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Modesty
[edit]From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article is about body modesty. For the concept of modesty in a broader sense, see humility.
For other uses, see Modest (disambiguation).
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Modesty, by Louis-Léopold Chambard
Recreation on a California beach in the first decade of the 20th century
Modesty and demureness is a mode of dress and deportment which intends to avoid encouraging of sexual attraction in others. Standards of modesty are culturally and context dependent and vary widely. In this use, it may be considered inappropriate or immodest to reveal certain parts of the body. In some societies, modesty may involve women covering their bodies completely and not talking to men who are not immediate family members; in others, a fairly revealing but one-piece bathing costume is considered modest when other women wear bikinis. In some countries, exposure of the body in breach of community standards of modesty is also considered to be public indecency, and public nudity is generally illegal in most of the world and regarded as indecent exposure. However, nudity is at times tolerated in some societies; for example, during a world naked bike ride, while a lone man attempting to walk naked from south to north Britain was repeatedly imprisoned.
Small children are widely not expected to be fully clothed in public until they are grown up, or past the infant stage. Small children are typically not expected to be fully covered. As a child becomes an infant, he or she is not required but it is expected that he/she will begin to dress normally.
The religion of Islam especially emphasizes modesty. This includes modesty within apparel and conduct. However, young Muslim schoolgirls are often considered by their parents to be exempt from modesty requirements that they would consider to be applicable to adult women, such as hair-covering in public and not wearing short skirts or dresses. However, in recent years there has been a trend away from this, with even young Muslim girls being expected by their parents to wear a hijab, or to wear clothes under their skirts to avoid exposing their bare legs or underwear in public.
In semi-public contexts standards of modesty vary. Nudity may be acceptable in public single-sex changing rooms at swimming baths, for example, or for mass medical examination of men for military service. In private, standards again depend upon the circumstances. A person who would never disrobe in the presence of a physician of the opposite sex in a social context might unquestioningly do so for a medical examination; others might allow examination, but only by a person of the same sex.
Body[edit | edit source]
1868 diagram from Harper's Bazaar showing proper girls' skirt lengths increasing as they grow up
Standards of modesty discourage or forbid exposure of parts of the body, varying between societies, which may include areas of skin, the hair, undergarments, and intimate parts. The standards may also require obscuring the shape of the body or parts of it by wearing non-form-fitting clothing. There are also customs regarding the changing of clothes (such as on a beach with no enclosed facilities), and the closing or locking of the door when changing or taking a shower.
Standards of modesty vary by culture or generation and vary depending on who is exposed, which parts of the body are exposed, the duration of the exposure, the context, and other variables. The categories of persons who could see another's body could include:
The context would include matters such as whether it is in one's own home, at another family member's home, at a friend's home, at a semi-public place, at a beach, swimming pool (including whether such venues are considered clothes-optional), changing rooms or other public places. For instance, wearing a bathing suit at the beach would not be considered immodest, while it likely would be in a street or an office.
Excessive modesty is called prudishness. As a medical condition, it is also called gymnophobia. Excessive immodesty is called exhibitionism.
Proponents of modesty often see it as a demonstration of respect for their bodies, for social norms, and for the feelings of themselves and others. Some critics assert that modesty reflects a negative body image and that there may be a correlation between repressive body attitudes and undesirable outcomes such as sexual crimes, violence, and stress.
Generally accepted Western norms[edit | edit source]
[edit]Appropriate modesty depends on context and place. For example, in single-sex public changing rooms, nudity is often acceptable.
In Western and some other societies, there are differences of opinion as to how much body exposure is acceptable in public. In contemporary Western society, the extent to which a woman may expose cleavage depends on social, cultural and regional context. Women's swimsuits and bikinis commonly may reveal the tops and sides of the breasts, or they may be topless as is common on the beaches of French Riviera. Displaying cleavage is considered permissible in many settings, and is even a sign of elegance and sophistication on many formal social occasions, but it may be considered inappropriate in settings such as workplaces, churches and schools. Showing the nipples or areolae is almost always considered toplessness or partial nudity. However, in some circumstances partial breast exposure may be officially sanctioned in church as in 2014, newly elected Pope Francis drew world-wide commentary when he encouraged mothers to breastfeed in church if their babies were hungry.
In private homes, the standards of modesty apply selectively. For instance, nudity among close family members in the home can take place, especially in the bedroom and bathroom, and wearing of undergarments only in the home is common.
In many cultures it is not acceptable to bare the buttocks in public; deliberately doing so is sometimes intended as an insult. In public, Western standards of decency expect people to cover their genitalia, and women to cover their breasts. In the early twenty-first century, public breastfeeding has become increasingly acceptable, sometimes protected by law. Obama's health care bill from 2010 provides additional support to nursing mothers, requiring employers to provide a private and shielded space for employees to use in order to nurse.
Since the 1980s it has become more common for young and/or fashionable women in Western societies to wear clothing that bared the midriff, "short shorts," backless tops, sheer and other styles considered to be immodest.
Gender differences[edit | edit source]
[edit]Modesty in dress is a relative cultural concept, even in the West, as seen above in the dresses of Amish women on an American beach in 2007.
Men and women are subject to different standards of modesty in dress. While both men and women, in Western culture, are generally expected to keep their genitals covered at all times, women are also expected to keep their breasts covered. Some body parts are normally more covered by men than women—e.g., the midriff and the upper part of the back. Organizations such as the Topfree Equal Rights Association advocate for gender equality regarding display of the body. In 1992 New York State's highest court accepted 14th Amendment arguments and struck down the provision in New York's Exposure of the Person statute that made it illegal for women to bare their chests where men were permitted to do so.
