Hello, so I (23F) am a virgin by choice, and am waiting until marriage. And one thing that I’ve noticed is people treat me like something is wrong or that something happened to me that has caused me to make this decision. Which in a way, discredits those who are choosing to wait, as we are all entitled to do what we please with our bodies.

I choose to hold off because I’m not gonna have sex, or give my virginity away to just anybody. Sex is too much of an intimate connection that I can’t bring myself to do unless I really love someone. I definitely think sex is important, but it isn’t a priority in my life right now, plus I also prioritize meaningful qualities in men like his confidence, mindset, personality and if he’s able to effectively communicate in a relationship.

And it gets tiring that people look at me differently because I don’t follow the norm, but at the same time men will praise the idea that I’m waiting because that gives them the possibility of being my first. Because I choose to follow a path less traveled I’m considered abnormal, but at the same time people who do have causal sex, increase their chances of pregnancy or contracting STIs, having mixed emotions in relationships, and even have relationships that aren’t built on true qualities, if sex is prioritized. These are issues that I don’t have to face, but yet you don’t hear people talking down to those who have casual sex.

My question here is why is there a huge dilemma between those who choose to have sex compared to those who are comfortable with waiting? Also why is it even though waiting is looked down upon, men prefer inexperienced women, or women with a low body count??