Puritanism and Sexuality

During the long arduous voyage to the New World in 1630's, Puritan leader John Winthrop wrote a sermon that came to define and shape our view of America for years to come. Winthrop preached of the future morality and glory of their new society: "For we must consider that we shall be as a city upon a hill. The eyes of all people are upon us". America has from its very beginning as a nation been viewed as this special and pure utopia for the world to admired. But while the separatist movement of Puritanism never fully flourished as Winthrop hoped, their values of conservatism and morality still permeate through American culture today.

Take the Miss USA 2010 pageant winner Rima Fakih. One the one hand her story has been pressed into the mold of the "America as the land of opportunity" that we have told ourselves countless times. Born in Lebanon, moved to the United States, embraced America culture, and became Miss USA. Most media sources portray her story with this format. And it makes us feel good about America. That immigrants still flock to this country looking for opportunity, that they can succeed here with hard work, and one day rise to the highest ranks of things so uniquely American such as Miss USA.

But on the other hand, another story about Rima Fakih has been drawing much attention (and outrage). Pictures have surfaced of the 2010 Miss USA winner dancing on a stripper pole. At the age of 24, it is safe to assume that she has done things more sexual (as most people have by that age) than simply dancing on a pole. But this seems to violate the pure and moral image that we like to tell ourselves Miss USA represents (even though the entire pageant is all about the objectification of beautiful women).

Sexuality permeates every aspect of American culture. You simply can't listen to a song or watch television without it being everywhere. And thats necessarily a bad thing. But this idea of strong purity and morality in America is a myth that we love to tell ourselves again and again. Going back to Tocqueville and even further back to the Puritans. And even though the idea of strong morality and purity in America has very little grounding, we still like to believe its true and attack those in the spotlight (especially women) who break this image.

Works Cited:

http://religiousfreedom.lib.virginia.edu/sacred/charity.html

The New York Times: "In MIss USA Contest, a Novel Twist"