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====Are Church Standards About Modesty in Dress Sexist?==== | ====Are Church Standards About Modesty in Dress Sexist?==== | ||
− | Some criticism has arisen against specifically the Church's standards of modesty in dress outlined in recent, official Church publications. These critics argue that the Church's teachings about modesty in dress are sexist. It will be helpful to include discussion about this. We have an article dedicated to exploring sexism philosophically that can be seen at the link below. We advise readers to read that and then return to this section. | + | Some criticism has arisen against specifically the Church's standards of modesty in dress outlined in recent, official Church publications. These critics argue that the Church's teachings about modesty in dress are sexist. As evidence, they cite what they perceive are the more egalitarian standards worldwide about modesty. It is indisputably true that attitudes worldwide vary on topics such as the propriety of public breastfeeding, toplessness for men and women, and nudity while engaged in recreational activities. |
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+ | It will be helpful to include discussion about this. We have an article dedicated to exploring sexism philosophically that can be seen at the link below. We advise readers to read that and then return to this section. | ||
{{Main|Question: What is sexism?}} | {{Main|Question: What is sexism?}} | ||
+ | What if one of the main practical/moral reasons that women and men want to be modest in different ways is because being modest helps us all to cultivate more virtuous thoughts? Many of the Church's more progressive critics will mock this, but let's explore this. There is an abundance of research and evidence that demonstrates that men, much more than women, are sexually aroused based on what they see. Women, much more than men, are sexually aroused based on the context they find themselves in with their lover—potential or actual. Could being modest ameliorate this problem? There's a good chance it would. Let's not be mistaken: men and women do need to cultivate virtuous thoughts on their own regardless of what people wear; but it remains a fact that modesty in others helps. An analogy helps: consider that you're driving along in your car and aren't thinking about food. You drive past a pizza place while deep in thought about something else and you begin to think about pizza. In a similar way, the way other people dress can at least sometimes be responsible for less-than-virtuous thoughts. | ||
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+ | Let's say that the Church's standards are indeed sexist. Should we conform the men's standards more to the women's? Or the women's to the men's? Some make this criticism as if the only way we should solve it is by laxing women's standards more in order to better conform with men's standards. Though this is not necessarily the case. It is equally plausible that the men should have to conform more to the women. | ||
+ | |||
+ | It's indeed true that the Church's standards are a bit different for both men and women, though this may have to do with several factors that need to be considered. One is that women's clothing is more often the clothing that can be considered immodest. Modern retailers know that women want to be sexy because women know that being sexy is what gets them attention from men. Retailers cater to this desire of women and to the psychology of men. | ||
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+ | Many critics will insist that the Church will change its standards of modesty in the future. They'll mockingly point to standards in the older versions of the For the Strength of Youth pamphlet such as that women Is it possible that the standards change in the future? Certainly. | ||
[Discussion: | [Discussion: | ||
*Should the women be more conformed to men's standards or men to women? | *Should the women be more conformed to men's standards or men to women? |
This page is still under construction. We welcome any suggestions for improving the content of this FAIR Answers Wiki page. |
Questions about the Church’s standard of modesty have arisen in recent years. This article seeks to be an exposition of everything we should know about modesty and the reasons for practicing it as well as a response to certain criticisms that have arisen about it.
It will first be important to define what modesty is. The Church defines modesty on their website as "an attitude of propriety and decency in dress, grooming, language, and behavior. If we are modest, we do not draw undue attention to ourselves. Instead, we seek to “glorify God in [our] body, and in [our] spirit” (1 Corinthians 6:20; see also 1 Corinthians 6:19)." This definition is echoed True to the Faith: the doctrinal reference for all Church members approved by the First Presidency.[1]
Two important things jump out at us as we examine this definition of modesty:
This definition is important for our discussion moving forward. We're going to turn our attention specifically to modesty in dress, but that should not be taken as an indication that the author believes that modesty in dress is all there is to modesty. The author will also discuss complaints from women about the Church's standards of modesty. But that should not be taken as indication that the author means to single them out in discussion of modesty.
