Rethinking Purity

It’s time to rethink what we’re teaching children about “purity.”

A Story about My Mom and Panties: Fidget’s Story

“Like a lot of homeschooled girls I know, all of my clothes had to meet my father’s approval.”

Emotional Purity and Courtship: A Few Years Later

“The me of today doesn’t believe I need to use God to justify my choices.”

Reprogramming: Susan Young’s Story

“My heart was presented to me as a fragile piece of china that could be damaged and would never be worth as much once given away.”

The White Dress and Modesty: Mahalath’s Story

“I once owned a dress that was made of white lace and thought it was the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen.”

How Modesty Teachings Hurt Men, Too

I continue to see the effects of such teachings as the boys I grew up with are now men.

Soul Tied: Harmful Spiritual Conclusions about Sexual Abuse, Purity Culture, and Abuse Survivors

“I am concerned about the message that is sent to parents and their children about survivors.”

On Crushes

“Our mothers jumped straight from simple attractions on our part to the possibility of marriage. We did too.”

I Was You Once

“Broken hearts can be hidden by both ugly and pretty clothes. And lies once embraced can be hard to let go of.”

How Purity Culture Kept Me Silent About My Sexual Abuse as a Child: Dinah’s Story

“I didn’t want people to think I was dirty—so that’s why I didn’t speak about my sexual abuse for 7 years after it stopped.”