The medical examination in the investigation of “deprivation of virginity” in mid-nineteenth century Russia

The article highlights the topic which is still being marginal for Russian historiography, namely, sexual violence in Russia. Applying the case-study method, the authors seek to reveal the hidden mechanisms of reproduced practices of sexual violence in Russian society in the 19th century. Historical sources of medical origin used in the research account for its novelty. The authors focus on the police investigation of a rape incident that took place in the Smolensk province in 1850 and the medical examination in the course of this investigation. The main conclusion the authors arrive at is that it was Russian legislation and the system of medical services in the area of obstetrics offered by the state that accounted for sexual violence being preserved and reproduced as well as the tolerant attitude on the part of the state and society toward sexual violence in the first half and mid-nineteenth century. The police investigation was initiated exclusively upon the complaint of the victim of sexual violence, with medical examination of the victim being increasingly used as a method to search for the evidence of guilt of the man who is charged with rape. “Deprivation of virginity” was considered the conclusive proof of rape. Male and female obstetricians became key figures to find out the fact of “deprivation of virginity”. Their medical conclusion determined the result of the investigation and whether the case should be referred to court. Moreover, the male doctors' opinion tended to undermine that of the female obstetricians, no matter how grounded it was. Also, the procedure of gynecological examination started to look like “a public rape” due to its multiplicity, duration and a big number of male witnesses involved. More often than not the victim of sexual violence was turned into the one to blame, charged with false accusation of a man. This situation made people commonly believe that it was no use proving the fact of rape making them tolerant of incidents of sexual violence. With patriarchal relationships being dominant, an unspoken rule was spreading across Russia which kept women from disclosing information about sexual violence against them, to say nothing of accusing the abuser.