A ring is a piece of jewelry full of symbolism. What was once used to represent the eternal love of a couple, now can represent many things — one’s school, one’s place in society, a connection to a fraternity or sorority and purity.
Purity rings originated in the ’90s among Christian affiliated sexual abstinence groups but have resurfaced into people’s minds thanks to celebrities like Jordin Sparks and the Jonas Brothers.
At the MTV Video Music Awards, Jordin Sparks responded to comedian Russell Brand for his jokes about purity rings.
“It’s not bad to wear a promise ring because not everybody, guy or girl, wants to be a slut,” Sparks said.
Although these celebrities seem to be promoting positive morals, do their actions affect a student’s decision to wear a purity ring?
Andrea Summers, a senior studying philosophy and president of the New Sexual Revolution Club (NSR - a club that promotes the value of human sexuality) says, “From the perspective of someone who has already made a commitment to purity, a celebrity who also does so might be commended.”
“I don’t think (celebrities) tarnish (purity) rings in the least, as most people who wear them tend to do so out of personal conviction. The ring is meaningless if it doesn’t hold value to the wearer. It’s a symbol — an outward symbol that makes visible the interior commitment. A few celebrities doing the same won’t take that meaning away.”
Tiffany Duening, second year senior studying industrial design and co-president of Vox: Voices for Planned Parenthood (a club that educates students about healthy sexuality and reproductive rights) believes celebrities effect the public in many ways, even through wearing purity rings.
“Purity rings are a trend we are seeing more and more with teen stars, and these young stars have a great number of followers who look up to them. It is great for those who wish to stay abstinent to have role models whom they can relate to so well. I would hope fans choose to be abstinent for their own reasons and not just to follow the fad,” Duening says.
Although Duening points out celebrities have a positive affect on students, “I think it’s (also) important these young stars spread messages about healthy sexuality because many of their fans are having sex with few role models to inspire them. I would love to see a movement in safe sex among young stars next.”
Celebrities promoting abstinence is daunting for some but purity rings create enough controversy on their own.
Summers and NSR club member Cate Hoyt, a sophomore studying nursing, both have purity rings that represent a lot more than just staying pure until marriage for them.
“I didn’t want to be dependent on a man’s love for my self worth. I know I’m worth waiting for and (my purity ring) was a daily reminder to myself,” Summers says.
Summers has worn a purity since she was 16-years-old and has since traded out her purity ring for an engagement ring.
“When I first met my fiancé, he respected my ring and we saw eye to eye on the issue. We have been together for five years,” Summer says.
Hoyt wears her purity ring for religious reasons as well as purity reasons.
“My Catholic faith is closely intertwined with purity. I am a gift (from God). There is no separation between my faith and my decision to stay pure,” Hoyt says. “My ring is a symbol that I’m waiting for my husband and my heart belongs to the Lord until I am called to marriage.”
Although NSR and some religious affiliations take pride in wearing purity rings and promoting abstinence, other groups like Planned Parenthood don’t agree with the pressures purity rings present for young men and women.
Duening says, “Planned Parenthood’s focus is making sure that young people have access to sexual health education so they can become healthy, self-sufficient adults. By teaching abstinence-based education rather than abstinence-only education, a young person is given the tools necessary to make healthy, responsible decisions.”
Planned Parenthood has done several studies regarding abstinence-only sex education programs and found most of the programs were ineffective.
“A nine-year, large-scale federally funded evaluation of the Title V Abstinence Until Marriage Program found no measurable impact on increasing abstinence or delaying sexual initiation among participating youth. Instead, it found that these programs actually decreased adolescents’ confidence regarding the ability of condoms to prevent HIV and other sexually transmitted infections,” according to Mathematica Policy Research, Inc.
Duening believes abstinence is a good thing but most people should wait until they fully understand sexuality before making the decision to commit to it.
Duening says she believes people should receive comprehensive sexual education which she thinks would strengthen people’s decisions whether or not to be abstinent.
Summers disagrees with Planned Parenthood’s comprehensive safe-sex education.
“Safe-sex isn’t always the smartest sex. Not protecting yourself from emotional baggage or bonding with a partner on a physiological level (when the other partner has not bonded) can be damaging,” Summers says.
No matter the stance on sex education, purity rings have made an impression on today’s society.
“Wearing (a purity) ring helps to remind the wearer and others about the commitment he or she has made,” Duening says.
“For me, wearing a purity ring and getting people interested in what it stands for is a positive side effect,” Hoyt says.
Although, Duening believes abstinence is difficult at any age, she understands student’s difficult commitment to stay chaste and says “more power to them!”
Purity being promoted through celebrities or in the form of a ring shows that sex is constantly on students’ minds whether it’s through abstinence or casual relations.
Reach the reporter at theresa.dillon@asu.edu.
