what NOT to wear

Sweetie, midriff is not a fashion statement…

So often, especially whilst roaming the sidewalks at school, I am appalled at some of the clothing, or lack thereof,worn by my fellow female students. Needless to say, I, even as a woman, cannot help but do a double take, because, quite frankly, I am shocked at some of the skimpy rags girls call fashionable outfits. Now, be forewarned, I would not consider myself a ‘prude,’ although my mother has gone so far as to inform me that I am very unusual for a teenage girl, but I would consider myself modest. In fact, I have been known to ask my father if my outfit was appropriate, whereby, even at his approval, I disagree and change into something ‘a little less revealing.’ So, to some reading this post, I am sorry if you think I am being a little to forward, but I do not attempt to use this as a medium for pointing fingers. I just ask, for those of you who try to use clothes, or lack thereof, to attract the attention of the male species: please, stop. Firstly, it is demeaning to yourself; it makes you look easy, and downright–for lack of a better word–floozy. Secondly, it is demeaning to the entire female population. If we truly want men, and society in general for that matter, to take us seriously, to take a chance on us running for office, or being surgeons, lawyers and such, we cannot walk around wearing a bikini top and Daisy Dukes.

Women should not need short skirts and revealing tops to receive attention, from men or otherwise. It’s ironic: we go through life wondering why society does not allow us equal opportunity, why the media continues to push “sexy” as being half-naked and bimbo blonde, why women must work twice as hard as men to make it in big business; but, we never stop and ask ourselves, how am I contributing to and encouraging this oppression? How am I selling myself short? 

Over and over, we blame men and the media for ‘forcing’ us to behave this way, to dress this way. And, though they both may be partially to blame, women: WE ultimately hold the power and the blame. WE are the ones who buy the clothes and buy into the ideal that we HAVE to dress in such a way in order to feel beautiful, to look hott, to attract men. WE constantly sell ourselves short.  WE need to stop pretending that the men we get with our bodies will always love us for more than looks. Looks fade, everyone ages. But love should be more than that. Love should be based on who we really are, our personality, our likes and dislikes, our habits, our BRAINS; NOT how great our legs look in that itty-bitty-micro-mini skirts.

WE are so much better than that, and if we truly want respect, and opportunity without having to show a little skin, we will stop letting such trivial pursuits control how we dress. Instead of dropping a button, we should be buttoning up for the challenging road ahead. The only way we can truly be taken seriously is if we depend on brains, not bared skin, to make it in this world. Men don’t want to date a floozy, they may want to…well, you know; but, in the end, they want a woman who can stand on her own two feet (at least, a smart man does).

So, ladies, let’s stop selling ourselves short, shall we? Stop trying to impress boys with how little you can wear, and learn to take yourself seriously. Beauty is not just skin deep, at least, it doesn’t have to be. Beauty should be the way in which we view ourselves, and how God views us, NOT how others view us. We always complain how mistreated women are, how we hate when men whistle as we pass or throw vulgar comments our way in public; but we are responsible. When all they see are skin and low tops, can we blame them for responding? So, I ask again, please stop. Don’t let the world shape your ideals of what beauty is. Instead, feel free to be truly beautiful. Besides, true beauty is far more attractive.