The scriptures are the law to govern the behavior and beliefs of the whole Church.[2] The scriptures include injunctions for modesty in dress that are more direct and some that are more indirect.
Book of Mormon prophets see "costly apparel" very negatively—always framing it as a manifestation of pride.[3] In contrast to costly apparel, the prophet Alma looks positively on those that dress and groom themselves in a way that is "neat and comely."[4] The author of Timothy directs women to "adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided [meaning "braided"] hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; [b]ut (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works."[5] A nearly identical injunction is found in 1 Peter 3:3-4.[6] A revelation given to Joseph Smith in 1831 known as "The Law" commands members to "let all [their] garments be plain, and [the garments'] beauty the work of [their] own hands[.]"[7] A revelation given to Joseph Smith in 1830 told missionaries to “[cry] repentance, saying: Save yourselves from this untoward generation, and come forth out of the fire, hating even the garments spotted with the flesh.”[8] That revelation echoes the words of Jude who similarly argues that evangelists should "others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh."[9] The Pauline epistles contain
Other scriptural injunctions that support practicing the virtue of modesty in dress include being a peculiar people so as to encourage interest in the Church and thus success in missionary work,[10] keeping unspotted from the world,[11] abstaining from all appearance of evil,[12] practicing meekness/lowliness of heart/easiness to be entreated before the prophets who have asked us to practice modesty,[13] following the commandment to receive all the words and commandments of the prophet as if from the mouth of God in all patience and faith,[14] and being anxiously engaged in a good cause without God compelling you to do something by explicit revelation.[15]
The scriptures also contain a constellation of words and terms that give us injunctions—some more direct and others more indirect—to cultivate certain virtues and avoid certain vices. The practice of modesty in dress but also in other facets of life such as grooming, language, and behavior would be included in the penumbras and emanations of the definition of these words and terms. These words and terms include those such as "carnal" "easy to be entreated," "humility", "lasciviousness", "lewdness", "lust", "lowly of heart", "meekness", "pride", "puffed up", "stiffneckedness", “sobriety", and "temperateness". One can search occurrences of these words, including their derivatives (like "sober", "soberness", etc. for 'sobriety') in the scriptures on the Church's website. Since the scriptures are the law to govern the behavior and beliefs of the whole Church, we are obligated to cultivate these virtues and avoid these vices through modesty.
So why should we be modest? What are the principles behind it? Let's review the main principles.
True to the Faith, approved by top general leaders of the Church and intended for a general audience, defines modesty in dress this way:
Prophets have always counseled us to dress modestly. This counsel is founded on the truth that the human body is God’s sacred creation. Respect your body as a gift from God. Through your dress and appearance, you can show the Lord that you know how precious your body is. Your clothing expresses who you are. It sends messages about you, and it influences the way you and others act. When you are well groomed and modestly dressed, you can invite the companionship of the Spirit and exercise a good influence on those around you. Central to the command to be modest is an understanding of the sacred power of procreation, the ability to bring children into the world. This power is to be used only between husband and wife. Revealing and sexually suggestive clothing, which includes short shorts and skirts, tight clothing, and shirts that do not cover the stomach, can stimulate desires and actions that violate the Lord’s law of chastity. In addition to avoiding clothing that is revealing, you should avoid extremes in clothing, appearance, and hairstyle. In dress, grooming, and manners, always be neat and clean, never sloppy or inappropriately casual. Do not disfigure yourself with tattoos or body piercings. If you are a woman and you desire to have your ears pierced, wear only one pair of modest earrings. Maintain high standards of modesty for all occasions. Do not lower your standards to draw attention to your body or to seek approval from others. True disciples of Jesus Christ maintain the Lord’s standard regardless of current fashions or pressure from others.[16]
This standard focuses more on behavior rather than the principles behind modesty. But this behavior does prepare one to wear the temple garment in the future. The garment is designed to be covered by clothing that is consistent with standards listed here in the pamphlet. Indeed, as the pamphlet itself teaches, "[y]our dress and appearance now will help you prepare for the time when you will go to the temple to make sacred covenants with God."[17]
In recent years there has been much discussion among women about modesty in dress as it pertains to certain items of clothing.
