Webloggin » Purity Dances

My friend over at Three Tabooswrote an article about purity dances. For those who are not aware of what purity dances are they are dances attended by Christian fathers and daughters. At the dance the daughters vow to keep their virginity intact until marriage.

My friend equates these dances as ideologically the same as those individuals within the radical Muslim world whereas the daughter is viewed as property. We all know that women are viewed as property within the Muslim world and not treated very well either. I want to make it clear that my friend does not make the assumption that Christian fathers will start doing honor killings should their daughters falter on their promise to stay “pure”. Three Taboos merely makes the comparison stating that from a “property” stand point Christians and Radical Muslims are ideologically similar.

Ideologically I do not think it is the same. I do not think that fathers are viewing their daughters virginity as property; I think this is a misrepresentation that is all too reminiscent of the MSM.

Three Taboos points out that according to the Chicago Tribune girls as young as 10 years of age are asked to take a stand against sex. Here is the quote from the Tribune:

Girls as young as 10 are being asked to take a stand against teen sex and also to counter the negative images they are bombarded with in the media. That means trashing CDs with sexually explicit language, turning off MTV and throwing away low-rider jeans and navel rings.

Not only do I agree with trashing these CDs, I have actually smashed a few myself, I also agree with keeping MTV as well as other channels, off of my television.

This is an unfortunate turn of events for parents. Parents have to confront their 10 year olds on subjects that, in the past, would not necessarily have been an issue and it is because of the MTV culture as well as our education system that these conversations are necessary.

One of the most recent stories to come out is that of King Middle School:

Yesterday the Portland, Maine School Committee approved a plan that allows the health center of King Middle School to provide birth control pills and patches to students in the sixth grade. Parental consent or knowledge is not required. In fact, it is outlawed. Under Maine state law, once a parent has signed a waver allowing a child to be treated at a school clinic in case of sickness or injury, specific treatment is “confidential.” Students (kids) decide for themselves whether to tell their parents about the services they receive.[emphasis mine]

How are parents supposed to teach their children to have a strong moral code when our education system decides that it is okay to dole out birth control to 11 year olds.

What gets my dander up is that the Chicago Tribune writes a story that attempts to vilify Christian dads by bringing in the “critics” all because these fathers want their daughters to have a strong moral compass and remain STD free.

Critics say purity balls and other events send a message to girls that they are property. But the biggest issue, they say, is that abstinence-only programs simply do not work.

“These events represent an idea that there is something about female sexuality that needs to be controlled by dominant men in the household,” said Mary Zeiss Stange, a professor of women’s studies at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. “That relates to a patriarchal position in the evangelical movement that not only defines female sexuality but females themselves as property. What happens with purity balls is, in effect, the daughter becomes her father’s property until he hands her off to her husband.”[emphasis mine]

So let me get this straight, if a father/daughter want to enter into an agreement whereas the daughter vows to keep her virginity until marriage this is viewed as bad, but handing out birth control pills, the birth control patch and condoms to 6th graders is okay?

The Chicago Tribune also states that:

….1 in 6 teens are signing virginity pledges, though 88 percent of them break that vow before they marry, according to a federally funded national longitudinal study of adolescent health.

Really? Where is the study and how did they come up with their 88 percent figure? Were these girls asked if they were involved in a purity dance or “virginity pledge” and 88 percent of them said yes?

The bottom line for me is that I am glad that fathers are taking an active role in wanting their daughters to grow up to be moral individuals who also want to save themselves for marriage. I do not view this as a bad thing, but rather a renewed view from the past that needs to be present again.

Others:
Michelle Malkin,Stop the ACLU,Tennessean,Hoopy Frood Dude