The documentary I chose for this assignment is, “The Purity Myth: The Virginity Movement’s War Against Women,” made by Media Education Foundation. The documentary is a compelling showcase of how white fathers in America sexualize their daughters by having the girls vow to be virgins. Further, it covers topics on whiteness, objectification and hypermasculinity. The film illustrates how many of the foundational elements to the purity myth are based on assumption rather than facts. One being, the definition of sex; the problematic old definition is when a penis enters a vagina, but this definition would suggest that many people that engage in sexual behaviors are virgins. Another topic was about the odd biological obsession fathers have over their daughter’s hymen. The hymen can break doing just about anything as a kid, such as riding a bike, but many conservative men believe that women should have their hymens broken on their wedding day in order to have a blood contract of marriage. In other words, the purity myth is based off old, naïve traditions that are oppressive to women. I think that this documentary was stern in the opinion that were stated; however, it is a controversial topic because women do not have autonomy of their own bodies and cultural norms allow for male domination in regards to women’s sexuality. While everyone should be able to decided when they do and do not have sex, I strongly believe that ‘virginity’ is not a real thing and therefore should not give or take social status. This film creates an awareness of the insidious nature of the virginity movement which has helped many girls that come from purity myth holding families. The target audience for this film, I believe is 18-29 year old people. The purity myth effects many demographics, however, for this film the film makers focused on the target audience for the purity myth, that being white cis underaged girls. The purity myth is intertwined with racist agendas, the ideal pure girl is a white woman who is a virgin on her wedding day. The movie pointed out Jessica Simpson as being one of the medias favorite virgins. After her marriage to Nick Lachey, she had made it to marriage as a virgin and therefore she gained the respect of many conservative men. The documentary in itself is a call to action, it is education against long held belief that are oppressive. By piecing together and explaining how the purity myth ideology is damaging to all genders, more people will feel validated in themselves and reject the purity myth and virginity movement. The documentary included many videos that showcased what fathers said to daughters in regard tot heir sexuality, as well as father-daughter balls. For the balls, the girls get all dolled up and go on a date with their father. This is gross and incestuous, but its religious so people seem to turn a cold shoulder. At the ball, the girls vow to their fathers their virginity while their fathers promise to keep them safe. Girls promising to not allow boys to touch their genitals for the exchange of safety is barbaric, however, many girls are forced into these traditions. From this documentary, I am unclear on how to reject and work to end the virginity movement. If anything, the education will start a slow ripple effect of women, men and people who stop believing in the virginity myth and stop teaching it to their friend and families.

This documentary was not like Parts Unknown: Puerto Rico or Sweatshop: Deadly Fashion. In the Parts Unknown, I felt as though Anthony Bourdain did not give the people he interviewed the respect they deserved and it was uncomfortable to watch. Sweatshop also was a bit difficult to watch, as the educational aspect of the video was to teach privileges Europeans that people are poor and exploited. I found the filmmakers were did not due their cause justice with their films, while The Purity Myth: The Virginity Movement’s War Against Women did. Although the bias and opinions are strong, I think that women’s agency over their bodies is not debatable and a documentary showcasing how men exploit women does justice for women and genders.