Flipping Tables: Episode 24 - The Dirt on Purity Culture with Jubilee Dawn

Host: Monte Mader
Guest: Jubilee Dawn
Release Date: July 16, 2025

1. Introduction to Purity Culture

In Episode 24 of Flipping Tables, host Monte Mader delves deep into the pervasive issue of purity culture within American evangelical Christianity. Monte, a former alt-right evangelical, sets the stage by defining purity culture as a movement that predominantly burdened young women with the responsibility of maintaining sexual purity until marriage. She emphasizes how this culture not only enforced rigid gender roles but also fostered environments conducive to both psychological and physical abuse.

"Purity culture emerged as a dominant force in American evangelical Christianity in the 1990s… It is a culture that has fostered abuse and psychological damage and physical damage to many young women across the country."
— Monte Mader [00:58]

2. Origins and Historical Context

Monte traces the roots of purity culture back to the conservative backlash against the sexual revolution of the 1960s. Organizations like Focus on the Family, Concerned Women for America, and the Moral Majority, under leaders such as Jerry Falwell and James Dobson, championed traditional marriage values and abstinence until marriage. Notably, Monte highlights the problematic backgrounds of these leaders, pointing out Falwell’s racist educational initiatives and Dobson’s connections to white supremacist ideologies.

"Books like I Kiss Dating Goodbye in 1997 by Joshua Harris helped codify these values."
— Monte Mader [10:15]

3. Core Values of Purity Culture

Monte outlines the foundational principles of purity culture, emphasizing how they were selectively applied to women:

• Virginity Equals Value: A woman's worth was intrinsically linked to her virginity, portraying those who lost it as "damaged goods."

  "A girl or woman's inherent worth is measured by her virginity… portrayed as damaged goods."
  — Monte Mader [12:45]

• Modesty Doctrine: Women were instructed to dress modestly to prevent men from succumbing to temptation, thereby placing the onus of men's actions on women's appearances.

  "Girls were taught to dress modestly to avoid leading boys and men into sin."
  — Monte Mader [14:02]

• Courtship Over Dating: The culture promoted supervised courtship over casual dating, discouraging emotional attachments outside marriage.

  "Emotional attachment outside of any intended marriage was discouraged."
  — Monte Mader [15:30]

• Strict Gender Roles: Purity culture reinforced a patriarchal hierarchy, casting men as leaders and providers while women were viewed as submissive caregivers.

  "Men were cast as leaders and providers, while women were to be submissive, pure, nurturing wives and mothers."
  — Monte Mader [16:50]

• Fear-Based Messaging: The movement employed fear tactics, equating sexual sin with spiritual death and eternal damnation.

  "Sexual sin was likened to spiritual death and irrevocable ruin."
  — Monte Mader [18:25]

4. Negative Impacts of Purity Culture

Monte comprehensively discusses the myriad ways purity culture negatively affected women:

• Shame and Psychological Trauma: Women internalized feelings of guilt and shame surrounding their sexuality, often blaming themselves for any form of sexual abuse.

  "Many women internalized the belief that their bodies were sinful, shameful, and dangerous."
  — Monte Mader [20:10]

• Sexual Dysfunction and Marital Issues: The repression of sexuality led to significant challenges in marital relationships, including low libido and sexual aversion.

  "This is psychologically jarring… It also is a breeding ground for sexual abuse within a marriage."
  — Monte Mader [21:50]

• Loss of Autonomy and Voice: Women were taught to defer to male authority, leading many to remain in abusive relationships out of fear of spiritual failure.

  "Purity culture taught women to defer to male authority… often led to women staying in abusive or controlling relationships."
  — Monte Mader [23:15]

• Disconnection from Self and Body: The teachings encouraged women to view their bodies as obstacles to purity, resulting in body dysmorphia and disordered eating.

