The Purity Ring Controversy – Jordin Sparks, the Jonas Brothers and their Purity Rings
SportsOh, but lately there’s been a storm brewing in the media regarding purity rings, and I’ve been following it with interest. As you may or may not know, at the MTV Video Music Awards recently, the Jonas Brothers (ages 16, 19 and 20) were heavily mocked by host Russell Brand for their purity rings and strong support for abstinence until marriage. .
American Idol winner Jordin Sparks (also sporting a purity ring) bristled a bit and defended the Jonas Brothers in an impromptu tirade saying, “Not everyone, boy or girl, wants to be a slut.”
He didn’t mean to imply that any teen who doesn’t wear a purity ring is a big bum, but he did underscore the growing popularity of purity rings and “abstinence-only” programs among teens in recent years.
Personally, I think purity rings are a great idea, if balanced with a little basic sex education and common sense: if a teen falls off the purity bandwagon and indulges in sex with their boyfriend or girlfriend, they need to know how to use a condom
Interesting facts about purity rings:
* Purity rings, also known as chastity rings or promise rings, are worn by a large number of teenagers who have made a commitment to remain a virgin until they marry.
*Britney Spears used to wear one, as did Jessica Simpson. Disney actresses Selina Gomez and Demi Lovato, both 16, currently wear purity rings.
*As a constant visual reminder of a teen’s vow to remain chaste and behave like a good Christian, purity rings can influence a teen’s choices about sex, as well as their daily conduct and behavior.
* If a parent has given their daughter or son the promise ring when they “talked,” it can remind the teen when he or she is in a difficult situation, such as being offered drugs or pressured about sex, that his or her parents are there to support them in their good decisions.
* Just as a wedding band reminds adults of our promises, a purity ring on the left finger reminds a teenager of their vows of abstinence before marriage.
* The Silver Ring Thing http://www.silverringthing.com/ and True Love Waits http://www.lifeway.com/tlw are two very popular and excellent shows dedicated to promoting abstinence.
I feel it’s important to interject that while a case can be made for presenting teens with the option of using condoms for birth control and disease prevention if they slip up, it’s obvious that a purity ring can be a reminder for teenage girls (or boys!) to stay on the right track and not fall into the trap of underage sexual encounters that can end in an unwanted pregnancy or an STD, or at best, a broken heart and a bad reputation.