America’s Purity Programme !

I think my Dad would have got flustered, red in the face and found an escape route into the garden.

Hmmm. How about the father giving away the bride? Or another, the US and central European habit of the father dancing with the bride and then ceding to the groom? Aaargf. I always wish I'd had the nous to have my widowed mother lead me up the aisle rather than an uncle I hardly knew.

I can see the freedom of a young girl being able to say no because she has promised her family not to, but surely it's better for her to say no because she's learnt to trust her own instincts, speak up for herself and ignore boyfriend pressure and group pressure if that's what she doesn't want.

I would rather see young men take consent pledges and wear consent rings and promise their mothers that they will treat women with respect....

....its always on the girls...who when it comes to it dont always get that much of a say anyway

Are the same fathers holding their sons to the same standard?

Alchemilla I walked my youngest daughter down the aisle about 18 years ago The only difficult bit (for me) was the speech afterwards I hate making speeches

very few fathers "give the bride away" now ,They still walk them down the aisle but I haven't heard "who gives this woman " for a long time .

Exactly notanan2. I wonder why some religious folk are so preoccupied with sex when there are many other life issues to focus on? I think it is about controlling women. I remember there is/was a movement which started in US called "surrendered wives", where wives agreed that it was the Christian thing to defer to their husbands in all things, as head of the household, which would lead to a happier life (apparently). B****r that I say!

Its a thing in some of the "modern" new evangelical american style churches here.

They say that deferring to the man eliminates potential for jealousy and other martial problems...again its the womans job to be the "solution" because men cant be expected to control their own jealous anger..

Does not sound good at many, many levels.
What is the age of consent in Louisiana. I believe different US states have different ages set; is that correct now?

I saw this programme, and I found it deeply creepy! The daughters were treated like extra wives. Felt very uncomfortable watching it. As for the few that some have that sex is purely for marriage - if that is your view, then fine, but why should everyone follow it? I find the hypocrasy of the whole thing distasteful. I have known several, very religious men who were monsters to their family. People can be kind and moral without being badgered about their sex lives.

It's like they're marrying their fathers. I think it IS creepy and usually a bi-product of a very conservative church. I thought this was only here in the States.

All fundamental religious factions subjugate women in similar ways. The men dictate dress codes/ who mixes with who/ domestic duties & generally stereotyping gender roles. It is all wrong: Jew/ Christian/Muslim/ Jedi Knight

I note that this whole thread and the 'pledge' that is being discussed is predicated on the assumption that the boys are all after sex and the girls are under pressure to give in. No mention whatsoever of young women who actually enjoy sex, encourage, indeed instigate it.

My experience, as a teenager in the swinging sixties was that almost every couple was sexually active before marriage, many having 'shotgun weddings'. Two couples I knew waited until they were married and both had difficulties with the sexual side of their marriage. I am a firm believer in 'try before you buy', (with all due precautions taken to avoid infection or pregnancy) to ensure their is compatibility in this important part of the relationship.

Sexual compatability = genetic compatability.
Its a Biological tool to help you find a mate that you'll have a good chance of having viable offspring with.

Sexual compatibility =sexual compatibility,
They are not being matched for sexual compatibility, they are being given by their fathers to men who are like their fathers who think it is their right to choose their daughters husbands & perpetuate the control of females.

I was replying to Granny23s point about the benefits of NOT waiting until marriage to have sex.

Sex isn't bad. It has lots of benefits when done with mutual respect. Abstinence doesn't teach respect.

Neither does promiscuity notanana