Social changes have led to new concept of virgins

By: Jay Slovacek

Posted: 9/7/05

When "The 40 Year-Old Virgin" opened to good reviews, I overheard a woman saying she would never see a movie with that title. "How could a movie about a virgin be good?" she lamented.

"American Pie," "Austin Powers," "Something About Mary," "Deuce Bigalow" and other flaccid male franchises owe part (if not all) to the concepts founded 23 years ago in "Porky's." The virginity of these characters is irreligious - the men are just inept, insecure and unfortunate.

So which came first, the virginity or the ineptitude? Do they travel together? Douglas Brooks, associate professor of English at Texas A&M, points to society's shifting regard for men.

When society became agrarian-based, the father's need to identify a firstborn for inheritance became essential. If the woman was a virgin, it's a fair bet that the firstborn child is the father's. Safe for those times, at least.

"It wasn't until 1905 with primitive blood testing (and DNA matching) that there was any actual proof of who had the father's seed," Brooks said. Until then, the best fathers could do was compare the baby's appearance to his own. "And that's only a 50-50 proposition," Brooks laughed.

Because we aren't the agrarian society that we once were and paternity has been honed into a 99 percent guaranteed test, the question of controlling intercourse has become a much muddier issue. Partially, technology has risen to the occasion with implants, condoms and pills but also a growing confusion about male sexual identity.

These movies address the effeminate changes required for a man to appeal to the opposite sex. These movies say to remove unwanted body hair ("The 40 Year-Old Virgin," "Deuce Bigalow"), look for interior beauty ("Deuce Bigalow") and let the woman lead ("American Pie," "American Pie 2").

Welcome to the "metrosexualization" of man and the changing role of men in society. No wonder Andy Stitzer (Steve Carell) collects his superheroes in "The 40 Year-Old Virgin" - that kind of male dominance is something of a fantasy.

Accustomed to being the center of attention, movies show men addressing the increasingly powerful role of women in society. Defining a male role in society is becoming difficult.

The Deuces, Austins and Andy Stitzers of the world aren't choosing virginity - they are trailing the pack in male social changes. They are learning the hard way that sexual prowess is less machismo and more manicures.

Devoid of traditional physical strength and socio-political control, the biggest challenge for men is finding a role beyond the historical obvious. As women absorb more of the economic and social leadership, they increasingly expect a male contribution to offset their gains.

Becoming a "Mr. Mom" like Michael Keaton seemed borderline ludicrous in 1983, but in 2005 it has moved from the fringes to a more common position. In June, CNN ran a story that 49 percent of men would give up their breadwinner role if their spouse earned enough to support the family and 34 percent would take a job that paid less but allowed more time at home.

The evolutionary lesson here is clear: Learn to take on previously foreign roles, or accept a role as the next 40-year-old virgin.