A noble group statement for abstinence?
I had this sent to me the other day, and I’m not sure what kind of position to take on it.
If you aren’t familiar with the practice, it’s relatively new. Purity balls have started springing up all over as a night of dinner and dancing with your daughter in order to honor her purity and to impress upon her that her virginity until marriage is what is expected of her. And now there’s one literally in my backyard (if Chamberlain could be considered Pierre’s backyard).
Liberals and sex ed/birth control advocates have howled at the prospect of such a display as medieval demonstrations of control over female children. Advocates talk about it as coming together to honoring abstinence.
As the advertisement says “This night will help you impress upon your daughter that abstinence until marriage is the expected standard of behavior.”
So, who is correct?
Coming from an Irish Catholic background, people in my religion accomplished that through plain old “Catholic guilt” and intimidation. The notion of taking my daughter to a dance to impress upon her the need for maintaining her virtue just kind of throws me a little.
It’s one of those things that makes some fathers (such as I) squirm. One has to admit, that going to a dance for purposes of discussing intimacy in days past had absolutely nothing to do with any female relatives whatsoever. But if making such a connection with it works for others, who am I to deride it?
To me, the way to accomplish the same goal is to try to instill self-esteem and self-respect. To demand , and in turn, ask my daughters to be strong willed, and to also demand the best of themselves.
So, I’m not sure where my taking my girls to a purity dance would fall in that realm. Would they say “thank you for honoring me,” or would I get a very droll and cynical “Dad, this is really creepy” from my teenagers?
Comments
Besides this is a good famiy outing and can be considered quality time!
I have not read the whole post sorry.
:-)
You make a good point regarding the purpose of these events, but I say that the things that are supposed to be conveyed should be conveyed to girls every day: that they deserve and should expect to be treated with respect by men.
Furthermore, dressing respectfully, showing good manners, and learning that they are loved for who they are, without the expectation of sex, should also be every day occurances reinforced by the entire family and, ideally, our society.
I do think it's creepy to have a big event like this, though. Sorry. It's not juvenile, as you state. It just feels intrusive, especially when the girl signs a "purity pledge" and dad places a "promise ring" on her finger. Ick.
Just my opinion.
This week's People Magazine happens to have an article on just this topic. Check it out.
If fathers want their daughters pure, put a chasity belt on them.
I believe a strong, healthy father-daughter bond helps a girl have enough self-esteem to prevent her from entering into an early, unhealthy sexual relationship. But those type of father-daughter bonds develop over time and not by attending one formal affair together.
I would have been so honored to have had my father's complete attention for an evening out, a beautiful dress, and a compliment from him.
Instead I went looking for compliments from others--I knew the expected behavior--but I didn't know that it was for ME--not for my family, their name or reputation or whatever else.
Only AFTER the fact did I understand what I had really given away. I thought that I had "sex with someone that I loved and respected" and I thought that "they felt the same way back." But as my husband and most other honest men will agree--men and women see sex very differently.
Just because "everyone else is doing it" doesn't make having premarital sex a good idea--esp. for young women.
My daughter did not get the opportunity to go to a purity ball, however, her father did make special times to take her out and talk with her about men's views on sex, women's bodies, and women's clothing. It was NOT easy for him.
She attended proms in high school but did not participate in the drinking--because both her Dad and I warned her that drinking and premartial sex go together. Her father was on hand when she was dressed in formal wear to give her all the compliments that she needed.
Now as a newlywed who DID chose to wait for her wedding night--she says that the things that I just mentioned were the most precious gifts of her life (so far).
This can only be "creepy" for those who don't understand what "really good" sex is all about. It isn't about casual entertainment and pleasure--it can be much more than that.
It is not incestuous for responsible fathers to try to impart what they know about men (and their conquest attitudes) to their daughters. Ballroom dancing doesn't have to be full of sexual innuendo.
It is not about being "obsessed with their virginity" but about giving our daughters the tools and information that they need to protect themselves from STDs, pregnancy, heartache and emotional scarring.
With all the SEX that is screamed at our daughter's everyday--from the clothes rack to the TV--maybe it is time for Father's to STOP being "creeped out" and be uncomfortable for a little while--for the sake of their daughters!
Your daughter and her dad didn't need a special father-daughter prom to forge this bond and discuss these important topics. I applaud the way the they handled it, privately and on their own time.
I believe that way is more appropriate than these very public purity balls.
However, having been a teenage girl not that long ago, and coming from an extremely Catholic background, I would have found this very, very creepy.
A dance date with your dad? ICKY CREEPY SICKO
Probably something the SD Senate could investigate when a camera phone finds one of the senators dancing a bit too close to their daughter.
The premise of the purity balls is that you give your virginity to your dad who then gives it to some guy when you get married.
Sorry but someone's virginity isn't a commodity. The concept of one's sexuality belongs to THEM. They own it. Telling your daughter she is property is demeaning.
PP has it right. Instill in your kids to respect themselves, respect other people and if abstinence is the expected norm in your family just tell them so. All this ownership and incestious fake marriage stuff is just creepy.
LOL!!!
Personally, I'd like to take my kid there as a sort of cross-cultural experience. Like, "yes honey, some people really do live this way. Don't be scared. Just be glad we're normal."
Joan, let me guess, you had a strong father-daughter bond with your dad? Answer this, How many different partners have you had? How many "healthy" relationships have you had, or are there many unhealthy relationships because your father didn't take the time and invest the energy required to raise a "honest" daughter.
Think about it.
"normal" is having sex before marriage.
