The Purity Myth (2011) -- Trailer

Now Available on DVD
http://www.mediaed.org/cgi-bin/commer...

Produced & Distributed by the Media Education Foundation
Featuring Jessica Valenti

In this video adaptation of her bestselling book, pioneering feminist blogger Jessica Valenti trains her sights on "the virginity movement" -- an unholy alliance of evangelical Christians, right-wing politicians, and conservative policy intellectuals who have been exploiting irrational fears about women's sexuality to roll back women's rights. From dad-and-daughter "purity balls," taxpayer-funded abstinence-only curricula, and political attacks on Planned Parenthood, to recent attempts by legislators to de-fund women's reproductive health care and narrow the legal definition of rape, Valenti identifies a single, unifying assumption: the myth that the worth of a woman depends on what she does -- or does not do -- sexually. In the end, Valenti argues that the health and well-being of women are too important to be left to ideologues bent on vilifying feminism and undermining women's autonomy.

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[gulddina]

Where is the clip at 0:29 from? :)

[ChallengingMedia]

The movie "Teeth" in 2007.

[Kim Eddy]

I'm doing a mini photo project to mock traditional gender roles. Do you know who the man speaking at 2:12 is?

[ChallengingMedia]

Yep! That is Harvey C. Mansfield, a professor of political philosophy at Harvard University.

[ToruKun1]

Purity balls give me the willies!

[IrishDancerMonique]

This girl has it spot on! Why us our sexuality so intrinsically linked with our self worth as a person? Why are women made to think that sex is something that makes us impure and dirty unless it is done within a marriage, but for men it is just an excepted part of their life? Why are women pledging their virginity to their male God/relative/pastor? Why is a women's virginity anyone else business but their own? And most importantly, why is this inequality being renewed in the 21st century?

[Kara Walters]

"personally i love gender stereotyping" OH MY GOD

[B Kerber]

in the trailer, Evert's comments may be taken out of context but there is much more in the movie and it's nasty. He bases his opinions on rigid gender roles and a patronizing patriarchal view of women. So nice that he didn't judge his wife for not being a virgin - what a sweet, loving forgiving guy. (rolls eyes)

[Serenifly8]

One's virginity isn't a gift. That's just silly. I'd much rather marry someone who knows what she is doing in bed. Or more importantly, I'd want to make sure that I'm sexually compatible with her and we like some of the some things.

As for those purity balls. Yikes. The whole thing seems highly pedophilic. Beyond creepy

[Armonah]

You'd be surprised :)

[sweetness010]

hmmm I guess I am more of a feminist then I thought...

[adorablebelle]

The clip of the chastity speaker Jason Evert 3:27 is out-of-context and the condemnation of Christian purity misses the point. The message isn't you are unlovable if you've had sex. Purity is seen as an active gift to give to your spouse. Not just being able to say "I haven't had sex."

Jason Evert is actually the type of person this documentary maker should respect. His wife lost his virginity before marriage. He didn't judge her on what she's done, but on who she is. As all people should do.

[nschenk512]

Thing is, though, society at large doesn't see boys having sex all that much of a problem. Hence you get terms like "ladies' man" "stud" "player" for boys where as girls get words like "whore" "slut" "tramp". It's night and day.

The religious extremists who are so invested in purity for both boys and girls are only a small part of it.