The Purity Myth: How America's Obsession with Virginity Is Hurting Young WomenFrom 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. |
From inside the book
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... young third - wave feminist . " -LIESL SCHILLINGER , The New York Times " Valenti's writing has a wonderful defiant quality reminiscent of the days of the movement's youth ... women's issues in mainstream media . ” -ALISSA QUART , Columbia ...
... young third - wave feminist . " -LIESL SCHILLINGER , The New York Times " Valenti's writing has a wonderful defiant quality reminiscent of the days of the movement's youth ... women's issues in mainstream media . ” -ALISSA QUART , Columbia ...
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... women's rights ... ' -REBECCA TRAISTER , Salon.com " Valenti's analysis is cogent and sharp . " -EMMA KIVISILD , Herizons “ ...... . an irreverent guide to why young women should embrace the F - word . " -EMMA PEARSE , New York Magazine ...
... women's rights ... ' -REBECCA TRAISTER , Salon.com " Valenti's analysis is cogent and sharp . " -EMMA KIVISILD , Herizons “ ...... . an irreverent guide to why young women should embrace the F - word . " -EMMA PEARSE , New York Magazine ...
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How America's Obsession with Virginity Is Hurting Young Women Jessica Valenti. introduction. there is a moral Panic in america over young women's sexuality—and it's entirely misplaced. Girls “going wild” aren't damaging a generation of ...
How America's Obsession with Virginity Is Hurting Young Women Jessica Valenti. introduction. there is a moral Panic in america over young women's sexuality—and it's entirely misplaced. Girls “going wild” aren't damaging a generation of ...
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How America's Obsession with Virginity Is Hurting Young Women Jessica Valenti. unrealistic sexual expectations for young women . Unable to live up to the ideal of purity that's forced upon them in one aspect of their lives , many young ...
How America's Obsession with Virginity Is Hurting Young Women Jessica Valenti. unrealistic sexual expectations for young women . Unable to live up to the ideal of purity that's forced upon them in one aspect of their lives , many young ...
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... young women . It affects not only our ability to see ourselves as ethical actors outside of our own bodies , but also how the world interacts with us through social mores , laws , and even violence . PURE CONSEQUENCES Women are pushing ...
... young women . It affects not only our ability to see ourselves as ethical actors outside of our own bodies , but also how the world interacts with us through social mores , laws , and even violence . PURE CONSEQUENCES Women are pushing ...
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Common terms and phrases
abortion abstinence education abstinence-only education actually American anti-choice believe Bitch magazine blame blog blogger boys called Center Chapter chaste chastity condoms conservative contraception daughters ethics example fact father female sexuality feminism feminist Feministing.com fetishizing funding Girls Gone Wild going Hanne Blank HPV vaccine hypersexualized Ibid laws legislation magazine mainstream male marriage masculinity moral NARAL Pro-Choice America organization parents percent pharmacist political pop culture porn pornography pregnancy premarital sex programs promiscuous punished purity balls purity myth rape raunch culture Real Doll reproductive health secondary virginity sexism sexual assault sexually active Shalit shame simply Stepp surgery talk teen teenage tell there’s thing tion told vaginas victim violence against women virginity movement virginity pledges virginity-movement Washington Post woman women of color wrote York young women young women's sexuality youth