Purity balls, in which a girl pledges to remain ‘pure’ until her wedding day, symbolically ‘marries’ God, and promises her father that she will remain a virgin until she's a wife, have become a phenomenon in America, now taking place in 48 out of the 50 states.
The balls resemble giant wedding ceremonies, with the girls - all around the age of 12 - wearing white gowns and dancing with their fathers who promise to ‘protect’ their daughter’s chastity.
During the ceremony, fathers present their daughters with purity rings, which they wear to symbolise their commitment to virginity.
In the movement purity means no sexual contact of any kind, including kisses, until after marriage.
One of the largest father-faughter purity balls - which is the subject of a Nightline Prime investigation - has been held for 14 consecutive years in Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs. The event sees upwards of 60 fathers pledging to ‘protect their daughter’s choices for purity'.
Fathers taking part are expected to sign a ‘purity covenant’ in which they, as ‘High Priest of their home and family’ pledge ‘before God to cover my daughter as her authority and protection in the area of purity.’
The daughters silently commit to live pure lives before God through the symbol of laying down a white rose at the cross, before engaging in a wedding-type dance with their father.
"You're married to the Lord, and your father is your boyfriend." Holy crap that made the hairs on the back of my neck stand straight up.
This idea of virginity being some sacred entity which must be protected at all cost, and that the loss of it stains a woman's virtue beyond repair, is based on primitive concepts and has no real value in this day and age.
As a father we should be prepared to defend our daughters against ne'er do wells, give them good advice about sex, and comfort when their hearts get broken, but we should NOT be constantly involved in their sex life of dictating when and with whom that can begin.
So creepy!
