Capitalism might be under scrutiny worldwide, but don’t try telling Natalie Dylan it doesn’t work.In September 2008 the 22-year-old California native began receiving massive media scrutiny for using the Internet to publicly auction off her virginity.The story first gained notoriety when the recent college graduate, using the pseudonym ‘Natalie Dylan,’ appeared on the Howard Stern Show to discuss her aberrant venture.After appearing later on the Tyra Banks Show, online offers spiked from $250,000 to $3.7 million, according to Fox News.As a recent women’s study graduate of Sacramento State, Dylan claims she needs the money to help finance a master’s degree in Family and Marriage Therapy. She also plans to document her experience for her master’s thesis project.While critics immediately disputed the legality of her offer as flagrant prostitution, Dylan has marketed herself in Nevada — where prostitution is legal in some areas. In a blog entry for The Daily Beast, Dylan admitted her auction has morphed into a sociological study rather than a method of financing for higher education.”Like most little girls, I was raised to believe that virginity is a sacred gift a woman should reserve for just the right man. But college taught me that this concept is just a tool to keep the status quo intact,” Dylan said.Dylan explained this knowledge made it clear “idealized virginity was just a tool used to keep women in their place.” From there, she says her thoughts turned to how she could profit from her chastity.”I took the ancient notion that a woman’s virginity is priceless and used it as a vehicle for capitalism,” she said.Though profit is the main objective, Dylan says that doesn’t necessarily mean the highest bidder will receive her reward.”It’s not like an eBay auction,” she told The Edinburgh Journal last month. “I’m taking time to get to know the guys. We contact each other back and forth.”Dylan’s exploit has incited a bit of a moral upheaval, as feminist groups and pious organizations have taken sides on the contentious issue.Feminists argue Dylan has the right to use her sexuality as a mechanism for financial gain. Others contend Dylan has forfeited the sacred values of chastity and undermined the sanctity of sexual intimacy.The focus of this dissent, however, is misguided.Dylan might be the easy lightning rod, but she’s only one person. More than 10,000 men have put in their offers to date. They’re the ones who deserve the bulk of the condemnation. Dylan may not be a saint, but at least she’s generated some discussion on hegemonic structures of sexuality.Moreover, Dylan firmly insists she certainly isn’t in it for love. According to Dylan, the entire ploy is strictly a business transaction — no sentimental strings attached.Mark it down. 2008 — the year a woman finally figured it out.Maybe.Now that Dylan’s scheme has assimilated so much media hype, she confessed she might not even have to go through with the offer after all.According to The Sun, Dylan has been offered a plethora of contract rights to sell her experience for film and novel development.If the offers get lucrative enough, Dylan says she has no problem rescinding her original offer.So forget it. Evidently this attention-whore is just another tease trying to make money.Mark it down.2008 — the year we learned absolutely nothing.Scott Burns is a 19-year-old political science and business major from Baton Rouge.—-Contact Scott Burns at [email protected]