As I was in the library I was talking to a dear old friend. I asked her what should I write about for my blog. Since we are both seniors and have to complete an internship before we graduate we were discussing different types of internships. One, option we discussed was international study aboard internships. As we were discussing the different ways to pay for this trip I remembered about a story of a women who selled their virginity for 3.7 million dollars. 3.7 million dollars.  According to Huffington post (2009), Natalie Dylan auction off her virginity for 3.7 million dollars. In 2009, Dylan was a 22-year-old student from San Diego, California. When the young lady fist put her innocence up for sale it started at 162,000-243,000 dollars. So how did price increase so quickly. SOCIAL MEDIA.

 According to Natalie Dylan, (2009), written in the Daily Beast, reported that she started this as a sociological experiment because she wanted to study the public’s response at part of her thesis project. She wanted to explore the value of virginity. Ms. Dylan has a Bachelor’s Degree in women studies and either is in or finished with her Masters Degree in Marriage and family therapy. She states that college has opened her eyes, what she learned form a women’s studies course “virginity is a sacred gift”, this gift is saved for the right man. Throughout, history within European deflowering marriages comes with a dowry. The father would sell his daughter virgin to other man whose family could offer the most. The daughter had no choice. According to my Human Sexuality course the legal definition for pimp is a person who benefits off the earnings of a prostitute and a prostitute exchanges sex (undefined) for money, goods, or services. So does that mean “dads were basically their daughter’s pimps”. Dylan realized that the virginity is used to keep women in their place and she also realized that if the virginity was so valuable than she could reclaim power and control. She is using this as a vehicle for capitalism. After reading this to my dear old friend she stated, “Is she really taking control. Even though she chooses the man when she places the money in her hand he his in control of what he does to him”. What an interesting thought dear old friend. She placed her virginity up for sale at Moonlite Bunny Ranch in Nevada where it is no illegal. The ranch provider her with their personnel email address on the website and a “sample” of individuals who may be interested.

How did she reach 3.7 million? She received attention from men who believed it valuable to save and men who believed it valuable to buy. Dylan also used craigslist to adversative. Doctors, Professors, famous men and other kinds of men where very interested. 

In the video, a bidder came to visit her. Dylan claims that women are condemned for taking control over their bodies. When the gentlemen entered that stage he was applauded and seen as a lighthearted joke while the individuals in the audience attempted to convert her save her innocence. She claimed that people are missing the political point. Other lady from the video named Sonia Ossorio president of New York chapter of the National Organization of women. She claimed that sexual liberation and femmism is different and what this woman is doing has nothing to do with that.

What I found most interesting were the comments below the youtube video, the amount of people who disagreed was equal to the amount of people who agreed with her choice. Other interesting comment was that Dylan stated that she had the right to do with her body as she chooses and as a woman she has the right to choice. Interesting thought.

The only question I have that was brought on by my dear old friend was “these men are paying for the idea”. Interesting thought. Checking to see if there is a hymen is one almost realizable test (web-health.org, 2014). I say almost because over time though being physically active the hymn can break on its on. So there is not real way to know and if that is true than what are the men actually paying for and why are they willing to pay for a virgin verse someone who knows what they are doing as stated from the videos.

Honestly, this woman is very interesting and I wonder if she actually went through with the process. Also, sometimes I wonder if this was real. Who knows if all of this is not just one amazing thesis paper experiment or a real event? Dylan stated that some of the women she research backed out of the purchase. Even though there were a lot of online website, newspapers, talks shows, and interviews on Dylan there is no information on her final decision. For, all anyone knows the man could be a paid actor or one of her a professor and if it than what does this say about society. Truthfully, I want to read that thesis. So, what do you think? Is she real or is it a choice? 

Personally, if this was real I am incapable of grasping my head around the idea that this is ok and it shows me that I am not as open-minded as I like to think. But if this is all an experiment than I think its extremely interesting.

One of my favorite comments was

 “If this story is even true, I think Nathalie should have known better to go on the Tyra Banks show, I would have kept this under wraps the best I could.” –mcehoffman

Other interesting comments:

Its weird but that is her choice,everyone should keep their opinions to themselves. It was actually more disturbing to see how judgmental the audience was and tyra. Theirs nothing more i hate then people worrying about what others do in their life, they should focus on their own. f they have kids and they are worried that its going to influence their children, then they obviously aren't being a good parent...cause sorry but i was never influenced by strangers,only by the ones i knew.

-xxleftbehind15

I find it facinating that in America 22 is known as a "child" and here in Australia when youre over 18 youre an adult. I know this has nothing to do with the video, I just wanted to share this 

–LittleRedDrum

Hey Tyra, if u made ur millions through long years of hard work, don't be scared she will make hers overnight by having a great time. I love you Tyra be real. This is a full grown woman. I miss my virginity so much and i hate that i sucked it up for a fucking loser. I cud have done the same ha ha. But i love i love Tyra. 

–Dbuyaki

For someone who works for the "National Organization for Women", she sure knows nothing about feminism. Feminism of the 1960s was neither pro- or anti-prostitution. The divide between sexually liberal feminists and anti-pornography feminists didn't really emerge until the 1980s and is one of the main reasons feminism is not as prominent today as it was back then. Feminists still are divided on this issue and for her to pretend like all feminists agree with her is either disingenuous or dumb 

–watermelonygoodness

Who knows, the show is known to be highly edited yo make it more moralistic and conservative to some point. So any time someone says something inteligent but that doesnt go with "Saint USA" it gets cut off. I think Tyra CANT stand not being 100 % right and you can clearly tell during the whole show till the very last end.

-DiLanceRoyalty

I am not you to put the videos on the blog because there are four of them but I will give you the title if you are interested in watching them. Everything is on youtube.

Title: Monday, November 3^rd 2008 Part 1, 2,3,4

Tyra Banks Show

Reference:

Dylan, N. (2009). Why I'm Selling My Virginity. The Daily Beast. Retrieved from: http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2009/01/23/why-im-selling-my-virginity.html

HuffPost. (2009). Natalie Dylan Auctions Off Virginity For offers of up to 3.7 million. Retrieved from:

 http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/01/12/natalie-dylan-auctions-of_n_157329.html 

Web-health.org (). How to know if a woman is virgin? Retrieved from:http://web-health.org/How-To-Know-If-A-Woman-Is-A-Virgin.html