"Losing virginity" - what is being lost here?

[AFTT47]

Really, why are religions like Christianity and Islam obsessed with virgin women? Even that notion "Losing virginity." What exactly has been "lost"? Shouldn't that be an achievement like every other time we begin a new phase in our lives like starting new job, new school, buying new car etc. And yet exploration of one's sexuality, the beginning of one's sexual life, an almost universally cherished feature of human existence, registered as a "loss".

Or "Losing innocence" - How does one become less innocent after experiencing a sexual connection for the first time?

Pretty obvious, guys. It's loss of property value on your daughter's vagina. Obviously, if you were as morally enlightened a Bible-believing Christian, you'd see your daughter's vagina as some sort of "seal" on a contract that you intend to make with another family... preferably a rich family... through the bond of marriage. Duh.

That's a good explanation, VL.

Wow, women as property of their family, to be auctioned off like cattle. Great enlightenment there. It definitely fits in with what we see of the Abrahamic world-view though.

In the real (rational) world, a chick receiving her first dick is actually transitioning to a greater world where she has more options (power). Not that she is likely to enjoy that first time - guys young enough to score virgins are likely to really suck (definitely no pun intended) at giving a partner pleasure. But the young, former virgin will realize that her sexuality is a potent tool she can use to advance her own power.

Looked at that way, the reason for female sexual suppression is obvious. It's all about value and power.