What Does Purity Really Mean?
In the context of certain forms of Christianity, purity culture refers tosexual purity and chastity.
Purity culture gained popularity with the public in the 1990s.
LaylaBird / Getty Images
It is heavily connected to the rise of evangelical Christianity.
However, purity is not only connected to Christianity.
Purity can be connected and/or confused with a culture of modesty that is prevalent in many other religions.Dr.
How Do People Ensure They Remain Pure?
However these formalities have fallen out of favor and purity culture now operates at a much more subcultural level.
Women are often taught their sexuality is something that should be bottled up and shoved down.
What Is the Toxicity of Purity Culture?
Mayderry says these sorts of issues stem from perpetuating cycles ofshame" that exist within purity culture.
“It can negatively impact relationships and it can negatively impact their own understanding of themselves and their bodies.
She sees this manifest in societal taboo around topics of sex.
And I’m sure that is pervasive amongst all cultures …
It doesn’t exist, theres just slut shaming.
Additionally, Twitter hashtags like #ChurchToo contain stories linking purity culture toabusewithin the church.
These experiences have their own lasting effects.
They are been actively hostile and harmful.
Three and above is shame.
And shame is completely dysfunctional, and tells us that there’s something inherently wrong with us.
That spiral, she says, is often where the work to unravel this trauma happens initially.
