Posts Tagged purity culture

A night to protect her character
By Maya Dusenbery • 8 years ago

Flyers at Wisconsin high school tell boys prom is “a night to protect her character”

These flyers, which were signed by the school principal and sponsored by a local crisis pregnancy center and a Catholic health care provider, were distributed at Lincoln High School, in Manitowoc, Wisconsin before the big night on Saturday.

These flyers, which were signed by the school principal and sponsored by a local crisis pregnancy center and a Catholic health care provider, were distributed at Lincoln High School, in Manitowoc, Wisconsin before the big night on Saturday.
By Sesali B. • 9 years ago

Let them live: Josephine Baker, Maya Angelou, and Rihanna as erotic and holistic

Last week when I wrote about women telling their boyfriends to “check their bitches” my ending bio included an exasperated “Maya Angelou didn’t die for this shit.” And I meant it. When it comes to black women, the “shit” I’m referring to  goes beyond the defense mechanisms of scorned lovers on Love & Hip Hop. The “shit” is the continually devaluing of black women and the rejection of their sexuality and bodily autonomy. She didn’t die for us to uphold false dichotomies about the character and worth of black women.

When Rihanna shut the CFDA Awards down in her dazzling sheer gown by designer Adam Shelman, I was expecting some thot shaming. We all know how everyone ...

Last week when I wrote about women telling their boyfriends to “check their bitches” my ending bio included an exasperated “Maya Angelou didn’t die for this shit.” And I meant it. When it comes to ...
By Maya Dusenbery • 9 years ago

Quote of the Day: “I’m not responsible for some perverted 45 year old dad lusting after me.”

Clare is a 17-year-old girl who was kicked out of her senior prom because some of the chaperones feared she was inspiring “impure thoughts” among the boys by swaying to the music in her regulation-length dress.

“Please, please tell me I’m not the only one who think it doesn’t matter how people are dressed or how they move their bodies, we should still treat them with respect and decency. And enough with the slut shaming. Please. Goddamn I’m not responsible for some perverted 45 year old dad lusting after me because I have a sparkly dress on and a big ass for a teenager. And if you think I am, then maybe you’re part of the problem.

Read Clare’s account of the whole ...

Clare is a 17-year-old girl who was kicked out of her senior prom because some of the chaperones feared she was inspiring “impure thoughts” among the boys by swaying to the music in her regulation-length ...
By Maya Dusenbery • 9 years ago

High school student’s “rape culture” artwork banned from showcase for being “inappropriate”

Censoring a student’s artwork exploring rape culture out of a concern for “the children”? Yep, that sounds about par for the course for the US educational system.

Gracie Holtzclaw, a high school senior in South Carolina, was one of the young artists selected to display her work at the Greenville County Schools Art Exhibition this month. She told local outlet WYFF that she was really “excited” to be part of the event. But just a few days later, 18-year-old Holtzclaw was informed that her submission, which is entitled “Rape Culture,” wouldn’t be permitted to appear in the show.

“This piece, for both title and content, was determined to be inappropriate for the District Show because the artwork is on ...

Censoring a student’s artwork exploring rape culture out of a concern for “the children”? Yep, that sounds about par for the course for the US educational system.

Gracie Holtzclaw, a high school senior in South ...
By Juliana Britto Schwartz • 9 years ago

Film: How to Lose Your Virginity

I have a little sister and, like any good feminist, I spend a lot of time making sure that she knows that her worth extends beyond her beauty, her body, and her sexuality. As she is still a teenager, a big topic in her life and that of her peers lately has been virginity. Personally, I don’t think that my sexuality or “virginity” is an object to lose, or give away, and I don’t want her to think that either. That’s why I was so excited to watch How to Lose Your Virginity with her.

In this documentary, filmmaker Therese Shechter uses her own path out of virginity to explore why our sex-crazed society cherishes this so-called precious gift. Along the way, ...

I have a little sister and, like any good feminist, I spend a lot of time making sure that she knows that her worth extends beyond her beauty, her body, and her sexuality. As she is still a ...

Show's daughters with eyes, ears, or mouth covered by their father.
By Wagatwe • 10 years ago

Lifetime’s “Preachers’ Daughters” Shows Everything That is Wrong with Purity Culture

This week, I came home to my sister watching a show On Demand, Preachers’ Daughters, that followed the lives of three different daughters who had one or both parents as pastors. As someone who grew up in a family that regularly attended a Pentecostal church, I was interested in seeing how Lifetime would choose to portray several families that are–presumably–very religious. Fully aware of the many shortfalls of reality TV in regards to sensationalism, sexism, race, etc., I still found myself watching the show long after my sister had left the room. Instead of a series showing different facets of the trials and tribulations teenagers face as the child of a pastor, I found myself watching nearly ...

This week, I came home to my sister watching a show On Demand, Preachers’ Daughters, that followed the lives of three different daughters who had one or both parents as pastors. As someone who ...