As the modern era has developed and expanded various ideas and definitions, notable stigma and presumptions surrounding sex and sexuality still remain. In particular, the sexual freedom of some is cast down as promiscuity, fecklessness and misdirection by others. This led Swedish photographer David Magnusson to pursue stories related to purity balls, emotionally prominent events in which young daughters vow to abstain from sex until marriage, and their fathers promise to protect their purity in return. Certainly, where the realms of sexuality and spirituality combine, people tend to develop very strong opinions. What do purity balls teach us about willpower and personal devotion? How do we negotiate freedom of choice with deeply-held doctrine? Can we navigate these realms with a critical lens without offering judgment and condemnation of one side or another?

Further Reading:

The Huffington Post, "Welcome To The Bizarre And Beautiful World of Purity Balls"

Slate, "Striking Portraits of Fathers and the Daughters Whose Virginity They’ve Pledged to Protect"

Jezebel, "Creepy Yet Gorgeous Portraits of Purity-Pledging Daughters and Dads"

The Independent, "Purity balls: Girls in the US making virginity pledges as fathers vow to 'protect purity'"