The Purity Myth : How America's Obsession with Virginity Is Hurting Young Women

From the bestselling author of Sex Object , a searing investigation into American culture's obsession with virginity, and the argument for creating a future where women and girls are valued for more than sexuality The United States is obsessed with virginity—from the media to schools to government agencies. In The Purity Myth, Jessica Valenti argues that the country's intense focus on chastity is damaging to young women. Through in-depth cultural and social analysis, Valenti reveals that powerful messaging on both extremes—ranging from abstinence-only curriculum to "Girls Gone Wild" infomercials—place a young woman's worth entirely on her sexuality. Morals are therefore linked purely to sexual behavior, rather than values like honesty, kindness, and altruism. Valenti sheds light on the value—and hypocrisy—around the notion that girls remain virgins until they're married by putting into context the historical question of purity, modern abstinence-only education, pornography, and public punishments for those who dare to have sex. The Purity Myth presents a revolutionary argument that girls and women are overly valued for their sexuality, as well as solutions for a future without a damaging emphasis on virginity. Title Page Praise Dedication Epigraph Introduction CHAPTER 1 - the cult of virginity THE VIRGINITY MYSTERY VIRGINITY: COMMODITY, MORALITY, OR FARCE? SELLING VIRGINITY CHAPTER 2 - tainted love PERFECT VIRGINS, DIRTY GIRLS MEDIA GONE WILD THE MORALITY MYTH : WOMEN REALLY WANT TO BE “PURE”! THE EMOTIONAL / PHYSICAL MYTH : SEX MEANS SUFFERING THE RELIGIOUS/POLITICAL MYTH : SEX HAS LARGER-THAN-LIFE CONSEQUENCES FOE, THY NAME IS FEMINISM SEXUALITY REALITY CHAPTER 3 - forever young PURE GIRLS GIRLIFYING WOMEN INVISIBLE GIRLS OUR HYMENS, OURSELVES? CHAPTER 4 - the porn connection A PORNED AMERICA WOMEN OF PORN, WOMEN OF PURITY PURITY’S PORN AGENDA MOVING FORWARD IN A PORNED WORLD CHAPTER 5 - classroom chastity THE ANATOMY OF ABSTINENCE CHASTITY CASH THE PLAYERS BATTLING BACK THE END OF ABSTINENCE? CHAPTER 6 - legislating sexuality OUR BODIES, THEIR LAWS YOU HAVE NOTHING TO FEAR BUT SEX ITSELF DADDY KNOWS BEST PURE PUNISHMENT CHAPTER 7 - public punishments INSTITUTIONALIZING BLAME RAPISTS GONE WILD WE’RE ALL “GIRLS GONE WILD” A WORLD WITHOUT RAPE? CHAPTER 8 - beyond manliness MEN HURTING, HURTING MEN CRASHING THE GATE(KEEPERS) PURE MANLINESS MOVING TO WARD A HEALTHY, SEXISM-FREE MASCULINITY CHAPTER 9 - sex, morals, and trusting women DISTRESSING DAMSELS GIRLS GONE NORMAL TRUSTING WOMEN A PERFECT WORLD CHAPTER 10 - post-virgin world CREATE MEDIA, GET ONLINE GET ORGANIZING, GET EDUCATING AFFECT LEGISLATION SUPPORT LOCAL ORGANIZING GET PROACTIVELY INFORMED DON’T GIVE UP! FIND COMMUNITY, GET SUPPORT purity myth facts at a glance questions for discussion notes resources index Acknowledgements about the author Copyright Page The United States is obsessed with virginity — from the media to schools to government agencies. In The Purity Myth Jessica Valenti argues that the country’s intense focus on chastity is damaging to young women. Through in-depth cultural and social analysis, Valenti reveals that powerful messaging on both extremes — ranging from abstinence curriculum to “Girls Gone Wild” infomercials — place a young woman’s worth entirely on her sexuality. Morals are therefore linked purely to sexual behavior, rather than values like honesty, kindness, and altruism. Valenti sheds light on the value — and hypocrisy — around the notion that girls remain virgin until they’re married by putting into context the historical question of purity, modern abstinence-only education, pornography, and public punishments for those who dare to have sex. The Purity Myth presents a revolutionary argument that girls and women are overly valued for their sexuality, as well as solutions for a future without a damaging emphasis on virginity.
"The United States is obsessed with virginity - from the media to schools to government agencies. The Purity Myth is a critique about why this is so, and why it's problematic for girls and women. Analyzing cultural stereotypes and media messages, Jessica Valenti reveals the overt and hidden ways our society links a young woman's worth to her sexuality rather than to values like honesty, kindness, and altruism"--Jacket