"normal" is getting pregnant before marriage.
"normal" is divorce
That is what you want for your kids?
For my kids I want above average and for them to be different, not normal.
Oh, they'll be different alright. In the Leslee Unruh sort of way.
Taking your daughter to a fake wedding ceremony, fake marrying her is just sick and wrong. If my father had taken my sister to one of these things, I would have been scarred for life.
They are clothed in anything that shows off their curves--lots of breast and skin showing---because THAT is the normal.
These men can barely LOOK at their own daughters without incestuous thoughts because their daughters are dressed NORMAL.
Their daughters may be good students and athletes--or not--but what is celebrated is their sexuality because that has become NORMAL.
Their daughters are clueless about the men out there "cruising the virgins" because dear old DAD doesn't value them enough to teach them what to expect.
Giving something to a parent for safekeeping is not a bad idea--then it is really there when you want it. Symbolically "giving your virginity to your Dad until you marry" isn't creepy--it places value on your body and helps you pledge to wait until your are adult enought to know what you have.
You wouldn't give your 11 year old a $5000 necklace to wear whenever she wanted. You would put it somewhere SAFE and the two of you would discuss when it is a good time to wear it.
SURELY your daughter's body is more valuable than a silly necklace and should be treated with more respect!
Leslee Unruh
Apparently these are held all over the country. The jewelry industry makes all sort of rings and other jewelry that says 'i'll wait.'
Of course these girls are NOT normal--they are truly special--they are the ones that men want to marry--not just sleep with.
These are the girls that nice guys (not abusers) want to raise families with--not just live with.
Although my daughter and her Dad didn't have the opportunity to go to a Purity Ball, it was important to my husband and me that she be equipped to handle what our society tosses young girls into, so we MADE the time to be sure that happened.
In this busy society it often takes an EVENT to schedule time for what is really important. We talk about death before and after funerals for instance.
Many fathers NEED an acceptable time to talk to their daughters. The Ball schedules that time and gives Dad a chance to honor his daughter and the young woman that she is becoming.
anon 11:04
I did, however, adore my grandfather and I married someone with his qualities.I have remained with that same man, the only man I have ever been intimate with, for nearly 50 years.
He is a wonderful father, who is treasured by everyone in our family, and our daughters didn't need any purity ball to learn how to live. We raised them in the church, loved them a lot, and they knew what we expected from them.
They are both very successful business women, wives, mothers and church workers - with the level of importance for their roles not necessarily in that order.
They also happen to be Democrats and feminists who think that purity balls are ridiculous.
That is their opinion and mine, but all of you have a right to your opinion too.
That's what makes America great.
Nice try.
That's how many marriages are these days, my own included.
My mother didn't submit to my father either. She had to support herself and us, and it took her years to go against the social norms and finally divorce him. But she was one of the most religious, loyal church members I have ever known.
My daughters, in both instances, make more money than their husbands. That doesn't stop them from teaching Sunday School or singing in the choir. In fact, what does one have to do with the other except for requiring good time management?
I didn't follow my daughters around in college. Since they were both working at least one job while pulling high grades, they didn't have a lot of time to do much else - although they each had a boyfriend.
They were adults who were putting themselves through colleges. What they did at that stage in their lives was not my business. More to the point, it wasn't YOUR business and it still isn't.
You have some major nose and control issues.
Get a life.
I am sorry that anon 1:12 attacks your nice explaination of your family. I think that you do hit on a key here.
"He is a wonderful father, who is treasured by everyone in our family, and our daughters didn't need any purity ball to learn how to live. We raised them in the church, loved them a lot, and they knew what we expected from them."
The fact that you remain married nearly 50(?) years also says volumes.
Your daughters, who had a Dad who spent time with them, loved them, and taught them, probably DIDN'T need a Purity Ball.
But there are SO MANY fathers who NEED an event --a reason-- a time set aside to actually talk about this subject with their daughters. There are SO MANY girls who crave this kind of time and attention from their fathers.
I have a few Democrat friends, who like me, really value their families--there is much that we agree to disagree on---but we remain friends because our basic committment to our families is the same.
I am guessing that if I really did meet you, I would count you in that number--whether we agree on Purity Balls or not!
anon 11:04
I feel sorry for you if you do go to a church that has a woman pastor, If she read the bible, that she supposedly preaches out of, she would read that women are not to teach men.
Maybe there are no men that go to "your' or their church. In this case it would be alright.
Our council president is a man who is slightly older than our woman pastor. He has no problem with the situation at all.
You sound like a very bitter person. I don't know what made you that way, but I am sorry that you feel you have to be so hateful.
You must be miserable, but you do not have the power to make me miserable.
And, no, we did not allow our children to drink, in or out of our house. In fact, we sat by the door during a party and screened the kids coming in to make certain they weren't bringing booze into the house.
Do you not take your girls on dates now and show them how they should be treated by males?
I find it weird that you think taking your daughter on a date could be "creepy".
I'm assuming none of you bashing the event have ever attended one.
I applaud all those who help put these events together and give the father's a reason to take their daughter's out for an evening.
I suspect that one-on-one time would mean more to the daughters in later years than to show up at something that appears to be as much for show as anything.
A serious discussion, when the time is right, about the need to value oneself and not give in to something that one is almost certain to regret later could carry as much - or more - weight than the rigmarole that Leslee has dreamed up.
Do fathers need to spend time with their daughters? Absolutely. But there are better, more personal, and less expensive ways to do it.
And ways that don't put money onto Leslee's pocket from the sale of all the Purity Ball paraphernalia.