Garments, Sex, and Purity Culture — Nancy Ross

Register for All That Remains, a support group for deconstructors and doubters, at https://katielangston.com/all-that-re... For many people leaving high-demand traditions, the sexual shame left by purity culture is one of the most lingering effects. In this conversation, Katie and Nancy Ross use Mormon garments as a lens through which to explore purity culture more broadly. Nancy Ross is an associate professor of interdisciplinary arts and sciences at Utah Tech University and co-author of _Mormon Garments: Sacred and Secret_, a book built on a survey of more than 4,500 people who wear or used to wear them. She is a former Mormon, now ordained in Community of Christ, and one of Katie's dear friends. The conversation covers what happens in the temple the first time you receive your garments, a survey that went Mormon Facebook viral in 2014, sexual shame, licked cupcakes and chewed gum, a chance encounter with a woman on a plane, and the night Nancy's husband ripped his garments off and jumped into bed. To support Faith After Faith, visit http://faithafterfaith.com. A recurring donation of any amount will give you access to exclusive bonus content and full, unedited conversations. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Nancy Ross and the episode's focus 02:04 What are Mormon garments and their significance 04:07 The ceremony of receiving garments and their symbolism 05:47 The history of garments and their connection to purity culture 09:01 The survey on garments and its viral spread in Mormon communities 11:58 Personal stories and emotional experiences with garments 15:02 The role of garments in regulating sexual behavior 18:00 Overlap between Mormon and evangelical purity teachings 21:00 Gendered experiences and perceptions of garments 23:59 The impact of purity culture on body image and sexuality 26:57 Healing, reclaiming pleasure, and body positivity 29:58 Leaving garments and the emotional process of detachment 45:01 Nancy’s personal story of taking off her garments 51:59 Reflections on faith after leaving Mormonism 55:03 Final thoughts and resources for healing and growth Resources Nancy Ross, Jessica Finnigan, and Larissa Kanno Kindred, https://www.press.uillinois.edu/books... (University of Illinois Press, 2026) Katie Langston, https://katielangston.com/all-that-re... Faith After Faith, https://katielangston.com/podcast/let...