How many of these teens felt coerced into the initial pledge? For far less important things, the law (ass though it often is) realizes that it is difficult for teenagers to understand the ramifications of their word being their bond, so contracts with minors are unenforceable. Coercion also works against contract enforceability, even after the age of 18.
I realize this is a different situation, but if these pledges were made under peer, parental, or church pressure, they aren’t going to always stand up when pressures of a different sort come to the fore.
And, before I’m asked, the thought of a virginity pledge was far from my mind when I was a teen.
Don’t know if I should post this but it seems relevant.
A good friend of the family was very active in beauty pagents. She was very talented and of course, beautiful. Well, she became Miss -———. And she was very close, very close,to becoming Miss America.
Anyway, her “platform” or whatever was chastity until marriage. NO SEX!!!till I got that ring, bud. Did I say we’re from a small town? So, to be true to her pledge she didn’t have intercourse. OH NO!!! She let her boyfriend do her, ah, up the....ah, in the...ah, well you know. Where the sun don’t shine. Yes, really.