The United States is obsessed with virginity β from the media to schools to government agencies. In The Purity Myth Jessica Valenti argues that the countryβs intense focus on chastity is damaging to young women. Through in-depth cultural and social analysis, Valenti reveals that powerful messaging on both extremes β ranging from abstinence curriculum to βGirls Gone Wildβ infomercials β place a young womanβs 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 β and hypocrisy β around the notion that girls remain virgin until theyβre 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.
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