Cooper devoted an episode of his daytime show to purity balls, virginity pledges and the like. Jessica was representing on the show, pushing back against the dangerous rhetoric of other guests like Randy Wilson, the pastor who founded purity balls, and a family that takes their daughter to the balls (including two teenage girls). I think Jess did a great job of communicating clearly and rationally why purity balls hurt women without attacking or shaming the young women who were on stage with her.
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Jess Rocks it Out, Talks Purity Balls with Anderson Cooper
Originally posted in Feministing
Jos mentioned it briefly in Friday’s What We Missed, but did you see our girl Jessica Valenti rock it out on Anderson Cooper last week?
Cooper devoted an episode of his daytime show to purity balls, virginity pledges and the like. Jessica was representing on the show, pushing back against the dangerous rhetoric of other guests like Randy Wilson, the pastor who founded purity balls, and a family that takes their daughter to the balls (including two teenage girls). I think Jess did a great job of communicating clearly and rationally why purity balls hurt women without attacking or shaming the young women who were on stage with her.
Also check out the cameo appearance from Sarah, the 13-year-old girl whose badass video on the wrongs of slut-shaming recently went super viral, and deservedly so!
Check out some more clips over at Jess’ website.