Meet Purity Bear, a little stuffed toy that will appear at your shoulder if you so much as think about having sex. Purity Bear makes his debut in this student-made commercial advocating abstinence among teenagers and which directs viewers to the Day of Purity site.
Day of Purity is an organization that encourages youth to "take the purity pledge," and abstain from sex before marriage. In the video here, two teenagers are saying good-bye to each other at the end of their date, when suddenly Purity Bear shows up at the boy's shoulder. Purity Bear's warns, "This decision could define the rest of your life." The boy decides to stay pure, telling the girl she's worth the wait, and the ad subsequently jumps to a scene in which the two are getting married. Accordingly, the video's YouTube description says, "Having one partner is the God-approved way to enjoy sex."
Celibacy-Advocating Plush Toys
Purity Bear Encourages Teens to Stay Pure
Trend Themes
1. Abstinence Advocacy - There is an opportunity to develop products and services that support abstinence advocacy campaigns in promoting purity, chastity, and sexual responsibility among teenagers and young adults.
2. Religious-themed Toys - Creating religious-themed toys that serve as reminders of religious beliefs can be a disruptive innovation opportunity for manufacturers in the toy industry.
3. Incorporating Morality in Marketing - Brands can benefit from incorporating morality and social causes in their marketing strategies to appeal to socially conscious consumers and promote ethical practices in society.
Industry Implications
1. Sex Education - Sex education providers can collaborate with abstinence advocacy campaigns to offer holistic approaches that consider abstinence alongside other informed choices to promote sexual responsibility among teenagers.
2. Toy Manufacturing - Toy manufacturers can tap into the growing demand for religious-themed toys that reinforce morals and beliefs among children.
3. Marketing and Advertising - Marketing and advertising agencies can assist brands that seek to incorporate morality, social causes, or religious beliefs to promote their products or services while appealing to socially conscious consumers.