(Content Warning: The topics covered in this project concern sensitive topics such as sexual assault and abuse.)
PowerPoint:
Personal Poetry:
Recognizing My Victimization
You told me that I was the perpetrator
That my actions caused the assault
When all I did was just be myself
But somehow it’s all my fault
–
I lie alone
Crying in my bed
Regretting my actions
Filled with deep dread
–
Remorse for my actions
Was I in the wrong
Was my dress too short
And my nails too long?
–
I had went to his room
And agreed to some things
So was it all my fault
That he then assaulted me?
–
I didn’t cry out for help,
Does that make me a whore
That is what’s written
In Deuteronomy 22:24
–
Jesus said
If you look in lust
To pluck your eyes out
Then you must
–
So why then
Do you say
That my assault
Is the price I must pay
–
For what crime even
Did I commit
I expressed myself
That’s not consent
–
Consent does not come from
The way I dress
My choice of fashion
Does not say yes
–
Lying in his bed
Did not give him the right
To treat me like he did
On that autumn night
–
Purity culture
Held my mouth taped
So I couldn’t say
That I had been raped
Your poem was incredibly powerful.
I thought that your project made some really important connections between purity culture and rape culture (especially through your use of biblical passages) and I commend you for researching and analyzing such an important topic. I also thought it was important that you made ties to conservative politics and control over women’s reproduction.
Abigail– this is so sobering, yet so beautiful. Thank you for sharing your experience with us. Your medium of poetry felt right and I cried while reading it. Thank you so much for putting so many of expressions in words. –ars
It is so brave of you to share some of your own experiences and opinions for this project. This is such an important topic to talk about and both the political and religious influence on how society views conversation on gender reveals a lot about how we function as a community. This project was extremely impressive.
This was a really special project. Your poem was very painful and strong and I think it’s so important that you shared your voice because this is an issue where many individuals are silenced. I think it’s great that you had both an analytical and personal aspect to your project. Amazing job.
Wow… this project took my breath away. As a political science major, we often talk about ideology shifts in the polity, but I find that the topic you chose to discuss is hardly ever brought up. Purity culture is never really discussed outside the context of the foundation of the “Moral Majority” in the 1970’s and 1980’s. Showing that purity culture is still deeply prevalent and has a strong influence on politics is so important.
This project must not have been easy, but I want you to know that I found it to be very insightful into how these religious teachings affect the lives of everyone. While I was not raised in or around evangelical Christianity, I know that the ideas from that sect tend to impact society far deeper than the Christian community. I think it is a shame that we have not yet made it our mission to investigate how conservative viewpoints and Christianity impact societies views and actions towards rape culture. Thank you also for sharing your experiences with us, it really helped to shed light on how these ideas affects the individual
Your project was probably one of the most serious and powerful to hear about in class. It is a difficult topic to discuss, especially with the ongoing misogyny that occurs within our justice system. The fact that people in positions of power, even women themselves, have been conditioned to believe in these views is kind of scary and once again brings to light the negative effects of religion on politics.
First off, absolutely incredible poem and thank you for sharing your personal life/experiences in the project. Second, your presentation was amazing and super thorough, I appreciate the way you join the #metoo movement to purity culture to women’s rights to politicians. I think it’s powerful to realize how interconnected these things are, then, hopefully, we can begin to combat them. Fantastic job!
That was such a powerful poem and set the stage for your project beautifully. I know this is not an easy topic to discuss so I really appreciate that you took the time and effort to give it the justice it deserves. It really shows just how much Christian views on purity influence political policy. Especially with the current political atmosphere around Roe V Wade, it is more important than ever to break down where these toxic political arguments are coming from. Thank you so much for putting this together. It is empowering as a woman to engage with these political ideas armed with the knowledge that they are manipulating biblical texts to continue exerting power over women’s bodies. Amazing.
I really enjoyed listening to you project. I appreciate your willingness to talk about your personal experience with purity culture and how it has affected your childhood. It’s probably crazy taking a class now and revisiting all of these passages and quotes your family would tell you as a kid, but learning how they are deeply misogynistic, racist, and homophobic. You tie in a lot of really valid points like how the bible is weaponized by the church against the queer community and people of color. Really insightful work!
I 100% agree, that was a beautiful poem and I found it deeply moving. I think your presentation was such an excellent investigation into the ideology that in many ways has begun to saturate US politics- I think in many ways the only way to even begin to approach opposing these political stances is to try to tease out where the justification is coming from and I think you did a wonderful job unpacking that.
I am so amazed at the power and bravery of this poem. You wrote such powerful but simple words that resonate so strongly, I think you definitely chose a very compelling medium for your project. I am in awe of the creative work here. I also really liked how you accompanied this with your presentation on US politics because it provided a larger perspective on how deeply embedded purity culture is in every aspect of society.
This project was incredibly moving. I really appreciated the fact that you did this project and put so much time and effort into it and I also really appreciated the trigger warnings within your project. Your poetry is also incredibly beautiful and sobering, thank you for doing this work and for sharing. I learned a lot from your project.
Wow. This project is one of my favorites. You covered so much information in a heartbreaking, powerful, and strong manner. Your poem was absolutely beautiful. The injection of politics showed the constant resistance of political identities to sexual assault victims and the system that allows sexual assault to occur. Fantastic project!
Your poetry was incredibly touching and very emotional. This sounds very cliché, but I do mean it sincerely: thank you for sharing it and picking such a difficult topic. The role purity culture plays with the Me Too movement and rape culture is very important and should be examined. I know you said it was hard to find sources, but I think your project had a lot of substance to it.