Surely you’ve read about them. Purity Balls, where fathers and daughters dress up like they’re going to
Purity Ball
prom together. They dance. They chat. And then the dads recite their covenant before God to be their daughters’ authority and protection in the area of purity [read: virginity].
According to Wikipedia: “A Purity Ball (also known as a “Father Daughter Purity Ball” or “Purity Wedding”) is a is a formal event attended by fathers and their daughters. These events promote virginity until marriage for teenaged girls, and are often closely associated with U.S. Christian churches, particularly evangelical Christian churches.”
The story I read in the July 17 issue of Time described the attendees of one “purity wedding” thusly: “The girls generally range in age from college down to the tiny 4-year-old dressed all in purple who has climbed up into her father’s arms to be carried.”
I promise Daddy...
Am I the only one who thinks this is just disgusting? I can’t type my horrified thoughts as fast as I have them: You mean if she has sex before marriage she is impure? A 4-year-old at a ball promising to stay
pure for daddy? How about a 9-year-old girl? What the heck do they know about sex? And why in the world would you sexualize a little girl anyway? Does this make his little daughter his property until he decides who is right to take her virginity?
I don’t have any issues with parents teaching their values to their children. But does anyone else find the idea of daddy and daughter engaged in a “purity wedding” just a tad sickening?
Finally, where are the boys in all this? Sowing their wild oats?
August 5, 2008 at 7:48 am
I agree completely with you Barbara! Absolutely disgusting! Where are the mommies in this scenario? Stepford Wives?
August 6, 2008 at 9:10 pm
I too agree that this kind of event is just so out of the dark ages. The worst part is how young these girls are to be ingrained with these ideas… I mean, 4 year olds? YIKES!
August 6, 2008 at 11:41 pm
Yes, it’s definitely revolting. And my first thought was “Why ‘purity’ for girls but not for boys?” It’s the prehistoric mindset that boys will be boys and it’s the girls’ job to fight them off. With, um, daddy’s help? Icky.
August 29, 2008 at 1:55 am
Where are the mommies you ask? In the kitchen, barefoot, with another child on the way that can be restricted, silenced and controlled. It truly scares me that our young women are being taught these things. I’m definitely a “Daddy’s Little Girl”, but we celebrate that by sharing dirty jokes. Much healthier!
September 9, 2008 at 3:08 pm
Perhaps Bristol Palin and her pop were busy shooting wolves from a helicopter on the night of the Wasila Purity Ball?