‘Purity Balls’ Get Attention, but Might Not Be All They Claim
At The New York Times, Mark Oppenheimer examines Purity Balls, extravagant, prom-like dances created by Randy Wilson, a field director of the conservative Christian organization, The Family Research Council. Some have criticized the balls, during which fathers pledge “to protect the virginity of their unmarried daughters,” writes Oppenheimer. Jessica Valenti, the author of The Purity Myth, has written, “The message [of the balls] is clear and direct: It’s up to men to control young women’s sexuality.”