Taking virginity too seriously or too lightly?

It's a very traditional view that women in particular are supposed to save themselves for marriage and that their virginity is sacred. That girl isn't a virgin? She's worthless. Why? Because she's sullied and not worthy of being married. And that's a woman's only value: to be a wife and birth children. Women shouldn't be sexual. Men can go to brothels, but a woman must save herself for her husband. If she doesn't, she's a whore.

That's the extreme view from centuries ago, but parts of it still surface today in the teachings that you've learned.

To each their own is my motto. And people can hold their own views as long as they aren't shaming others. Some people think they lose a part of themselves when they "lose" their virginity. Some people just make sure it's with someone they love and they don't feel they've lost anything. Some people don't care who they have their first time with and they don't feel as if they've lost anything.

My other opinion is that no one is any less of a person for not waiting until marriage or until "the one." I think it's important for people to keep in mind that when it comes to views for how someone should personally live their life in personal matters, that view shouldn't be extended beyond themselves. For example, sodomy being illegal. It's a totally personal thing between partners. If you don't want to do it, don't do it. But when you start to judge other people, or worse, try to control what other people do, you're crossing the line. That's what I mean by extending views of how you should personally live your life in personal matters beyond yourself.