Elizabeth Bush
Mrs. Nelson
Rhetoric 2
10-28-13
Narration In Greek, the word modesty is "adios" meaning shyness or reverence. In the time of Adam and Eve, modesty did not exist until they sinned and became aware of their nakedness. The Victorian era was a time period filled with overly modest clothing. Women's dresses covered every inch of their body. Dresses had high necks and sleeves that only allowed a girl's hands to show. They flowed to the floor because showing your ankles was unheard. Modesty was a reflection of one's reputation, and one's reputation defined who he or she was in society. Even the showgirls did not show more than two inches of cleavage. Although modesty began to change and alter, there was an overall standard for girls on how they should present themselves. However, the 1950s changed this. Dresses were shorter and tighter than ever before. Shortly after World War 1, women's clothing began to shift towards a more "modern" standard. The 20's and 30's style of clothing helped shape the 50's by introducing dresses that had short sleeves and dresses that stopped mid-calf. However, these styles did not become trends until the 1950's. For the first time in history pantsuits were introduced. The high standard of modesty was slowly becoming more relaxed. Strapless gowns started being introduced. By the 1960's, dresses began stopping above the knee and thigh high slits became more and more common. By the late 1960's, the miniskirt was introduced. The 70's allowed women to be "free." Bras became unnecessary and by this point the short skirts and shorts were socially acceptable. The 80's introduced crop tops and Lycra shorts (Jerald: "Modest Clothing Throughout the Ages). The definition of modesty has clearly changed through time and with with shifts of culture. Modest today may mean that your skirt must touch your knee. However, a skirt above the knee in the 1800's was unheard of. C.J. Mahaney states that, “Immodesty, then, is much more than wearing a short skirt or low-cut top; it’s the act of drawing undue attention to yourself. It’s pride, on display by what you wear” (The Attitude of the Modest Woman). But how does a typical Christian define modesty? At St. Pius Catholic School girl's are only allowed to wear one set of earrings and one necklace at a time. Girls are also not allowed to wear any type of makeup. Only certain brands of shoes are allowed, and a girl's skirt must touch the top of her knee. Anyone who is caught out of dress code is immediately suspended. Their goal in their uniforms is to "strive to reflect good taste, neatness, cleanliness and Christian modesty while avoiding trends and fads"(stpiuxschoolcr.com). Many Christian based schools and organizations require dress codes for the purpose of promoting their version of "modest" dress. Because many people do not have a proper understanding of modesty, many will form the image of a "modest" girl as some one who is quiet, reserved, or even unattractive. However, from a Christian stand-point, modesty is not just how a person dresses; it's how a person acts and presents them self. Modesty does not tell the difference between what is a "good" article of clothing or what is a "bad" article of clothing. John MacArthur asks, “How does a woman discern the sometimes fine line between proper dress and dressing to be the center of attention? The answer starts in the intent of the heart. A woman should examine her motives and goals for the way she dresses. Is her intent to show the grace and beauty of womanhood?…. Is it to reveal a humble heart devoted to worshiping God? Or is it to call attention to herself, and flaunt her…beauty? Or worse, to attempt to allure men sexually? A woman who focuses on worshiping God will consider carefully how she is dressed, because her heart will dictate her wardrobe and appearance" (Mahaney, C.J.; The Attitude of the Modest Woman). Other cultures and religions have their own variations of what is acceptable for their women. Muslim women wear veils that cover every inch of their bodies except the face, hands, and feet in the presence of men. Their bible instructs women to lower their gaze in front of men and to cover their bodies with scarves. Women who follow these strict guidelines are considered to be faithful and modest (Stacey, Aisha; Dress Code of Muslim Women). On the contrary, it is acceptable for women in some parts of Africa and South America to not wear any type of shirt. They are not doing this to be provocative or to draw the attention of others, they are simply dressing according to their culture. There are those who would say dressing and acting modestly is a way to protect men from lusting for women. However, some believe lust is an issue of control, not modesty. "Lust is dehumanizes a person in your own heart and mind. It is the ritual taking, obsessing, and using someone else for your own benefit rather than valuing that person as an equal image-bearer of God. Lust is forming people in your own image, for your own purposes, whether for sexual pleasure, emotional security, or moral superiority" (Maynard, Emily). The Bible instructs us not to cause our brother or sister to stumble (1 Corinthians 8:13), and God calls a woman to dress and adorn themselves in a respectable manner (1 Timothy 2:9). So what is considered respectable? Does culture dictate what is modest, or is there a set standard of dress for Christian women?