Abstinence pledging began in the Untied States in the 1980's as an attempt to limit the sexual activity and births of teenagers (Schade pg 1). Every society does not practice abstinence pledging, in some countries underaged marriage, polygamy, and other practices that contradict abstinence pledging is legal. Abstinence pledging became more popular in 90's. Funding for the Abstinence only until marriage programs prohibited the teachings of preventatives and contraceptives (Schade, pg 5).  As a measurement of the effectiveness of the program, students would be asked to take a pledge of abstinence (Schade, pg 7). Religious organizations supported and also helped fund the abstinence only until marriage programs, the first documented abstinence pledge was done through a program called Love Waits  founded by the Southern Baptist Convention in 1993 (Schade, pg 8). The first purity ball was recorded in 1998, organized by a private group in Colorado (Schade, 9). In 2009 the AOUM programs contract expired and more funding went to programs such as Teen Prevention programs which included teaching the complete idea of sex including using contraceptives and preventatives (Planned Parenthood, 2016). It is important to note that AOUM programs unintentionally caused individuals to be misinformed and uneducated in properly protecting themselves during sex. 

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