The Purity Myth

The Purity Myth

by Jessica Valenti

Finished The Purity Myth by Jessica Valenti.  The book provides the perspective of a feminist author and her views on how women, specifically young women, face the challenges of sexuality. Valenti presents data that runs the spectrum from pregnancy rate decline, the amount the federal government has funded healthy marriage initiatives and ‘chastity’-focused programs for young girls, sexual activity rates among high-schoolers, STI rates, HPV rates of infection, and demographic statistics for pregnancy/low-income and other issues related to young girls.  This is a book that would serve as a great resource for a student studying young girls and how they are influenced by society/impacted by governmental policies centered on sexual activity.  Valenti also presents her memories of losing her virginity and even reaches out to the boy she had sex with at age sixteen to get his thoughts on the experience.  A well-researched and data driven book.   A quick read with a ton of information.  It was published in 2009, so a decade has passed since it was first released and data may need to be updated.