What's Your Take On Purity Balls?

A lot of teen girls would rather tear out their toenails than talk to their fathers about sex. But would you ever pledge your virginity until marriage to dead ol' Dad? Girls around the country are doing it at swanky parties called Purity Balls to celebrate. In fact, it's estimated that 1,400 Purity Balls took place in the U.S. in 2006 and twice as many may take place in 2007.

Originated by Randy and Lisa Wilson, parents of seven kids (five of them girls), the first purity ball took place at the Generations of Light ministry in Colorado Springs in 1998. During the ceremony, fathers sign a covenant that states that he will protect their daughters' "purity" and "lead, guide and pray over [his] daughter and as the high priest in [his] home." The girls (some are as young as 4!) then get purity rings from their fathers, dance with their date (ahem, father), and eat cake. Purity Balls are most frequently held by U.S. Christian churches, particularly evangelical Christian churches. In fact, according to a 2007 editorial in USA Today, 10 percent of adolescent boys and 16 percent of girls have signed virginity pledges.

Yes, abstinence is the only way to protect yourself from unwanted pregnancy and STDs. And it's extremely beneficial for teen girls to spend time with their fathers. (Studies have shown that girls who spend time with their father are twice as likely to go to college or find a stable job after high school, 50 percent less likely to experience significant depression, 75 percent less likely to be teen moms, and 80 percent less likely to ever go to prison than girls who don't.) Still, critics say, is tying your virginity to your father necessary? Do Purity Calls simply reinforce patriarchal religion?

Check this video, and tell us what you think!