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

By: Jessica Valenti

Published April 1st 2009 (first published March 21st 2009)

Category: Biography

Pages: 263 pages

Description:
The United States is obsessed with virginity Ñ from the media to schools to government agencies. In The Purity Myth Jessica Valenti argues that the countryÕs intense focus on chastity is damaging to young women. Through in-depth cultural and social analysis, Valenti reveals that powerful messaging on both extremes Ñ ranging from abstinence curriculum to Girls Gone Wild infomercials Ñ place a young womanÕs 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 Ñ and hypocrisy Ñ around the notion that girls remain virgin until theyÕre 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.