Stop Shaming Girls. Start Holding Churches Accountable.

Growing up, I witnessed how certain churches placed the burden of sexual responsibility on young girls, teaching them to dress a certain way to prevent unwanted attention from men. This notion of purity culture deeply impacted many girls I knew, instilling feelings of shame and confusion rather than safety and support. From personal experience, this misplaced responsibility often silenced victims and excused predators within faith communities. It is essential that adults—parents, church leaders, and society—recognize that protecting children means holding perpetrators accountable, not policing children's bodies or actions. Holding churches accountable involves pressing for transparency, supporting survivors, and transforming harmful teachings that perpetuate victim-blaming and patriarchy. Many activists and organizations now challenge these harmful purity culture teachings, advocating for faith communities to become safe havens where children thrive without shame. Such efforts highlight that faith, when aligned with justice and protection, can empower rather than oppress. By speaking up and demanding accountability within religious institutions, we create space for healing and equality. Every child deserves to be shielded from abuse and unwanted scrutiny, and no child should bear the adult sins of neglect or misconduct. Empowering girls instead of shaming them is a crucial step toward ending cycles of trauma and fostering lasting change in faith-based environments.