  "Teaching encouraged girls to view their body as a stumbling block to men's purity… disordered eating."
  — Monte Mader [25:45]

5. Deconstruction and Modern Responses

By the mid-2010s, the adverse effects of purity culture became increasingly evident. Former proponents like Joshua Harris publicly apologized, and movements such as Church 2 emerged, highlighting sexual abuse and advocating for healthier understandings of consent and sexuality. Therapists specializing in religious sexual trauma reported a surge in patients dealing with the aftermath of purity culture.

"There are now therapists who specialize in religious sexual trauma… terms like purity culture, PTSD, and religious trauma syndrome have become more commonly used."
— Monte Mader [30:00]

Despite these changes, many churches have yet to abandon purity culture’s teachings, perpetuating patriarchal hierarchies. However, younger Christians and ex-evangelicals are increasingly turning to sex-positive theology and feminist interpretations of scripture to counteract these harmful beliefs.

6. Guest Story: Jubilee Dawn's Journey

Monte welcomes guest Jubilee Dawn to share her personal experiences with purity culture and its devastating impacts. Jubilee recounts her upbringing in a non-denominational evangelical environment, where purity was aggressively promoted through youth groups and summer camps.

"I grew up in a very… evangelical… environment. The idea that we are going to get married and where you're going to stay pure was a very forefront thought."
— Jubilee Dawn [21:22]

Youth Group Experiences:

• Jubilee describes mandatory purity pledges, purity rings, and sessions that paradoxically exposed her to rampant sexual activity within the youth group.

  "We had to sign this business card pledging our virginity to our parents… there was so much sexual activity going on in the youth group."
  — Jubilee Dawn [25:29]

Abuse and Manipulation:

• Jubilee shares harrowing accounts of youth pastors who blurred professional and personal boundaries, including inappropriate comments and abusive behavior.

  "My youth pastor anonymously left me love notes in my Bible… he told me that I was the prettiest girl that he had ever seen."
  — Jubilee Dawn [28:00]

Marriage and Domestic Abuse:

• Entering a marriage arranged under the guise of prophetic confirmation, Jubilee details the rapid escalation of abuse, including verbal assaults, physical intimidation, and isolation from her family.

  "He called me a whore, threatened to strand me, and ultimately strangled me… the burger changed my life."
  — Jubilee Dawn [76:17]

Path to Healing:

• Post-divorce, Jubilee emphasizes the importance of deconstructing harmful beliefs and finding supportive communities that respect individual autonomy and consent.

  "I ended up finding out that he was living a complete double life… I started sharing on TikTok… it's been so healing."
  — Jubilee Dawn [84:59]

7. Concluding Insights

Monte and Jubilee collectively highlight the insidious nature of purity culture, underscoring its profound and lasting harm on women’s mental health, autonomy, and personal relationships. They advocate for continued deconstruction of these outdated and oppressive beliefs, emphasizing the need for supportive communities that honor consent, sexual agency, and gender equality.

"Purity culture is selling it… It's not biblical… it centers you to a man, not God."
— Monte Mader [19:30]

"From there, he just turned very abusive very quickly… I just felt like I was done."
— Jubilee Dawn [68:30]

8. Additional Resources and Support

• Monte Mader encourages listeners to support her work via Patreon and stay tuned for upcoming content, including historical episodes and live streams.

• Jubilee Dawn promotes her podcast Healedish, available on Spotify, Apple, and YouTube, where she continues to share healing stories and deconstruct harmful evangelical teachings.

"I hope that this next segment heals you. I hope that you see that your body is wonderful and lovely. Your sexuality is holy and you are sacred."
— Monte Mader [19:50]

Final Note: Episode 24 of Flipping Tables offers a comprehensive and heartfelt exploration of purity culture, its historical underpinnings, and its destructive legacy on women's lives. Through insightful discussions and personal testimonies, Monte Mader and Jubilee Dawn provide both awareness and pathways toward healing for those affected by this pervasive evangelical phenomenon.