tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6142743576584523533.post7833439896386311539..comments2023-09-28T19:10:43.760-06:00Comments on The Feminist Agenda: Virginity and Religious Narratives and Elizabeth SmartRachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08203151255248154129noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6142743576584523533.post-85166259264323901342011-06-07T19:46:33.057-06:002011-06-07T19:46:33.057-06:00I think that the obsession with virginity only ext...I think that the obsession with virginity only extends to a certain point, at which age the person then becomes undesirable. It seems like being a virgin in teens, 20s is acceptable but what about after? When a person reaches the 40s, they are then labeled as unsociable, weird, as if there is something wrong with them.<br /><br />The other problem I've noticed with societies obsession with virginity is that with asexuals (people who don't experience sexual attraction) they are told that they are broken. Some asexuals are virgins but are then shamed for not wanting to have sex. <br /><br />So society says that you should want to have sex but shouldn't give in to human nature until the "proper time".Natasha Fieldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08705003009045299762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6142743576584523533.post-7142587993103480652011-05-31T10:26:19.132-06:002011-05-31T10:26:19.132-06:00I remember when everyone was trying to get picture...I remember when everyone was trying to get pictures of the woman whose father locked her up all those years and fathered a bunch of kids with her. I think it's natural to want to see the victims to see if that kind of abuse changes the person, and to reassure ourselves somehow that this couldn't happen to us. Or freak ourselves out that it could, maybe.Hannanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6142743576584523533.post-16228049029047505772011-05-30T09:07:52.212-06:002011-05-30T09:07:52.212-06:00I don't know. I think she could have had this ...I don't know. I think she could have had this response based on the abusive treatment alone. This response could follow from just physical or emotional abuse.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6142743576584523533.post-68184017766992230722011-05-29T14:25:41.155-06:002011-05-29T14:25:41.155-06:00To me this is what's truly wrong with abstinen...To me this is what's truly wrong with abstinence sex-ed. The pregnancy and std issues are important, but the underlying view of women and female sexuality is the biggest problem.Meg'nnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6142743576584523533.post-75027119382666248662011-05-28T12:54:48.018-06:002011-05-28T12:54:48.018-06:00I think churches that take this conservative line ...I think churches that take this conservative line about female sexuality don't feel like they need to address this issue. They live in this state of denial where unpleasant things are just blocked out. Rape and child sexual abuse are too unpleasant to be acknowledged.Rileynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6142743576584523533.post-21038671729479369122011-05-27T20:58:01.439-06:002011-05-27T20:58:01.439-06:00I really like this post as you delve into a lot of...I really like this post as you delve into a lot of issues that are seldom discussed about sexuality. I completely agree that we should NOT be putting fear and lies into children's minds and manipulating them. I like what you said about realizing your own truths about sexual activity and the moral responsibility that comes with it. I sort of came to those same truths through very similar experiences.<br />But I must say that if only female purity and virginity is presumed to be emphasized, that is a wrong perception. There is a HUGE double standard and so much hypocrisy in both secular and religious societies when it comes to male and female sexuality. But I have found that men who are truly following Christian principles believe that males should be just as sexually pure as females and that virginity for men is just as highly valued. But these men are few and rare indeed. I can only wish we lived in a society where the double-standard and hypocrisy did not exist!<br />As for Elizabeth Smart, she seems like a strong and intelligent young woman who has conquered those self-limiting thoughts and will live a happy successful life.DKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12173044702215363345noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6142743576584523533.post-25724617497904256802011-05-27T17:01:22.807-06:002011-05-27T17:01:22.807-06:00Rachel-I'm not surprised b/c in their view goo...Rachel-I'm not surprised b/c in their view good girls don't do that and they'd never discuss it in mixed company.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6142743576584523533.post-26553774409973033742011-05-27T15:30:55.807-06:002011-05-27T15:30:55.807-06:00Very mature, esmra.
I grew up LDS, and during th...Very mature, esmra. <br /><br />I grew up LDS, and during that whole time period when they had just found Elizabeth again, I had this sickening feeling as the public tried to get info about her and the family tried to keep her out of public scrutiny. I feel like so much of the curiosity is fueled by a sense that she's irrevocably changed, and damaged, and we want to see it for our own eyes. I don't know how much of that comes from religious beliefs about virginity, but I think you hit the nail on the head when it comes to that perspective.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6142743576584523533.post-28020505648517256472011-05-27T14:46:14.689-06:002011-05-27T14:46:14.689-06:00Good grief! Way to totally miss the point.Good grief! Way to totally miss the point.Jillnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6142743576584523533.post-64273929229237961422011-05-27T14:41:51.942-06:002011-05-27T14:41:51.942-06:00So, you were abused, and that gave you a right to ...So, you were abused, and that gave you a right to mistreat your high school boyfriend? Interesting feminist perspective on display here.e.s.m.r.a.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6142743576584523533.post-36650802783203621282011-05-27T14:39:21.318-06:002011-05-27T14:39:21.318-06:00That's an interesting point. I wonder why all ...That's an interesting point. I wonder why all the paranoia around masturbating? I've never really understood that. Then again, I don't remember much talk about masturbation in the church I grew up in.Rachelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08203151255248154129noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6142743576584523533.post-58437948677240737282011-05-27T12:50:24.737-06:002011-05-27T12:50:24.737-06:00Interesting post. I think I probably agree with m...Interesting post. I think I probably agree with most of what you wrote, but we part ways as it relates to male sexuality. You correctly pointed out that there seems to be a greater emphasis on "purity" and girls, but I think that's because it is considered an "acceptable" topic of conversation.<br /><br />Most "purity" rituals, at least from a fundamentalist Christian perspective, seem to center around the father/daughter dynamic...which probably says a lot in and of itself. There are plenty of things you can do with this that's very much sunshine and roses. Who wouldn't like a dance/party and the attendant idealized ideas of family?<br /><br />The primary focus for "purity" as it concerns male sexuality in religion is on masturbation....and...well...what kind of party are you going to have for that? It's not considered an "acceptable" topic of public conversation, but that doesn't mean there isn't a great deal of pressure, guilt, and otherwise unhealthy beliefs about sexuality that arise from this. I'd venture a guess that these sorts of beliefs/teachings can have a pretty big impact on what men believe about themselves in both their daily lives and their "salvation."<br /><br />I don't think the messaging as it relates to male sexuality is any less destructive to one's self worth. I'd venture a guess that part of the reason why the focus isn't as much on virginity when it applies to males is because they're just so darn glad these boys aren't masturbating. In their world view that would be worse.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com