Film Lens
The documentary examines the rise of purity balls in the United States, particularly focusing on a father-daughter event in Birmingham, Alabama, where fathers and daughters make a commitment to purity. The film shows the traditional belief that a father's moral authority guides his daughter until marriage, with the emphasis on female virginity as a central value in conservative Evangelical Christian communities.
It also covers the wider effects of virginity across cultures, including the societal pressures faced by women in Tunisia and the controversial practice of virginity testing in Indonesia. The film critiques the notion of virginity as a construct that controls women's bodies and perpetuates gender inequality, revealing the psychological and physical impacts of these societal expectations.
Why Watch
- •See a father-daughter purity ball in Birmingham, Alabama.
- •Find out how virginity tests are conducted in Indonesia.
- •Meet women affected by societal pressure around virginity in Tunisia.
Did You Know
•Purity balls for fathers and daughters have increased in popularity over the last 20 years in the US.
•In Tunisia, a woman who is not a virgin is perceived as 'defiled'.
•Vaginismus affects 3 to 5 percent of women, making vaginal penetration impossible.
•Virginity tests are performed in Indonesia for candidates in police or army positions.
Perfect For
Gender studiesCultural critiquesWomen's rightsReligious traditions