Monday, May 08, 2006
In the Spirit of Purity Balls...

Along the same lines as the often discussed, extraordinarily creepy and divergent "Purity Balls," in which a father and his daughter attend a party to publicly pledge to uphold the girl's chastity in a glowing, saintly dog-and-pony-show, "Virginity Pledges" are also now under harsh scrutiny from Harvard University, and for some good reasons.

On the surface, it would seem that anyone who would bemoan an attempt at abstinence by parents, children and peer groups, would be nothing more than a cretin with a bent toward contributing to the delinquency. Often, individuals or persons who speak out against the practice of sexual restraint of any nature, simply do so because they lack the ethos to comprehend the reasoning for such behavioral control. Persons who consciously deny their instinctive hormonal urges are often ridiculed and treated with contempt, regardless the apparent lack of influence on the behavior of others within the peer group.
But now a new study out of Harvard University comes to light, bearing witness to a hilarious, yet disturbing trend among the social groups encouraging "Virginity Pledges," these "purveyors of purity," if you will.
Virginity pledges were introduced in the early 1990s as part of the Christian Sex Education Project. Their adult champions hail the promises, which rest solely on the individual's word, as being a major step toward reducing teen pregnancy and raising moral values.

By some estimates, at least 2.5 million adolescents around the world have publicly vowed to postpone sex until marriage. They include virgins, as well as those who have had a sexual experience but who swear to refrain from further activity.

Many wear rings or other jewelry to symbolize their pledge.
OK, this next part is my favorite, and it's also the part that makes this whole concept no better than Kirby Vacuums or Amway:
(From www.morons.org): Those taking virginity pledges have at least shown greater resolve to buy merchandise from those pushing the "virginity pledges," including t-shirts, keychains, mugs, stickers, books, buttons, hats, and a $60 program for leading a small group, which naturally includes an order form and ring sizer for ordering "virginity pledge" silver rings.
Yes, this is actually a wicked capitalistic venture that not only uses childrens' innermost fears and apprehensions to their advantage, but then they also milk a few quick bucks off them while they're at it! Funny and inappropriate, with a dash of disturbing...all wrapped into one hard-to-digest capsule! Way to paint a disengenuous face on a pretty decent idea, you motherfsckers. Are you trying to spoil capitalism for me? I LOVE capitalism, and when opportunistic fscks like this take over and make a quick buck by exploiting God and troubled kids...grrrrr.
Ok, sorry folks, but the whole concept of vilifying sexual urges makes my skin crawl. This ever-present desire by the Fundies to criminalize the natural desire to experience sexual gratification is exactly the "taboo-maker" which unwittingly adds such a great deal of allure to the already tantalizing nature of the behavior. Instead of open and honest discussion, we now are encouraging our kids to make some [obviously] empty promises, in the hope that cash, prizes and jewelry are soon to follow.
Is this a good idea? Setting our kids up for failure and forcing them into a corner where they literally CAN'T tell us the truth, since they are ashamed that they may have broken a promise? Sounds like a quick way to break down whatever lines of communication you have with your teens...
Sorry, not me. These scumbags can stuff their silver rings right up their...well...you pick.
Written at 5/08/2006 05:57:00 PM by Andrew Kaduk.
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