The Purity Myth

How America's Obsession with Virginity Is Hurting Young Women

By: Jessica Valenti

Narrated by: Abby Craden

Length: 6 hrs and 13 mins

Publisher's summary

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.

BRAVO! Logical and engaging!

Excellent book! Valentin explores how the virgin ideal has served as a foundation for policymaking, medical decisions, cultural norms, ​etc. Acting like an analytical sledgehammer, Valenti points out myriad logical inconsistencies in any argument that uses purity as its anchor. I found one of the most interesting and memorable arguments was that we only protect women we deem pure. If a woman is seen as less than pure, it's easier to imagine she deserved any bad treatment. This argument is particularly wonderful when she addresses purity and women of color.

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.

An amazing listen!

It was surprisingly funny and witty and very in depth. It was refreshing and engaging all the way through

Brief, but comprehensive

An excellent and quite quick review of the well-funded modern resurgence of traditional gender roles.

loved it

Absolutely amazing. Jessica Valenti is spot on in her writing. I'll be reading Full Frontal Feminism next.

It’s a must read!

If you are a woman or have a woman in your life that you care about you need to read this. Especially now.

Good read

Really enjoyed this one. Would love to see another to see what/if anything has changed since this was written.

Eye opening

I only listened to 3 chapters before knowing I wanted to share this book with more people. It is a must read. I had to read this book for school, but it was so easy to listen to and so easy to love. This reader is amazing and so easy to listen to. I absolutely loved this and will listen to it again.

excellent and well argued points

Valenti puts together and iron clad argument on how the idea of female purity is hurting women on many different levels. Her connections between virginity, porn, reproductive Rights, and sexual violence are strongly supported, and logical. my only complaints are that, if you are already in this sphere, none of the information feels new, and at times the book seems redundant.

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.

Second time we better than the first!

This book is essential for anyone trying to understand how misogyny effects the United States. Valenti talks comprehensively about the effects of purity obsession, the myth of virginity & how the two play out in our politics. Truly stomach churning ideas that society as a whole needs to rail against.

This book is a necessity for younger women especially

I’m so glad someone is finally talking about the obsession with virginity and women’s sexuality. I learned so much. I am so grateful for this book. This book is a must-read especially for religious/conservative young women, who I think have virginity forced on them more.