There has been controversy on how a woman should or should not dress. Throughout generations, a woman is told that she should cover her shoulders, stomach, and legs, so a man would not be tempted by her body. A woman's body is her temple, yet they can not decide how they want to decorate their temple. Their temple can not be decorated with a crop top or shorts, because it gives a man the idea that she wants to be raped. So, that results in women being taught how to dress in front of a man.
A woman tried to get rid of patriarchy in America, but it still exists in 2020. Men still have control over women, especially with what they can or can not wear. A man tells a woman what is professional or not professional in the workplace as showing a little of her shoulder is showing too much skin. A man also tells a woman how they should dress in relationships since they do not want their girlfriend to wear shirts that reveal their chest or shorts that show their thighs. Girls are even taught at a young age to change their clothes when their older male family members come to their home. They are taught that they can not wear certain clothes when males come to their house. So, patriarchy is pretty much still alive and we are living in it every day.
A woman should be able to dress how she wants because it is her body. She should be able to wear a short, tight dress so she can feel cute or beautiful without a guy trying to reach inside of her dress or sexually assault her. She should also be able to run outside with a bra and tights, without a man coming behind her and touching her body inappropriately. A woman should not be objectified due to her choice of clothing. A man is allowed to walk without a shirt, and society believes that is ideal. However, when a woman decides to show a little skin she is seen as a "hoe" or "slut".
Instead, society needs to stop trying to justify why a woman gets assaulted or raped on the streets. Women should not be taught how to dress in front of a man. A man should be taught how to respect the woman, regardless of how they choose to dress. Men need to learn how to see a woman for who she is and not an object. A woman is not defined by her clothes, yet she is defined by how she carried herself and her personality.
Patriarchy needs to be destroyed, so women can receive true equality. They should not be scared to walk outside the comfort of their home while worrying about if they will be someone's next victim. 1 in 6 women experience sexual violence, so change needs to happen sooner than later. It is not okay to hear that sexual violence among women is normal. Action needs to happen before the victim becomes someone you know or even you.
