Dear Female Odyssey Writer from Missouri State University,

I recently started working as a contributing writer for my college’s Odyssey community and was asked to follow the page on any social network I had. Everyday I find articles on the internet that have me thinking about how ridiculous trying to see the other point of view is. I honestly give a good attempt and usually continue my day unbothered, “whatever.” Scroll. But I just could not do that today. On Facebook there are often articles that the main Odyssey website spotlights for its social media community and your title, “Ladies, You Need To Keep Your Skirts Down”, caught my eye so I read it all. And I reread it again. And again… And…again just to come to the thought:

I found this article shortsighted and, frankly, a load of crap.

Your tagline says a lot: “I'm just living the traditional life of a conservative woman.”

Let me introduce myself. I am a young lady who was raised in a household where my mother is a conservative Mexican woman who loves her religion. I get it, truly, I do, in maybe the same way you have been raised. Decency not only for yourself and your family’s honor in the viewpoint of others, but to God and your soul. My mother never wanted me to attract attention, either physically or vocally, because she thought it would somehow end up as negative and a bad reflection of her as a parent, and whenever she did disagree with how I chose my outfit for the day she would question if I was doing it so “the boys would notice.” However, I’m drawing away from where I want to direct this article to, this is a can of worms to be opened another day.

Let me break it down for you, may I?

Firstly, it is condescending of you to explain that all men are visualizing fiends who can’t control themselves or their desires when that is not the case. Most men don’t have a lack of self control. If you've experience men like that, I'm sorry. Nevertheless, you cannot assume the overall.

As for women putting their bodies in front of a camera, this enables a new discovery about an unseen detail to the individual but visible to the photographer trying to capture the intricate spot of beauty. I recommend to you the YouTube channel StyleLikeU where women, and the occasional gentleman, strip away to their skivvies. Pretty shocking to me first seeing it, too. They put their bodies “quite literally in front of the camera,” but that doesn’t define who they are. Neither does the stripped away makeup of their untold secrets, passions, fears, and guidance. It’s the finished product of everything combined.

You said most women have a hard time being heard. This is not just from their bodies but beliefs, ethnicity, past, etc., as well. There are many other communities who also face this problem. The people who show up on these videos are successful and intelligent and thoughtful beings. If we want to fight body shaming, shouldn’t we show how dignified we are by accepting and, yes, flaunting proudly the body we have been blessed with and the minds that match? Why not at the same time?

Secondly, you say towards the end that, “I don’t believe that women should decide if I am beautiful or not. I want to have confidence in who I am.” You wrote this for the fact that your opinion, your belief, your decision, is that women who wear more revealing clothing don’t have class? Therefore, insinuating that they’re not as beautiful as someone who may be covered a bit more. You see naked women “who want their voices heard.” You see “a lot less class.” Class is distinguished by behavior and attitude. Respect towards others.

You’re not making women feel beautiful as they read your insults about them. It doesn't matter if one wears a hijab or has a shaved head, wears sweats or a mini skirt paired with a crop-top, anyone deserves the same respect not to be called out by you in an article that diminishes them. That is not beauty within a human being. Whatever they wear that’s their choice shows that they carry confidence in who they are through their self expression in style. “We all came into this world naked. The rest is all drag”, from the queen herself, Rupaul.

Finally, Nicola Canavan’s art, “Raising the Skirt,” discusses the differences in female genitalia. A topic that is touching for some women who actually find their vaginas “ugly” or “not normal.” There isn’t specific body shaming, “vagina shaming”, whatever you want to call it, that I’ve known of other than the unrealistic ideas set into the minds of men and women through pornography, and women actually feel terrible despite knowing these standards are fake.

Canavan’s artwork is trying to bring light to the idea that we are all supposed to be different and it's beautiful and it is okay. It’s okay! There is no secret that we have different genitalia than our male counterparts that shuttle new life into the world. There is no secret that we have breasts that can feed children. Wow! No woman in this project is “angry.” If they are, it is for the reason that they’re still having to try and recite to individuals with rude ideas such as yours that they, once again, have no need or desire for your approval, or to be shoved into a box of oppressing standards.

It is okay that you don’t understand this art. Art is subjective. However, you didn’t ask the women if they were angry. You “see” but are not listening. The old expression of “a picture says a thousand words” doesn’t tell the whole story.

There is still no clear picture of me this far in for you to see. I am a young lady who loves wearing jeans and oversized dress shirts just for the comfort. Conservative wear? Yeah, a bit. Bits of how I was raised still arises in my life that I'm fine with. Does anyone really care how I dress? Only when it’s the middle of July and I don’t own shorts because I LOVE JEANS SO MUCH. I’m not a fan of wearing skirts often because I LOVE JEANS SO MUCH. Pants are cool. And that’s my preference. Still, I love my friends who wear cute outfits that may expose midriff or show how big their bust or booty is compared to mine. I'm not going to get jealous or uncomfortable because they're leaving their best self.

It is none of your business why women, or myself, make the choices they do unless it is physically or mentally harming you through vulgar prints or racy/discriminatory comments on clothing.

You say: “A woman with class has grace, has loyalty, and is kind.” Any woman, right? You didn’t describe this ideal woman wearing a specific outfit.

You say: “A woman with class is confident in who she is, and knows the right way to ‘flaunt it.’” Tell that to Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman, because she’s doing a great job. And there is no “right way” for a lot of things, life especially.

If this response seems angry, it’s because I am. I'm annoyed, from years of attempting to accept the constantly changing body that I am in, I am tired. I respect the women who are able to go out and rock their rolls in a bikini or wear the simplest outfit such as a white t-shirt and and long pants. You, on the other hand, say you want confidence in who you are and you say no other woman should judge you for it, placing it on the sisterhood, yet you are placing your, perhaps unwanted, opinions onto others. You wrote this article possibly looking for approval in who would like, share, or agree with your words. It is not kind of you to be trashing women this way. There is so much talk today about having to support your fellow women but you are tearing them down instead of lifting them up.

You think our country is lacking “class” when really it’s lacking human decency which you’re a clear example of.

Start listening. I’ve read your article too many times just trying to see your side. And if you write back, I will read that over and over again but you will remain an unbothered ‘scroll.’

Best,

Comfy Jean Wearing Girl Who Is Probably A Feminist And Will Love Her Body And Others Until The Day She Dies As An Wrinkly Old Granny