Purity Balls: Because I Always Wanted My Dad To Protect My Hymen
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1823930,00.html?cnn=yes
Most of this post just makes me want to throw a chair through a window. I mean, I have no issue with making sure teenagers understand that sex has consequences, but this story misses the issues with Purity Balls in a big way.
I can't type any more right now because I'm just too frustrated. Bah.
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This post shows a huge part of what I love about Feministing: I can read something infuriating and stupid in a magazine, then hop online and see that I am not alone and that the world is not so insane after all.
This article was complete crap. It was obviously just about praising purity balls and not addressing the issues. Don't you love the scare quotes around "sexual self-agency"?
I shouldn't be so surprised, but I actually find myself a tad sad that Time couldn't address this more appropriately. I mean, it's not Fox News. Excuse me for making the grave mistake of thinking that SOMEONE out there was still publishing something other than conservative dribble.
This disgusts me. Purity Balls are symptomatic of so many harmful aspects of American subcultures. I see so much constant criticism of "Other Cultures" [WHOLE cultures- am I missing the logic?] with the implied connotations of the "different Other" mistreating women with misogynist practices.
I do not think that any two or more culturally-linked practices can be compared accurately, and I don't think labels such as "worse" are productive. What I do think is that people need to start paying attention to things happening HERE, in what most people would consider "good old American" sub-cultures.
I second what SaynaTheSpiffy said...coming here and seeing that I'm not the only one who almost barfs when I read articles like this keeps me from going postal :)
Yes, girls need support and guidance on all matters of adult life from their parents and fathers probably should be more involved, but realistic advice that takes into consideration that a) teenagers are sexual beings (and that's natural/normal), and b) girls are not property to be handed off to from one owner to another, would be a step in the right direction. Kids need more advice and real information about sex and love and relationships, but the whole notion of Purity Balls is creepy.
And where is the onus on the young boys? Why is it always women's sexuality and purity that is the focus of stigma and control?
Why is it always women's sexuality and purity that is the focus of stigma and control?
Because a girl's virginity is a prize to be won, like a stuffed animal at the fair, whereas a boy's virginity is a barrier to be overcome before he can be a Man™.
Also, seconding/thirding/n-plus-one-th-ing the ew.