Pure

Inside the Evangelical Movement That Shamed a Generation of Young Women and How I Broke Free
Book • 2018
In 'Pure,' Linda Kay Klein delves into the world of evangelical purity culture, which emerged in the 1990s within white American Evangelical Christian communities.

The book exposes the harmful messages and practices of this movement, such as the use of purity rings, pledges, and balls, which portrayed girls as potential sexual 'stumbling blocks' for boys and men.

Klein shares her own experiences and those of many others, highlighting the trauma, sexual anxiety, and PTSD-like symptoms that resulted from these teachings.

The book is a powerful critique of shame-based sexual ethics and their broader societal implications, including the suppression of women's rights and LGBTQIA people's rights.

It has been praised for its insightful combination of journalism, cultural commentary, and memoir.

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Mentioned by Rose Cartwright as her first book about her experiences with OCD, which was later adapted into a TV show.
Episode 143, ‘The Philosophy of Mental Health’ with Rose Cartwright (Part I - The Maps We Carry)
Mentioned by Erica Smith as a seminal work in the conversation around purity culture, starting around 2018.
Sex After Purity Culture Part 2 with Mattie Jo Cowsert and Erica Smith

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