Dear Religiously minded adult,
There has been increasing number of letters and blog posts about the issue of modesty. The articles focus mainly on women and the clothes they wear. While I believe modesty to be important as well as dressing appropriately, I would like to address a concern I have with the way modesty is presented to the women and girls of your faith.
I understand that you believe women should dress modestly and that this is very important to you for a number of reasons. It shows respect for their bodies by not flaunting them. You believe it can potentially help them to keep promises they make to avoid sexual relationships prior to marriage. It prepares them for covenants they make when they attend the temple. This has the added benefit of not needing to do a complete wardrobe remodel when they go through the temple. You believe it shows that women know they have value when they dress in a way that does not expose their bodies unnecessarily. …show more content…
It can give a girl confidence and teach her to dress in a way that doesn’t expose her or present her as nothing more than a sex symbol. When a girl is preparing for the temple dressing modestly can be a visual daily reminder of the future promises she is working to make. It can teach her that her body is hers and she doesn’t need to expose her flesh to anyone to make friends or establish relationships with members of the opposite sex. It can give her confidence in her relationships.
I feel however, that when a young girl is taught about modesty, she is not being taught about confidence, and respect, and strength. She is being taught to dress a particular way to avoid men thinking about her sexually, or having other women think of her as immoral. A girl should not be taught that it is her responsibility to keep men’s thoughts pure. This creates a really damaging mindset that can continue long into adult
There has been increasing number of letters and blog posts about the issue of modesty. The articles focus mainly on women and the clothes they wear. While I believe modesty to be important as well as dressing appropriately, I would like to address a concern I have with the way modesty is presented to the women and girls of your faith.
I understand that you believe women should dress modestly and that this is very important to you for a number of reasons. It shows respect for their bodies by not flaunting them. You believe it can potentially help them to keep promises they make to avoid sexual relationships prior to marriage. It prepares them for covenants they make when they attend the temple. This has the added benefit of not needing to do a complete wardrobe remodel when they go through the temple. You believe it shows that women know they have value when they dress in a way that does not expose their bodies unnecessarily. …show more content…
It can give a girl confidence and teach her to dress in a way that doesn’t expose her or present her as nothing more than a sex symbol. When a girl is preparing for the temple dressing modestly can be a visual daily reminder of the future promises she is working to make. It can teach her that her body is hers and she doesn’t need to expose her flesh to anyone to make friends or establish relationships with members of the opposite sex. It can give her confidence in her relationships.
I feel however, that when a young girl is taught about modesty, she is not being taught about confidence, and respect, and strength. She is being taught to dress a particular way to avoid men thinking about her sexually, or having other women think of her as immoral. A girl should not be taught that it is her responsibility to keep men’s thoughts pure. This creates a really damaging mindset that can continue long into adult