Sex and Psychology Podcast Episode 448: Life After Purity Culture
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Nov 11, 2025 In this discussion, guest Lauren Elise Rogers, a certified holistic sexuality educator and relationship coach, dives into the complex terrain of purity culture. She reflects on how these teachings can instill shame about desire and lead to significant emotional fallout, especially for those who marry with a lack of sexual education. Lauren offers tools to reclaim pleasure and addresses the potential for faith to coexist with a positive view of sexuality. Her insights empower listeners to navigate their sexuality and rebuild their values beyond restrictive norms.
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Raised Inside Purity Culture
- Lauren Elise Rogers describes being raised in purity culture, attending a purity ball, and marrying as a virgin at 21.
- She later discovered her first husband was gay and divorced, which exposed harms of missing sexual education.
Gendered Effects Of Purity Messaging
- Men and women often respond differently to purity messaging due to erotic plasticity and socialized norms.
- Women in purity cultures tend to internalize sexual suppression more intensely than men.
Rock Bottom After Leaving Community
- Lauren recounts losing community, home, and ending up in a tiny basement apartment after leaving purity culture.
- She used reading and research to rebuild values and construct a new foundation for her life.
