Dr. Leslie Wakefield, a pelvic health physical therapist, and Angela the Christian Sexpert, discuss the damaging effects of purity culture and the importance of healthy, consensual sex in Christian marriages. They address topics such as the control tactics used in purity culture, the pressure on women to fulfill their husband's sexual needs, the misconception of men needing sex every three days, and the importance of mutual pleasure and communication in a marriage. They also touch on the challenges faced by women in expressing their own sexuality and the need for comprehensive sex education within evangelical culture. Angela discusses the importance of open communication and boundaries in sexual relationships, and the impact of shame and purity culture on marriages. Together they emphasize the need for consent and the importance of female pleasure. They challenges misconceptions about sex and religion, debunk harmful beliefs and provide a more informed and compassionate perspective.

You can find Angela at www.thechristiansexpert.com on IG: @thechristiansexpert and Tiktok @thechristians_xpert

Top Takeaways

• Purity culture, popularized in the late 70s and early 80s, relies on shame and control tactics to regulate teenagers' sexual behavior, but it has been proven to be damaging and ineffective.
• Women who were raised in purity culture are twice as likely to experience sexual dysfunction.
• The narrative in evangelical culture often places the burden of fulfilling a husband's sexual needs on women, leading to coercion and potential marital rape.
• Healthy women in safe marriages should not feel obligated to perform sexually and should be able to explore and express their own sexuality.
• Comprehensive sex education is lacking in evangelical culture, leading to misconceptions and misunderstandings about sex and pleasure.
• Mutual pleasure and communication are essential in a healthy, consensual sexual relationship within a Christian marriage. Posting on TikTok led Leslie to speak at a conference in front of 50,000 Christian women, highlighting the demand for open conversations about sex within religious communities.
• Open communication and setting boundaries are crucial in sexual relationships, especially in the context of shame and purity culture.
• Consent is essential and should be freely given, reversible, informed, enthusiastic, and specific.
• Female pleasure is often overlooked in purity culture, and it is important to challenge harmful beliefs and provide education on sexual pleasure.
• Misconceptions about sex and religion can be debunked by understanding the historical and cultural context of biblical teachings.