Purity Rings

Definition and Purpose

• Purity rings, also known as promise, abstinence, or chastity rings, are worn to symbolize chastity.
• Popularized by Christian organizations in the 1990s, especially in the U.S.
• Associated with virginity pledges and abstinence until marriage.
• Worn alongside a religious vow to practice abstinence.
• Part of the abstinence-only sex education movement.

Key Organizations

Silver Ring Thing (SRT)

• Founded in 1995 by Denny Pattyn.
• Encourages teens and young adults to remain sexually abstinent until marriage.
• Used to receive partial funding from the U.S. federal government.
• Incorporates rock/hip-hop concert-style events.
• Expanded to the UK with mixed reactions.
• Criticized for being unrealistic and considered anti-sex by some.
• Rebranded as Unaltered in 2019.

True Love Waits (TLW)

• International Christian group promoting sexual abstinence for teenagers and college students.
• Founded by Southern Baptists in April 1993.
• Encourages a commitment to God, self, and future family to remain sexually abstinent until marriage.

Legal and Cultural Impact

• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services was sued by the ACLU for promoting Christianity with federal funds.
• Lydia Playfoot case in the UK argued for her right to wear a purity ring, ultimately ruled against.

Criticism and Studies

• Some studies indicate virginity pledges delay vaginal intercourse but don't lower STD rates.
• Critics argue pledgers might engage in non-vaginal sex.
• True Love Waits criticized for using sex to sell abstinence.

Cultural Influence

• Celebrities like Miley Cyrus, Selena Gomez, and the Jonas Brothers have publicly worn purity rings.
• Purity rings and pledges are both supported and satirized in media.

Recent Developments

• Nadia Bolz-Weber's project in 2019 to repurpose purity rings into a sculpture, critiqued by some religious figures.

Conclusion

• Purity rings serve as a symbol of a commitment to abstinence but face criticism regarding their effectiveness and cultural impact.