TSH wrote: ↑Thu Nov 03, 2022 4:30 am
This quote is what prompt me to post on this thread, because it's
almost accurately on point, but the author makes this small flaw that somewhat undermines the point. We
didn't really get over women wearing whatever they want. Sure, women can wear just about all articles of clothing, but look at how dress codes are imposed upon women. Women aren't completely void of clothing restrictions — society is just more subtle about it.
Yeah, it's easy to forget that women have restrictions - but if variety is the spice of life, they sure have a lot of spice (ok, that's even way too corny for me to say with a straight face). The thing is, there will always be restrictions. Society will always have rules - written and unwritten - surrounding what people are allowed to wear. As an example, while most of us are for greater fashion freedom, we would feel uncomfortable about someone dressed up as a clown when going about their business in town. There has to be a line unless we decide "anything and everything" and you start seeing people dressed up as superheroes walking around in their daily lives. I realize that's silly... but
where do you draw the line? I ask this with every ounce of sincerity - in a discussion I had with my mom a while back she asked me that question and I couldn't answer. Do I stop at skirts? Adopt heels? Makeup? Jewelry? I know the answer to most of those (no), but when opening the floodgates of anything goes, what stops other people from running wild? Is that an issue? How would you take someone seriously who wears something silly like a clown outfit?
The way I see it - if a woman works in the office she has to meet other women's approval, and deal with sexism depending on the person (I originally wrote "man", but women can be sexist to other women as well by holding to sexist sterotypes). Those two things shape what she chooses to wear (let's ignore dress codes at the moment because that adds another layer and gets applied to both sexes). But within that framework she can pick from a near-infinite catalogue in how to express herself. Sure - a tube top may not be work-appropriate, or a sequined skirt (depends) - but there are still variations on those things that won't leave her wanting for choice. In public - women have even greater freedom. Certain combinations of clothes can get them called nasty names - I don't think I need to enumerate those names here. But again, for every "inappropriate combination" with some slight alterations that look can be made a bit more acceptable in societies eyes, or they can say "shove it, I'm wearing what I want" and quite often they do. You hear complaints about how they are treated (verbally) but women still continue to dress in ways that people (negatively/inappropriately) respond to - which means they are ignoring restrictions society puts on them.
Men, on the other hand, are expected to dress in a very restrictive box, and the minute you stray outside that box significant questions arise about your: mental state, sexuality, stability, competency (women may face some of these as well, but not at the same detriment to their careers). Due to how society rears men, we don't discuss clothes amongst ourselves except in the context of high end shoes, sneakers, and suits. There just isn't an outlet for men who are into creative dressing. You cannot change how people see you - so the issue is us becoming comfortable with ourselves and saying "screw what society says, I'm going to wear a skirt".
Look - I'm not about grievances, so don't take this as a "woe is us/men" reply. We have to be the change that we want to see in the world, even if we are a fraction of a fraction of society. And it has gotten better over the years - significant progress has been made in acceptance, but we still have a ways to go.