Valenti argues that there is a prevalent false notion promoted within the United States that a woman's worth is predicated upon whether or not she is sexually active, implying that the loss of virginity can negatively affect her.

Valenti also states that the myth uses virginity as an "easy ethical road map" to teach women that, unlike the ability to abstain from having sex, their beliefs and actions hold no bearing to their value as human beings.

[4] Valenti does not discourage chastity but shows disapproval over virginity pledge programs such as purity balls and the Silver Ring Thing for the aforementioned reasons.

Valenti also argues that over-emphasis on and idealization of virginity promotes the Madonna–whore complex, which makes many women and teen girls hypersexualized and unable to live up to the expectations placed upon them.

[6] Commentators [specify] have linked Valenti's views on virginity to discussions of sexual assault victims and the rape and pregnancy statement controversies in the 2012 United States elections.