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

Description

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