The purity myth : how America's obsession with virginity is hurting young women / Jessica Valenti.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Valenti, Jessica.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Young women--Sexual behavior--United States.

Young women.

Virginity--Social aspects--United States.

Virginity.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (273 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Emeryville, Calif. : Seal Press, c2009.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

The United States is obsessed with virginity ? from the media to schools to government agencies. In The Purity Myth Jessica Valenti argues that the country's intense focus on chastity is damaging to young women. Through in-depth cultural and social analysis, Valenti reveals that powerful messaging on both extremes ? ranging from abstinence curriculum to ?Girls Gone Wild" infomercials ? place a young woman's worth entirely on her sexuality. Morals are therefore linked purely to sexual behavior, rather than values like honesty, kindness, and altruism. Valenti sheds light on the value ? and

Contents:

The lie of virginity

Tainted love

Pornography

Classroom chastity

Legislating purity

Forever young

Public punishments

Rethinking masculinity

Making sex moral

Losing "losing it."

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

1-58005-314-9

1-282-46049-8

9786612460494

0-7867-4466-9

OCLC:

435970405