
The Purity Myth
How America's Obsession with Virginity Is Hurting Young Women
Failed to add items
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
3 months free
Buy for $19.95
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
-
Narrated by:
-
Abby Craden
-
By:
-
Jessica Valenti
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 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 virgin 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.
©2010 Jessica Valenti (P)2013 Audible, Inc.Listeners also enjoyed...




















People who viewed this also viewed...



An amazing listen!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
IMO, she stumbled a little bit with the porn arguments. But, I have yet to read an author who hasn't. Trying to make a porn argument, from any angle, is like walking through a mine field. Where is the line between empowerment and oppression and objectification? It's not always easy to tell. despite some floundering in this area, Valenti actually brings up some excellent points and contributes to asking some very important questions about how porn may or may not affect women in all facets of society.
Valentin does an excellent job of questioning when we perceive that a woman has agency (she should know better than to walk alone at night or dress in a way that shows too much skin) or lacks agency (a woman is obviously not smart enough to have been thoughtful enough about a life changing unwanted pregnancy).
My favorite thing is how this author boils down arguments to very simple terms. The main message seems to be:
1. The purity myth ensures that women are treated like children, but children you can have sex with.
2. Power is not 'pure', so women shouldn't have it.
Excellent and on point! I highly recommend this book. Ended up being a page turner and educational at the same time.
BRAVO! Logical and engaging!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Brief, but comprehensive
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
loved it
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
It’s a must read!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Good read
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I would give this book to someone who'd never given these things much thought, as it is a fantastic introduction to the issues at hand.
excellent and well argued points
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Second time we better than the first!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
This book is a necessity for younger women especially
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
A great deconstructive work
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.