It’s Saturday night and you’re getting ready for a night out with your friends. You go to your closet and realize you don’t have anything worth wearing, so you borrow your friend Becky’s top. It’s cute and it’ll do for tonight. It’s a black crop top, which is usually something you wouldn’t wear, but Becky reassures you that it’s okay.

A couple of months ago, I was driving home from a friend’s house and the number of outfits that consisted of short skirts and crop tops was insane. I’d like to think that everyone’s motive in dressing this way is that they look and feel good in what they are wearing. The problem is that girls have come to the idea that wearing less is more.

This is why your outfit bothers me.

I am not asking you to wear a turtle-neck top and loose jeans, but I don’t want to see something of yours I shouldn’t when I am driving down University Boulevard. Yes, I understand. We wear bikinis and it’s the same thing, right? No. Guys go shirtless, so why can’t we, right? No. While I do agree that the human body is beautiful and should be taken care of, I also believe that people should have respect for their own bodies. Yes, you might be thinking, “But…I do have respect for my body!” You might, but why do we feel as if we should be showing our bodies to people who don’t deserve to see it?

We shouldn’t have to wear less to be noticed by the opposite sex. While our physical appearance is important and should be shown in the right way, I believe there is a level of respect we should give to ourselves.

“The body is your temple. Keep it pure and clean for the soul to reside in.” - B.K.S Lyengar