"Tell the believing men to cast down their glances and guard their private parts. That is purer for them. Indeed, Allah is Acquainted with what they do." -Quran 24:30
Most scholars agree that men are required to cover everything from 'navel to knee'; some men choose also to wear the traditional Islamic cap (taqiyah), similar to but larger than the Jewish yarmulke or kippah. The taqiyah may vary in shape, size and color, with differences according to tradition, region, and personal taste.
In the arts[edit | edit source]
[edit]Cupidon (French for Cupid), by William-Adolphe Bouguereau, 1875; the tip of the right wing covers the boy's genitals.
Standards of modesty in art have varied at different times and in different places. Nudity and various types of behaviour were sometimes depicted, sometime not. In many cases where society did not allow nudity or immodest dress, nudity was accepted in art. Where nudity in art was not acceptable, full nudity was not displayed; otherwise nude subjects had their private parts hidden by apparently accidental draped fabric, flowers, other people, a fig leaf, etc. In films, very brief nudity was accepted. Some nude artworks had fig leaves added when standards became less permissive.
In a given society, the criteria varied according to the circumstances; for example artworks on public display were more restrained than those for private display to adults.
Nudity in art was sometimes suggested without actual depiction by:
- something seemingly by chance covering the private parts
- in film:
- showing a supposedly nude person from the waist or shoulders up
- maneuvering (turning, having objects in front) and editing in such a way that no genitals are seen
- showing nudity from a distance, or from the back only, although other characters are nearby and/or would also see frontal nudity
- showing nudity very briefly
In cartoons, even in cases where the genital area is not covered with clothing, genitals are often simply not drawn, as is the case in Family Guy and other animated sitcoms. In the film Barnyard, showing anthropomorphized cattle of both sexes walking on two legs, instead of either showing genitals of male cattle or not showing them, the concept of a "male cow" was used, with an udder. In Underdog a partly animated anthropomorphized dog is shown with penis when a real dog is filmed, and without penis in the animated parts.
Paintings are sometimes changed because of changed modesty standards, and later sometimes changed back. During the Counter-Reformation there was a "fig-leaf campaign" aiming to cover all representations of human genitals in paintings and sculptures, started with Michelangelo's works. Works covered in this way include the marble statue of Cristo della Minerva (church of Santa Maria sopra Minerva, Rome) which was covered by added drapery, as it remains today, and the statue of the naked child Jesus in Madonna of Bruges (The Church of Our Lady in Bruges, Belgium) remained covered for several decades. Also, the plaster copy of the David in the Cast Courts (Victoria and Albert Museum) in London, has a fig leaf in a box at the back of the statue. It was there to be placed over the statue's genitals so that they would not upset visiting female royalty. The statue of Achilles at Hyde Park Corner now has an incongruous figleaf permanently attached, after it was stolen several times.
- See also Expulsion from the Garden of Eden
Many fairytales and other related media feature women from or ethnic origin from Western Europe and Northern Europe to be demure due to their typically soft features. Famous examples include Snow White, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Beauty and the Beast, Little Red Riding Hood, Wendy Darling from Peter Pan, Maid Marian from Robin Hood, Christine Daaé from The Phantom of the Opera, Ophelia from Hamlet, and Dorothy Gale from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.
Women in Modesty
[edit]Everyone sees modesty differently, especially today. It is a double standard for woman in the ways that the dress. Let's face it, the reason women get lectured time and time again about modesty is because all their cleavage is hanging out of their shirt, their sexy legs being revealed since their skirt doesn’t go all the way to the floor, or they are wearing short shorts that leave nothing to the imagination.
Women are seen in a completely different light then men. Women are soft, gentle, caring, helpful and much more. When girls are younger they are taught that men like woman a who has both (a good girl when she meets the family and a bad girl in the bedroom). Teenage girls and young women are always trying to live up to this standard. Girls want to dress in a way to gain the attention of a cute boy in class and society has taught her that she can wear those stylish shorts and a crop top, but she can’t get mad if it seems over revealing and people call her a slut. During the summer season apparel gets even more difficult. If a man decided not to wear a shirt or wears a shirt that is only slightly buttoned up because its hot outside most people wouldn’t think twice about it. However, if a woman tried to get away with this people would be all over her telling her to cover up.
A woman does not "deserve" or “is just asking for it” because she might be dressed immodestly. That is a sick and nauseating thought. Clothing should have no influence on what someone is “asking for”.
Modesty in schools
[edit]On school campuses today, girls have a significantly stricter dress code then the boys. Females are not allowed to show the three B’s (this includes breasts, belly and butt). In some institutions girls are only allowed to wear shirts that cover their shoulders so the males don’t get distracted.
In some private schools, both males and females, are only allowed to wear uniforms. A bulletin published by the National Association of Secondary School Principals explained that when all students wear the same outfit, they become less concerned about how they look. This makes fitting in easier and thus allows them to focus more on their school work.
Former U.S. Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, is a strong advocate of school uniforms. She said, “Take that [clothing choice] off the table and put the focus on school, not on what you're wearing.”
Modesty and Celeberties
[edit]Many teen celebrities, such as The Jonas Brothers and Jordin Sparks, have made an impact on other regarding topics such as modesty and purity. The Jonas Brother were a boy bad in the early 2000’s that was known for their faith in Christianity and sported purity rings. Although not all the brothers promoted their views, they would never hide the rings.
Jordin Sparks, season 8 winner of American Idol, is an evangelical Christian. She wears a purity ring to symbolize her intention to remain a virgin until she is married. Sparks said during an interview on AJC.com, “I am a role model … I want to make sure I'm not cussing. I don't cuss anyway. Sex, drugs and rock and roll. I don't know about those things!" She knows how big of an influence she is to younger woman so she has chosen to retain her religious values despite her status.
***Anything written with Italics has been added in by Savannah