In the history of human civilization, societies have developed various systems to enforce gender roles, often through religious and cultural beliefs and practices that define acceptable behavior for men and women. These normative expectations are reinforced by social institutions such as education, law, politics, media, and even art. This paper explores how purity myths contribute to the construction of gender identities and the regulation of sexual behavior. Purity myths are stories that create boundaries between pure and impure, good and evil, male and female, inside and outside. They shape the meanings attributed to bodies, emotions, desires, and relationships based on perceived qualities like virtue, purity, and morality. By controlling women's sexual expression and restricting their access to resources, they ensure patriarchal control and power dynamics in society. The paper will examine the ways in which these myths operate within Western culture to promote heteronormativity and maintain traditional gender hierarchies. It also discusses feminist critiques of purity myths, emphasizing the instability of moral absolutism and the need for more nuanced approaches to understanding gendered citizenship.
This article seeks to demonstrate how purity myths perpetuate a narrow view of masculinity and femininity, contributing to gender-based violence, exploitation, and inequality.
What is a purity myth?
A purity myth is a narrative or set of rules that defines what is proper and improper conduct for men and women. Purity refers to physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual states of being, and these myths prescribe behaviors that conform to idealized standards. Purity myths often draw from religious texts such as the Bible or Quran, which provide moral guidelines for living and offer rewards for those who adhere to them.
They can also be found in popular culture, media, politics, and other social institutions. They influence our perceptions of ourselves, others, and the world around us, shaping our thoughts and actions.
How do purity myths regulate gendered citizenship?
Purity myths define what it means to be "proper" based on gender roles and expectations.
Women are expected to be pure, chaste, and submissive while men are expected to be strong, assertive, and dominant. This creates a hierarchy where men have power over women, granting them control over resources like education, employment, and property. Women's bodies become objects of ownership and exchange, with their value determined by their perceived sexual purity. This reinforces patriarchal values and maintains traditional gender hierarchies.
Examples of purity myths in Western culture
In Western cultures, purity myths shape our understanding of masculinity and femininity. Men are expected to be powerful, successful, and aggressive, while women are supposed to be beautiful, nurturing, and submissive. These ideals are reinforced through advertising, film, music, and other forms of entertainment. One example is the Disney princess storyline, which portrays women as passive damsels in distress waiting to be rescued by male heroes. Another example is the "virgin/whore dichotomy," which sees women as either virtuous or promiscuous, good or bad. Such binaries are harmful because they limit women's choices and perpetuate gender stereotypes.
Critiques of purity myths
Philosophers have long critiqued the instability of moral absolutism, arguing that there can be no universal definition of morality or virtue. Feminists also argue that purity myths create rigid categories of identity that suppress individual expression and diversity. They emphasize the need for more nuanced approaches to gendered citizenship, recognizing fluidity and complexity in human experience. Purity myths create a world where men have power over women and reinforce systems of oppression based on sex, race, class, and ability. Therefore, we must challenge these myths to promote equitable relationships between people of all genders.
How do purity myths regulate gendered citizenship, and what philosophical critiques expose their instability?
Purity myths are ideologies that prescribe moral behavior according to the sexual status of individuals in a society. These myths are often used to regulate women's behavior by imposing strict rules on them and limiting their agency, while men have more freedom to engage in sexually promiscuous behaviors. Women who violate these norms are deemed impure and are excluded from society, whereas men who break them face less severe consequences.