'Not everyone -guy or girl- wants to be a slut'

Purity rings are gaining popularity thanks to icons like the Jonas Brothers. Some BSU students are doing it (or not doing it) too.

The increasing buzz surrounding some of young Hollywood's choice to abstain from pre-marital sex hit its pinnacle at the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards last week.

During the show, host and British comedian, Russell Brand, gibed the Jonas Brothers for wearing purity rings - an external symbol of their decision to save sex for marriage. The evening of teasing led singer Jordin Sparks to shoot back at Brand in defense of purity rings saying, "Not everyone, guy or girl, wants to be a slut."

Since then, the media has been in a flurry covering the aftermath of Sparks' comments: Who's wearing purity rings? (Miley Cyrus, Selena Gomez and, of course, the Jonas Brothers are among the most popular to sport them.) And are these celebrities really walking the walk as well as talking the talk?

In the aftermath some ring manufacturers and jewelers are boasting record spikes in sales. In one of the many post-VMA stories, a spokeswoman for James Avery (a jewelry company based in Kerrville, Texas) told MTV News purity ring sales were up 113 percent in August.

Sales are up at Family Christian Bookstore on Williamsburg Boulevard in Muncie, as well, manager Scott Neal said.

"I have seen an increase," he said. "I would say there's been a bump in sales in the last two months."

But some Ball State University students say the purity ring trend is nothing new.

Junior Sarah Rodman said she started wearing a purity ring during her freshman year of college after she and two friends decided to order them online. While she said the significance of the ring is something she takes seriously, she said the actual decision to wear the ring was easy.

"It was just a statement," she said, "so it wasn't something we discussed with our parents or anything."

Junior Paul Macaluso wore a white purity wristband in high school and started wearing his purity ring in spring 2008.

"My girlfriend gave it to me," he said. "I'd been telling her how much I wanted one, and she had one, and it was too big for her. So she gave it to me."

For Macaluso, the ring is for personal encouragement.

"It's not really for everyone else to see," he said. "I - and most guys - struggle with purity. But it's supposed to be a good reminder. It helps me to stay pure in my thoughts. You know, because I'm a guy."

Macaluso and Rodman agreed that wearing the ring changes how people view them.

Rodman's boyfriend does not wear a purity ring, but she thinks he likes that she does.

"He hasn't said too much, but I think it was something he noticed right off the bat," she said. "But I think he respects it."

Rodman said other people immediately notice the ring as well.

"I used to work in LaFollette making sandwiches," she said. "I definitely had people asking how long I had been married."

Macaluso said he and his girlfriend have had deliberate talks about their rings, and the subject has cultivated a mutual respect between them.

"To start out with, it was one thing I loved about her," he said. "What attracted me so much was that I knew if I was in a moment of weakness, she would smack me. She wouldn't let me get away with it. And I needed that."

And while Macaluso hasn't had to field questions about his marital status (he wears the ring on his index finger), he said people definitely notice the ring.

"I've had random people saying they've wanted a ring like that," he said.

He said the ring also creates a sense of community among fellow ring wearers.

"It's really cool because it's a common ground for someone you don't know," he said. "It's like a brotherhood or a sisterhood. You're brothers and sisters in Christ."

And faith is another thing Rodman and Macaluso agree on. Both wear the rings because of their religious convictions, and they use the ring to tell others about their faith.

"I explain to people that the ring is about my commitment to the Lord not to have sex until I'm married," Rodman said.


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