Surviving purity culture: How I healed a lifetime of sexual shame | Linda Kay Klein | TEDxMileHigh

In the 1990s, a movement born out of the white, American, evangelical Christian church swept the globe: purity culture. They weren't the first or only fundamentalist religion to sexually shame women & girls. But this time, the message was mainstream, almost cool: women and girls are either pure or impure, depending on their sexuality. Decades later, we're just starting to grapple with the long-term effects of these teachings. In this deeply intimate talk, Linda Kay Klein shares how she recovered from purity culture's toxic teaching -- and how she helps others do the same.

[sjgrall]

Affects men raised in that culture too, myself and a friend of mine were both affected, and it’s taken 18 years for me to finally move past it.

[Kyeasha]

I'm absolutely livid about the brownie story and the inability to express yourself and be heard about your health is disheartening

[flamissia]

Thank you for your dedication to healing and changing this horrific traumatizing religious fanaticism. Very much needed.

[Garfeef]

Purity culture has tormented me even though I've been an atheist for over ten years. I think I didn't want to confront it sooner because of the rage and grief I have about that part of my life being completely obliterated by how I was raised.

[seektruthwithviic]

I start writing my first book on this topic just last week. It’s been so moving and emotional to reflect on my experiences and I can’t wait to share it with the world. We are not alone and there is freedom love and restoration for us all. No matter what your history 🙏🏽🙌🏽 bless you all

[kyladarger]

I'm an atheist myself, but grew up in Utah surrounded by Mormons. All of my friends are Mormons, including my best friend. I love them so much and really wish I could do something to help them with this, as I can tell just from the way they talk they're pretty greatly affected. It really makes me sad, because I worry about them, but also because I worry that they find me immoral because I'm more open and comfortable about these things.

[junglelibrary]

Trust me Buddhists have it too in Sri Lanka. The word is pathivatha. Purity based on the life of a Hindu god, heavily supported by victorian mindsets of our colonial past.

[emilywalsh]

I never grew up in purity culture and never had any of these issues...I am now in my 30s and am starting to be affected now by purity culture when they talk about body count and how "women" (they see to miss the mens talk) loose value every time they sleep with someone.

[gregglockhart]

Right on Linda! I loved your, freedom of choice statement! I’m glad that you are somewhat more free. Some conditioning is taken in so deep that even when we realize that it’s a lie, it still can guilt us.

[Buttercup]

I literally cried by the end of this video.This is amazing.Great job

[MotivatingVision]

Yes, you. You're probably scrolling through the comments, like I am, reading all these motivational comments. If you are reading this at night, you should get some sleep, and don't stress about everything going on in the world, or what you are going through. Don't dwell on things from the past, don't stress thinking about your future. Just live your life, because you only get one. Do whatever makes you happy, not what other people want from you. I hope you do the same and have an amazing day as well!

[GoetheandFro]

I totally relate to the inability to express self --> stomach pain and bleeding, then taking advil to get through the day --> leading to Crohn's. That's exactly how my diagnosis went as well. I went to doctor after doctor before I got a diagnosis. Would love to hear more about this topic from this speaker.

[firebird]

I'm a man and was severely damaged by purity cultural as well as my wife. I really need professional help now, but can't find it.

[gmansard]

When I hear stories like this I am so grateful for my skeptical semi-practicing Catholic family, whose mother was enthusiastic about birth control.

[nanadecarvalho]

This woman is me, I am this woman. I need to go to her organization some day, I need to be free from the PTSD of religious fanaticism and purity culture.

[lindaugelow]

Very powerful talk. The ideas and the presentation. I loved the ending part about choice at the end.

[muzicecstasy]

The brownie story made me so angry omg.
This is powerful, cried watching it, she's amazing!

[kimothy]

Omg... the knife story is the worst version of a purity metaphor I've ever heard 😱

[fireinateacup]

She's so brave to even be able to speak these things out loud...I love how she reached back out to her community and is trying to help others heal. My entire family, friends & best friend of 25 years ghosted my husband and I when we finally stopped deluding ourselves that Christianity was true. Christianity is itself a vicious cult, just as much as Mormonism or Jehovah's Witnesses, which Evangelical Christians are very fond of mocking and dismissing as cults!

[mikeault]

Oh how I wish I could communicate with you. You hit the nail right on the head with me. I am male I’m 67. I wish we had something like that here so I got someone to talk to you I live alone. My family is all gone so being alone is very tough on top of what I’m dealing with . Thank you for your video.