Open AccessPurity Balls
Author(s) -
Nicole B. Doolen
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
stance
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1943-1899
pISSN - 1943-1880
DOI - 10.33043/s.9.1.73-83
Subject(s) - virtue , agency (philosophy) , human sexuality , sociology , epistemology , psychology , social psychology , philosophy , gender studies
In this paper, I draw on the principles of Aristotelianethics, the work of modern virtue ethicists, and previous feministcritiques of purity balls to interrogate the effects of this practiceon moral development. I argue that purity balls discourage youngwomen from making autonomous, informed, and virtuouslymotivated decisions regarding their sexuality. While most critiquesof purity balls are rooted in the explicitly patriarchal structure ofthese events, my analysis emphasizes the negative impact they haveon moral agency. I conclude that purity balls are unethical becauseof the detrimental effects they have on the becoming of virtuousagents.