The concept of purity culture is the central topic of discussion in this paper as it explores the harmful effects it has on American society. The phenomenon of purity culture is connected to gender identity, societal norms, and broader cultural contexts as discussed in chapter 5 of the course textbook. Chapter 6 provides information on sexual orientation, and chapter 11 highlights the section on abstinence-only sex education. The conservative values of this culture uphold patriarchal and misogynistic beliefs associated with the female body. According to this culture, a woman's body exists solely for two reasons- child-rearing and male pleasure. The value placed on a woman's virginity is a significant aspect of purity culture, exemplified by the common tradition of brides wearing white dresses to symbolize their purity. Unfortunately, these values remain rooted in society today.

Although a dictionary definition of purity culture does not exist, it typically involves teaching young girls the importance of staying 'pure' or 'virginal' until marriage. They are taught that their virginity is a gift to their future godly husband on their wedding night. According to Lifeway, a Christian publication company, purity culture's implementation began in 1987 under the title 'Christian Sex Education.' In 1992, a curriculum called 'True Love Waits' was published and popularized in churches nationwide. Youth leaders reinforced the concept of two genders and two biological sexes solely existing to be fruitful, multiply, and live their lives for God. In the 90s and mid-aughts, over 1 million purity pledges were signed by evangelical youth in the United States and abroad. Christian leaders appeared before Congress in hopes of implementing abstinence-only, purity-based sex education in public schools.

Abstinence-only was the sole form of sex education taught in churches, private Christian schools, and many homeschool communities. Growing up in rural Idaho, my peers and I, an entire generation of evangelical kids, learned nothing about basic physical anatomy or what puberty meant outside of preparing us for our future roles as men and women of God. At age 13, my mother gifted me a book titled, And the Bride Wore White: Seven Secrets to Sexual Purity, which preached proven methods to help young women wait until marriage to have sex. The book concludes with a list of ways to "say no" to premarital sex. The publication of this book in 1999 coincided with an equally popular male guide to purity from 1997 titled, I Kissed Dating Goodbye, in which a 21-year-old man urged his teenage audience to turn away from temptations of the flesh and instead focus solely on reading the Bible. Numerous articles have detailed the negative effects of this radical and toxic belief system since the publication of these books and since the generations of 90s kids and mid-aughts teens are now adults.

Unfortunately, purity culture still holds a prominent place within both evangelical and mainstream American societies. Women who remain virgins are often deemed pure, while sexually active women are considered "damaged goods," a belief that contrasts with the way society views sexually active men. This patriarchal culture prioritizes men's pleasure at any cost, even if it objectifies and commodifies women.

Modern culture still sees instances of virginity auctions and purity balls, where young girls wear white dresses and attend an event accompanied by their fathers, further propagating the notion that a woman's value lies in her virginity. As long as religious leaders and men in power view women as objects, the insidious effects of purity culture will continue.

There is a lack of published research or scientific studies that examine the long-term effects of purity culture on generations of women. However, personal accounts shared by individuals who have grown up under purity culture provide evidence of the harm it inflicts.

Participating in a course centered on challenging gender roles and releasing shame around sexuality helped the author of this paper to feel liberated and take control of their own experiences. Writing this paper and hearing from other women gave them a sense of belonging and a greater understanding of their journey.

References:

Hong, A. (2021, March 28). Purity Culture in the Evangelical Church Harms Women. The Atlantic. https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2021/03/purity-culture-evangelical-church-harms-women/618438/

Lenz, L. (2016, July 27). ‘I Kissed Dating Goodbye’ told me to stay pure until marriage. I still have a stain on my heart. Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2016/07/27/as-a-young-evangelical-i-believed-a-bestselling-book-that-warned-me-to-stay-pure-until-marriage-i-still-have-a-stain-on-my-heart/