VSlayer
You sort of answer your own question. If it's that easy to break, what does an intact hymen say?
A lack of a hymen doesn't prove sexual activity, and that "college chick deflowers herself" mpg I saw certainly was ... interesting. But, still, if it's that easy to break ....
Sky
I would theorize, off the top of my head no less, that the hymen is vestigial from sex differentiation.
The sketchy example I can give you is to recall a sex-reversal issue described to me about a decade ago in an Intro to Anthropology class. My professor told us briefly of an island in the Caribbean where, theoretically as a result of inbreeding--a phenomenon was taking place whereby young girls would transform into boys as they approached puberty. The general description was, "The vagina seals, the testicles drop ...."
Yeah.
Even with a Y chromosome, one can still develop phenotypically as a female. Active genes and hormone interactions, it seems, make the difference. A guy can actually prod around his genitalia and find the place his vagina would be if there wasn't a penis in the way.
So I'll go so far as to extrapolate that the hymen is somehow related to that difference.
I will also mention that while doing a brief Google search, I came across a link for "laser vaginal rejuvenation surgery". It was one of those "search engine" links, and of no use, but the phrase strikes me as absolutely hilarious.
Like a vir-ir-ir-irgin ... with your heartbeat next to mine ....
