Why do people wear purity rings?

Many teenagers and young adults in America and around the world (including myself) wear purity or chastity rings. Many of these are imprinted with "TLW" (True Love Waits) or another Christian slogan or symbol.

Purity rings are worn to remind the wearers of their commitment to stay pure and wait until they are married to engage in sexual activity. People may also choose to abstain from kissing (or other suggestive, but definitely not wrong) behaviors until they are engaged or married.

Many times, the hand is the first or one of the first parts of a person's body to come in contact with another person - thus a purity ring, worn on the hand. It is a clear reminder that anything you have decided against (ahead of time) you will not let yourself do in the moment.

So, a person wears a purity ring to remind him or herself to keep his/her hands in check and stay pure for his/her future spouse.