. For example youre planning to get
married then some guy says oh I had sex with his bride. As a guy it has some kind of punch
in my pride knowing that other guy had an intimate moment with her. Yes it has certain
effect.
Male, 27 years old
Because thats the only thing that you can give to your future husband. So I strongly agree.
(Female, 20 years old)

Me, I agree but I dont believe that it is the only thing that you can give. For example if a
woman is no longer virgin, it would not lessen her value as a person.
Female, 28 years old

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In the old days people value virginity more. Since Spanish time, purity and chastity has been
expected from woman. It was considered to be a moral obligation of women to maintain their
virginity. However, the degree of importance given to virginity has change through the years. As
most participants attest that young people today differ in terms of how people from the past
valued virginity. Here is one of the participants response:
For me, we are in modern time. Everything has changed. Before, during our grandparents
time, married first before umm, you know what I mean. Its how we were. Today, sex is
something normal within unmarried couple. Its no surprised that many young women get
pregnant.
Male, 27 years old
Despite this remarkable difference, male participants believe that virgin women are still
more desirable compare to non-virgin. They may not entirely expect it from their current/future
partner but they cant deny the fact that there is slight disappointment if they found out that their
partner is no longer pure. It goes back to the masculinity issue of Filipino men called machismo.
One male participant claimed that it doesnt matter if the woman is a virgin or not. He believed
that its her past and its unfair to judge a woman base on her past. Two of the female participants
expressed different reason on why they believe there has some kind of effect on woman who is
no longer a virgin. One is its very degrading on the womans part. The other is, it makes a
woman looked like a whore. One female participant said that there is no effect on her. She
believed that virginity doesnt define the totality of a woman.
It makes me look at someone differently. I know someone who I used to respect and looked
up to, then I learned that she engaged in pre-marital sex. That, engaging in pre-marital sex
cause a certain effect on how I look at her now.
Female, 20 years old
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For me they are still socially acceptable because as long as they are not doing anything
wrong and they are not a parasite of this society, no reason for me not to accept and respect
them.
Female, 28 years old
Discussion and Conclusion
The purpose of this study was to explore the perceptions of Meycauayan College students
about valuing virginity. The respondents age range 18-28 years old. The survey revealed
majority of the respondents (male 90% and female 66.6%) moderately values virginity. The 10%
of male respondents highly values virginity while 30% of female respondents highly values
virginity. Surprisingly, 1 female respondent got a low valued virginity remark while male
respondents got none.
According to this, it is much desirable for a man to have a partner that is pure and
chaste. Most of women valued virginity as a gift that can give to her future husband. Unmarried
female got much respect from both male and female if she retains her purity. Male and female
respondents strongly disagree that sex is just for fun.
Though some men and women values virginity, they still have differences on how they
value virginity. Survey revealed that while most women strongly disagreed about premarital sex,
majority of men have neutral perception. Aside from that, having a sex at first time for female
have a big impact on males compared to females that is showing neutral reaction in valuing
chastity on women.
Focus group discussion aims to get more profound responses from participants with
regards to valuing virginity. Their perception regarding the topic varies. Female participants

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showed high value on virginity. Female respondent firmly believed that virginity is a trait every
woman should possess as it is something they can be proud of. They believed virginity must be
given only through the context of marriage. Regardless of how one felt about her partner. Its not
an excuse to turn her back to Filipino moral values which is giving importance to virginity and
the only way to show it is to wait until married before having sex. On the other hand male also
proved that they give high value on virginity but define the value as with or without the context
of marriage as long as there is a presence of love. Male participants tend to give consideration
to women who are non-virgins. They dont likely to judge woman easily. Which supported by the
survey responses which shows that majority of male participants obtain moderate remark and
only 3 got a high value. The perception of male respondents on valuing virginity does not just
confined on the concept of retaining virginity through the context of marriage. They believed that
valuing virginity depends on the reasons why a woman give it up. If it is because of love, then
there is high value given to it. If it is given out of casual thing or curiosity then there is no value
at all. On the other hand, female respondents believed only sex before marriage is an acceptable
way to prove that one values virginity. Clearly male and female have different ways of showing
how to value virginity.
Recommendations
In the light of the findings and conclusion of this study the following are recommended:
1. That students to avoid erroneous decisions should equip themselves with the correct
information about the effects of premarital sex in their life and future; they should not
stop learning the good values of a Filipino woman.
2. That teachers should enhance and continue to instill to the minds of the young students
the Filipino values to let them feel the importance of their life and good future.

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3. That parents should initiate moves to educate the young children so that they will be
guided in all aspects of their life especially the challenges of this liberal time.
4. That school administrators should remind their teachers specifically those who are
teaching Values Education to encourage young generations about Filipino values, such as
valuing virginity and create clearer, good approaches towards learning the effects of
engaging in premarital sex.
5. That the people should be cautious in giving information about pre-marital to the young
ones to avoid misinterpretations.
6. Future researchers should look deeper on this issue and conduct an investigation on some

other matter related to Filipino values.

Cabaltierra,marasigan,banto,abuan,deato