Question: How many times have you tried to leave your house and someone in your family told you your outfit was "too inappropriate"? Have you ever been told by someone older than you that what you were wearing was "too revealing"? How many times have you been asked to change or have been sent home from school because of your choice of clothing?
If you're a woman, this has probably happened to you on several occasions. We have a choice of deciding what goes on our bodies and for a lot of women, this can be difficult. Because women's self esteem is scientifically proven to be much lower than men's (because of societal effects pressuring women to physically look a "perfect" way), wearing clothes that we feel comfortable in can be very strenuous. The stress we are put under to look a certain way effects the way we view ourselves to an extreme measure. And unfortunately this effects a huge part of our lives, especially what clothes we decide to wear.
The clothes that we choose to wear that are considered "too inappropriate" or "too revealing" can be anything from yoga pants to a crop top. Apparently showing too much skin (such as our thighs or shoulders) is too much for the world to see. People shame and embarrass women for these clothing in public, in classes, at work, etcetera. We are never safe from the judgement on our clothing; we can choose to wear whatever the hell we want, yet everyone loves to give their opinions on what we decide to put on our bodies.
It's seen in society everywhere: dress codes in middle schools where girls are sent home for wearing shorts that don't reach their fingertips, on the television show Fashion Police where they are constantly critiquing women's fashion choices, and in magazines like Cosmopolitan where they tell women to only wear clothing that flatters their body type. This pressure to always be beautiful and attractive (while also staying professional and appropriate) is a lose-lose for all women. It doesn't mater if we wear sweats or a dress, either way women are doing something wrong and not providing our full potential beauty to the judging eyes around us.
School systems, judgmental men, work forces, and even politicians all pay too much attention to the choices women make about their clothing. They should be paying attention to our education, our substance, our hard work, and our character.
Women are not here to appease to anyone. Just like everyone else, we are allowed to make choices about our bodies and they are our choice, no one else can dictate what we decide to look or dress like. Telling women that they're choices in clothing are "too this" or "too that" further encourages sexism which sexualizes our bodies and promotes the idea that women are here for the satisfaction of others.
