On Modesty

Introduction

I have written about this before, how the human body must be covered in the name of modesty. I will probably repeat a lot of points that I have previously made but they do need repeating. I often say to people who remark on the number of Vocal stories I publish, that I am a bit like a newspaper, you just read the bits that catch your eye and interest you.

The song is "Cover Up" by UB40, though it's a different type of cover from those zealots that preach "female) modesty.

Anyway on the the main points of this article.

Why Modesty?

The ones who are often denigrated for being immodest are girls and women and it is usually about what they choose to wear and the effect they have on men and boys.

A friend of mine said she enjoyed doing gardening topless, and I told a lay preacher I knew. The lay preacher said that my friend was obviously mentally unwell and should be reported to the authorities. This shocked me.

For years bodies, especially women's bodies, have been sexualised by men when it suits them. This goes back further, women since biblical times have been treated as second class by patriarchal organisations.

The story of Eve being created from Adam's Rib treats women as being just a disposable part of a man, then Eve is blamed for getting kicked out of Eden. It is just a story to cement male superiority.

Then you get women being denigrated for breast-feeding by men (and women). Often men are fine ogling women's bodies but as soon as a woman puts her breasts to their proper use, it's deemed unacceptable.

Again this is down to the continued sexualisation of women's bodies by the patriarchy. It's fine for a partially clad woman to sell stuff, but feeding her baby, that is too disgusting for the media.

The Victorians had long tablecloths to hide table legs because they were deemed to be sexually perverted (yes I know).

I went to a comedy night in London and passed a pub that had a sign that said "Naked Burlesque From 8 O'Clock". Now Burlesque is about exaggeration to comedic effect, not about nudity.

I mentioned this when I got to work the next day and got told I was a pervert.

When you think about it, if the human body is God's Creation then surely it should not be hidden under clothes, it is like you are saying God's work is disgusting.

The patriarchy still tries to blame women when men are violent towards them with all sorts of pointed statements:

"She'd been drinking"

"Her top was revealing"

"She was wearing a skirt"

"She was out at night"

"Well, she's a woman"

Women are expected to show their bodies when men demand it and told to cover up when men are finished.

I am so glad more and more women are taking things into their own hands, and doing what they want. Men still complain and criticise but start whining like spoilt brats when the tables are turned.

The situation in America, especially as a result of the overturning of "Roe vs Wade" is disgusting, all about the patriarchy controlling what women can do with their bodies.

It should be a woman's choice, nobody else's.

Conclusion

I am glad to see women kicking the patriarch in the teeth, or even further down, but there is still a long, long way to go.

I am looking forward to the day when women have complete control of who they are and what they do. For me, it cannot come soon enough.

Thank you for reading.