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By Kim Hone-McMahan
Beacon Journal staff writer
Published on Tuesday, Oct 21, 2008
Abby Wilson wears a sterling silver ring shaped like a flower on her right hand. It's an outward symbol that tells others the 15-year-old is saving herself for marriage.
''I have many friends (boys and girls) with purity rings,'' said the Our Lady of the Elms sophomore. ''I call it my self-respect ring.''
Abby bought the ring a few months ago while vacationing in Florida. It's not a typical purity ring, which generally are bands engraved with words such as ''True Love Waits,'' or simply ''Purity.''
At Grismer's Religious Gifts in Northfield, manager Casey Grismer said many teens, like Abby, are buying the rings for themselves. She believes it's a sign the days of free love are a thing of the past.
''I think kids now are starting to understand the ramification of being promiscuous,'' she said. ''Maybe it is just wishful thinking, but I get a ton of kids asking me for the rings.''
Originating in the '90s, the ring, with a religious foundation, has taken on a Hollywood flair. American Idol winner Jordin Sparks, members of boy band the Jonas Brothers and Selena Gomez, star of Disney Channel's Wizards of Waverly Place, have donned the jewelry. That has helped popularize the rings with teens.
Jeff West, owner of Witness Gifts Marketing in Fairlawn and a sales representative for Forgiven Jewelry, based in Suffield Township, sells the rings.
Once fashionable with Baptists, the rings are now a hit across denomination lines. In the past couple of years, West estimates more than 100,000 rings have been sold nationwide.
Megan Elavsky of Franklin Township said many of her friends, whom she defines as morally strong, received purity rings for their 16th birthdays.
''I think it's a great reminder if you wear it daily,'' the 18-year-old explained. ''I personally don't think I need a ring to know my values.''
Abby and Megan are part of a Beacon Journal readers' group of kids who suggest stories that affect their lives.
Normally, the rings are worn on the left hand. But Abby said she felt ''weird'' about putting the ring on a finger generally reserved for a wedding band.
In some areas of the country, father-daughter purity balls or dances are held in honor of the young women and their pledges to remain virgins until their wedding day.
The young women wear up-dos and formal gowns, and the fathers, often dressed in tuxedos, promise to be responsible men of integrity and to support their daughters in their vows of chastity. Sometimes the girls say their oaths aloud, but more often it's done silently.
''I . . . don't think I would want to go [to a purity ball] because I have already promised myself to wait, and my parents know and trust that I will keep that commitment,'' said Abby. ''I love my dad and all, but I wouldn't feel comfortable talking to him in such detail about sex.''
Though much less popular, there are also mother-son purity events for boys.
Last year, about 4,700 purity balls were held, reported the National Abstinence Clearinghouse, a resource center that distributes information on sexual abstinence.
A local teen who is part of the Beacon Journal kids group said she doesn't like the idea of the dances, or the rings.
''While I respect people who wear them, it is simply not my cup of tea,'' said the home-schooled 15-year-old. ''I've already lost my virginity, and I'll probably lose it again before marriage. So, there's really no point in me wearing one.
''And by what means do people call virgins 'pure'?''
Kim Hone-McMahan can be reached at 330-996-3742 or kmcmahan@thebeaconjournal.com.
Abby Wilson wears a sterling silver ring shaped like a flower on her right hand. It's an outward symbol that tells others the 15-year-old is saving herself for marriage.
Get the full article here.
Comments
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akron, OH
Posted 05:18 AM, 10/21/2008
also get a bumper sticker
Dalton Ave, Henderson, NV
Posted 06:38 AM, 10/21/2008
The last couple paragraphs are proof that home schooling does not work...
Posted 08:56 AM, 10/21/2008
my daughter wears one and I am so proud of her. she asked for one for her 14th birthday and it also means purity of heart and mind.
the jonas brothers can be given some credit as they all three wear one.
Posted 09:36 AM, 10/21/2008
They're all up for the idea now, but wait until they get a little older and go to college. Not saying that it's true for all of them, but for a lot of them it will be.
Akron, OH
Posted 09:45 AM, 10/21/2008
The last I checked you can only lose your virginity once. And they say public school kids are failing.
Posted 10:13 AM, 10/21/2008
My parents got me a purity necklace when I was 15. It was my first piece of gold jewelry, and it had a gorgeous heart charm on it. It meant so much to me at the time, but then I met a guy, and well, it happened before marriage, when I was 18 years old.
Looking back, I obviously wish I would have waited. My parents put so much thought and love into a great gift. I am looking forward to doing the same for my kids.
akron, oh
Posted 10:13 AM, 10/21/2008
i'd hit that...
Old Faithful, WY
Posted 11:19 AM, 10/21/2008
purity? as opposed to being "impure"? it's always a great idea to place negative connotations on a natural act such as sex!
Front Line, KC
Posted 11:29 AM, 10/21/2008
It will soon be outlawed in the new socialist America. If these young teens do not have children outside of marriage, where will the future of the socialist party be?
Dade City, Fl
Posted 12:22 PM, 10/21/2008
A great place to get Purity Rings and Christian Jewelry as well as abstinence teaching materials.
http://www.worththewait.net
Posted 01:16 PM, 10/21/2008
Abstinence is the number one way to avoid pregnancy and disease. These kids are attempting to make an intelligent decision.
That being said - let's not forget to teach our kids about real-life responsibility, too. We can't just give them a ring and assume they will always make the right decisions without having a hard talk w/them about birth control and STD prevention.
Don't let purity rings encourage willful blindness and naivete.
akron, oh
Posted 01:31 PM, 10/21/2008
You won't see many of these rings on students at in the Buchtel corridor.
akron, oh
Posted 01:32 PM, 10/21/2008
MC
Some girls Lose their Virginity to many boys..
Oh yes this is my first time. You'Re the only one that's ever been near there... You're special
LMAO Some guys are very gullible..
Posted 02:23 PM, 10/21/2008
MAYFONG.... if I'm hiring someone I want someone with experience....not a first timer !
Only as gullible as they want to be....
Posted 08:01 PM, 10/21/2008
Silly
Posted 02:38 PM, 11/06/2008
My dad gave me one for my 13th birthday. I wore it on my left ring finger until I was engaged. On our wedding night a few years ago, I gave it to my husband. It was super sweet!
