Oh my gosh, but there’s been a media storm brewing lately 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, host Russell Brand was heavily mocked by the Jonas Brothers (ages 16, 19, and 20) for their purity rings and strong support for abstinence until marriage. .
American Idol winner Jordin Sparks (who also wears a purity ring) got a bit irritated and defended the Jonas Brothers in an unscripted spiel saying, “Not everyone, boy or girl, wants to be a whore.” .
He did not mean to imply that any teenager who does not wear a purity ring is a great homeless man, but he did underline 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 basic sex ed and common sense – if a teenager steps out of the purity bandwagon and indulges in sex with their boyfriend or girlfriend, they should know how to wear 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 vowed to remain virgins until they are married.
* Britney Spears used to wear one, as did Jessica Simpson. Disney actresses Selina Gomez and Demi Lovato, both 16, are currently wearing purity rings.
* As a constant visual reminder of a teenager’s vow to remain chaste and behave like a good Christian, purity rings can influence a teenager’s decisions about sex, as well as daily conduct and behavior.
* If a parent has given their daughter or son the promise ring when they had “the talk,” it can remind the teen when they are in a difficult situation, such as when offered drugs or pressured about sex, that their parents are there to support them in their good decisions.
* As a wedding ring reminds adults of our promises, a purity ring on the left ring 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 excellent and very popular programs dedicated to promoting abstinence.
I think it’s important to mention that while it can be argued that teens can also be presented with the option of using condoms for birth control and disease prevention if they make a mistake, it is obvious that a purity ring can be a reminder. for teenage girls (or boys!) to stay on track and not fall into the trap of underage sexual encounters that can end with an unwanted pregnancy or an STD, or in the best case, a heart broken and a bad reputation.