Lauren D. Sawyer
Professor of theology and culture and author of Growing Up Pure (NYU Press, 2025), with a PhD in Christian social ethics; researches purity culture, feminist ethics, and the racial dimensions of evangelicalism.
Best podcasts with Lauren D. Sawyer
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Jan 22, 2026 • 44min
Lauren D. Sawyer, "Growing Up Pure: White Girls, Queer Teens, and the Racial Foundations of Purity Culture" (NYU Press, 2025)
Dr. Lauren D. Sawyer, a Professor of theology and culture and author of Growing Up Pure, discusses the complexities of purity culture, highlighting its ties to white supremacy. She challenges the notion of white youth as mere victims, arguing they benefit from privileges that perpetuate harmful behaviors. Lauren explores the historical roots of purity movements, the racial dynamics at play, and how teens navigate and subvert these norms. Her work prompts a reexamination of adolescent agency, accountability, and the lingering impacts of these cultural constructs.
Jan 22, 2026 • 44min
Lauren D. Sawyer, "Growing Up Pure: White Girls, Queer Teens, and the Racial Foundations of Purity Culture" (NYU Press, 2025)
Lauren D. Sawyer, a Professor of theology and culture, dives deep into the origins and implications of purity culture, particularly its impact on white youth. She connects the rise of this movement in the '90s to historical racial anxieties and critiques how white girls and queer teens have both suffered from and perpetuated its oppressive structures. Sawyer emphasizes the importance of youth agency and accountability, advocating for a nuanced understanding of their experiences in navigating purity norms. Expect sharp insights on the intersection of race, gender, and sexuality.