Bathing suits which immodestly expose the body, such as bikinis and those with bare midriffs, should never be worn. Swim suits are fashioned for a particular purpose and should not be worn as casual dress for summer, but should be worn only for swimming. While traveling to and from the beach or swimming pools, young men and women should be fully dressed or at least their swimming suits should be covered with outer clothing.[19]
It is important to stress the concept of modesty with children at a young age.Later I noticed her playing with her favorite toy – a Barbie doll. The doll's wardrobe included many immodest articles of clothing, including a bikini bathing suit. Following the promptings of the Spirit, I sat down with my daughter and sorted her doll's wardrobe. She helped to decide which items were modest and those which were not. We discarded the immodest clothing and now her Barbie dresses modestly too. We must be more aware of where our children find their role models. It may be in the toy box.[21]
They may notice that they are dressing differently than their friends. My 6-year-old daughter wanted to know why she could not wear a bikini bathing suit like her friend. I reviewed with her the reasons for being modest.
Some criticism has arisen against specifically the Church's standards of modesty in dress outlined in recent, official Church publications. These critics argue that the Church's teachings about modesty in dress are sexist. As evidence, they cite what they perceive are the more egalitarian standards worldwide about modesty. It is indisputably true that attitudes worldwide vary on topics such as the propriety of public breastfeeding, toplessness for men and women, and nudity while engaged in recreational activities.
It will be helpful to include discussion about this. We have an article dedicated to exploring sexism philosophically that can be seen at the link below. We advise readers to read that and then return to this section.
What if one of the main practical/moral reasons that women and men want to be modest in different ways is because being modest helps us all to cultivate more virtuous thoughts? Many of the Church's more progressive critics will mock this, but let's explore this. There is an abundance of research and evidence that demonstrates that men, much more than women, are sexually aroused based on what they see. Women, much more than men, are sexually aroused based on the context they find themselves in with their lover—potential or actual. Could being modest ameliorate this problem? There's a good chance it would. Let's not be mistaken: men and women do need to cultivate virtuous thoughts on their own regardless of what people wear; but it remains a fact that modesty in others helps. An analogy helps: consider that you're driving along in your car and aren't thinking about food. You drive past a pizza place while deep in thought about something else and you begin to think about pizza. In a similar way, the way other people dress can at least sometimes be responsible for less-than-virtuous thoughts.
Let's say that the Church's standards are indeed sexist. Should we conform the men's standards more to the women's? Or the women's to the men's? Some make this criticism as if the only way we should solve it is by laxing women's standards more in order to better conform with men's standards. Though this is not necessarily the case. It is equally plausible that the men should have to conform more to the women.
It's indeed true that the Church's standards are a bit different for both men and women, though this may have to do with several factors that need to be considered. One is that women's clothing is more often the clothing that can be considered immodest. Modern retailers know that women want to be sexy because women know that being sexy is what gets them attention from men. Retailers cater to this desire of women and to the psychology of men.
Many critics will insist that the Church will change its standards of modesty in the future. They'll mockingly point to standards in the older versions of the For the Strength of Youth pamphlet such as that women Is it possible that the standards change in the future? Certainly. [Discussion:
It may be that some of these rules are a bit arbitrary or that they reflect a more culturally conditioned definition of modesty, but they also embody our best efforts, and likely the best results, of our shared quest as Latter-day Saints to be "of one accord",[24] obtain "the mind of Christ",[25] and become as Zion: "of one heart and one mind".[26]
Yes, they may be "little rules", but our Savior cares about the little rules because they instruct us in the law of love. Prior to his Atonement and while still under the force of Mosaic law, the Lord told his disciples that "[w]hosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven."[27] These rules, according to the Savior, instruct us in fulfilling the first two, great commandments of loving our neighbor as ourself and loving God with all our heart, might, mind, and strength by keeping his commandments.[28] [Discussion:
Notes
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