Usage and analysis
While not typically anti-LGBTQ, the Generation Z individuals the term is used toward are often against displays of kink at Pride parades. Though some of this discussion among those termed puriteens are not, according to author Leo Herrera, an "organic" conversation and are instead pushed by "far-right bad actors" to cause conflict and advance anti-gay positions. [1] This has also resulted in terms such as the "new Victorians" coming into usage, along with descriptions such as the "most prudish generation in history". [2] Another common topic, particularly on the social media platform TikTok, has been criticism of individuals involved in age gap relationships, especially celebrities. [3]
Some, such as Vox writer Rebecca Jennings, are critical of the term puriteen, arguing that most teenagers have much more nuanced beliefs on sex, and that only a minority are as prudish as the term puriteen implies. [1] Saskia Tillers for news.com.au brought up the concept of generational backlash against the opinions of the parental generation, with Gen Z's more prudish nature being in response to the more sexual openness of their parents. [4] Comparatively, Vox writer Aja Romano has correlated the idea of puriteens with that of anti-fans, often abbreviated as "antis", which involves movements of people to hate on a piece of media's fandom and its subject matter. This commonly includes dislike of sexual aspects and depictions of adult material in the media and the use of the label "problematic" by antis against it. Romano also discussed how culture war issues in the early 2000's have resulted in sex-repressive movements being combined with other anti-LGBT and anti-sex groups, including trans-exclusionary radical feminists. [5]
