Father-Daughter Purity Ball

Bianca Bartz
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We’ve covered a lot of balls and luxury galas on Trend Hunter, most of which were charity benefits. New to us, however is the concept of a purity ball, or formal dance event for fathers in daughters that raises awareness for chastity before marriage.

63 fathers attend the event with their daughters who range in between elementary school to college age.

Following a formal meal, the fathers stand to pledge, “Before God to cover my daughter as her authority and protection in the area of purity.”

And I thought having teachers chaperon my high school dances was bad…

“Steve McAlpin read a pledge he signed at a father-daughter purity ball at the Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs,” the New York Times reported. “Mr. McAlpin was there with his daughter Courtney, 14. Randy and Lisa Wilson founded the ball, which alternated between homemade Christian rituals and giddy dancing and was a joyous public affirmation of the girls’ sexual abstinence until they wed.”

I guess there wouldn’t be any dirty dancing at this event. How effective is something like this, anyway?

“Recent studies have suggested that close relationships between fathers and daughters can reduce the risk of early sexual activity among girls and teenage pregnancy,” the NY Times says. “But studies have also shown that most teenagers who say they will remain abstinent, like those at the ball, end up having sex before marriage, and they are far less likely to use condoms than their peers.”