(This post uses #ChurchToo to compare responses from evangelical leaders, both pastoral and political, in the U.S. towards sexual violence. Additionally, the term “evangelical” has become political in recent years. Evangelical Christianity is a broad category with many different perspectives and is not monolithic. Simply because someone self-identifies as an evangelical does not mean they…
(This post is not explicit but does discuss elements of abuse and the normalization of sexual violence in the church. It may make some uncomfortable, especially those with histories of trauma. If you feel this applies to you, there’s no pressure to read it.) Purity culture significantly impacts how someone understands their own female sexuality….
(This post is not explicit but does discuss elements of rape culture and the normalization of sexual violence in the church. It may make some uncomfortable, especially those with histories of trauma. If you feel this applies to you, there’s no pressure to read it.) Research identifies rape culture, or a space where rape or…
Often times social norms or expectations, such as sexual purity, are taught through stories. And yet, a good story isn’t always true. There is one story in particular, the fairy tale of sexual purity in fact, which has had grasp on the most intimate parts of young minds. This fairy tale is both vintage and…
Nothing is created in a vacuum, including abstinence only sex education. Purity culture used the idealistic allure of simple abstinence practices to withhold vital information related to sex education in order to “protect” young minds and bodies. Here I want to focus on just a couple key elements in purity culture’s recent history. Dr. James…
This list is a small fraction of the purity culture resources I came across while writing on the harmful implications of evangelical purity culture during graduate school. And let me tell you, what a wild ride. My hope in sharing these resources is to empower others to advocate for healthier faith communities and increased comprehensive…