Modesty

Today I came across an interesting blog post concerning women and modesty.  This has been an important issue in recent times, when the line between masculinity and femininity has become increasingly... translucent.

I think the writer of this article makes a great point: "... clothes make a statement about who we are and what we believe."  With society growing hostile to gender differentiation, we need to be aware of what we believe about modesty and how to execute the appropriate prudence required.

So, does that mean I think that women should be wearing skirts down to the floor and look as frumpy as possible so as to dissuade men from looking at them in a fashion that would suggest that impure thoughts are lerking in their minds?  Um... no.  The femininity of a women is not predicated by her clothing.  It is her acceptance of herself as woman, regardless of external or even internal pressures to the contrary.

Guys don't get off the hook here, either.  Men have just as much of an obligation to seek out prudent modesty as women.  Overt sexualization of one's appearance, with any gender, is a thing to be avoided, because of our obligations to our brothers and sisters in Christ, yes, but more importantly, out of respect for who we are and Who made us.

Overt sexualization of a person, be it with pornography or even simple envy, is the objectification of that person, lowering them from the dignity they deserve as being made in the image and likeness of God.  This is destructive to the person who sexualizes because it not only objectifies another, but inevitably objectifies one's self -- I'm not as beautiful or handsome as this other person; I will not be a perfect person until I have this or that physical aspect or condition.  Ultimately, I need to BE someone I am not in order to be perfect.

Our society is built on an innate desire for perfection.  How we go about searching for that perfection is what differentiates sinners from saints.