Researcher apologizes over virginity survey

YOGYAKARTA: A young local researcher apologized on Thursday for his controversial survey on virginity, which has sparked widespread condemnation in Yogyakarta.

Iip Wijayanto, a 23-year old activist from the Institute for Love and Humanity Studies (LSCK), also retracted the finding of his research that claimed most university students in Yogyakarta have lost their virginity.

It said 97.5 percent of female university students have lost their "physical virginity" due to either sexual intercourse or through masturbation.

The survey is said to have been done over a period of three years and polled a total of 1,660 respondents from various colleges across Yogyakarta.

The research drew outrage from local academics, legislators, activists and community figures, including Kanjeng Ratu Hemas, the wife of the province's governor and sultan, Hamengku Buwono XI.

Following the furor, Iip, accompanied by his lawyers, held a press conference on Thursday to apologize and corrected the survey.

"What is true in our survey is that 97.5 percent of the 1,660 respondents are no longer virgins. So, it does not follow that most female students here have lost their virginity," he said. --JP