Dressing like a hooker is not empowerment...

So every once in a while, I see the same tired old cliche trotted out by feminist writers. They praise the virtues of dressing like a hooker because...well..it's empowerment.

The argument goes that wearing the minimum amount of clothes as many celebrities choose to do is taking control of her body and showing that men don't "own" her.

That's all well and good. But let's examine some of the reasons this logic might not work so well in the real world..and by that, I mean the professional world.

Nobody who hires you wants to stare at your breasts and/or ass hanging out of a skirt or shorts!

I know, shocking, isn't it? It's called looking professional.

I am not saying you should cover yourself from head to toe. And I am not saying that you shouldn't feel sexy. You should feel beautiful!

And to be clear, I am not in favor of this:

Obviously, I am not saying women should never have any part of their bodies seen by somebody other than their husband.

But I am also practical. And I realize that I want people to focus on my ability to offer a practical solution to a professional problem they may have...not on how flat my abs are or how well sculpted my legs are.

Just because I dress scantily doesn't mean I should be a sexual object!

You're right. You shouldn't be a sexual object. But the honest truth is the stereotype is already out there. SEX is used to sell EVERYTHING. Like it or not, scantily dressed women are equated with sex. The huge size of the pornography industry has furthered the sexualization of women’s bodies.

If you want to dress in a revealing way, then go ahead. But understand that you will end up being a sexual object in some people's minds. You will get attention. But it won't be good attention.

Do you want the stereotype or to be taken as a serious professional? You can't have both.

Why do we confuse looking like a tramp with being sexy? Do you remember Audrey Hepburn and her little black dress? Now that was sex appeal. But did she have half her breasts hanging out? Did she look trashy? No. She looked classy.

You can be drop-dead gorgeous without giving it all away. It's called grace. And, believe it or not, there are men out there who will appreciate it and love you more because of it.

This logic of gaining empowerment by displaying as much of our bodies to the world as possible is childish, to be honest. The feminist idea seems to be that we should dress like tramps and yet still be taken seriously. However, there seems to be no emphasis on being competent, skilled, or professional.

Think about it for more than a second. Is a trashy outfit is going to translate into anyone thinking of you as a professional? 🤔 Or would you rather be seen as smart, capable, and professional? 😁 Yes, please!

In all honesty, it is distracting when women insist on dressing provocatively. It places all the emphasis on their sexual appeal and none on their abilities as skilled, professional human beings.

Do I think women should hide their bodies? No.

Do I think we should act and dress like professionals? Yes!

Do I think any woman deserves to be raped? Hell no!

Do I think we should be conscious of the type of image we are broadcasting? Hell yes!

I am not ashamed to say I learned to dress modestly growing up. Does that mean I hide in drab, unappealing clothes? No, of course not. But I realize that my inner talents and being a good person are far more important than the cheap, trashy look that so much of our media and celebrity likes to broadcast.

Here's the unvarnished truth. Sexual stereotypes exist. It doesn't matter how or why or whether they are fair or unfair.

What matters is that in the real world, the professional world, people who matter will care about how you dress and the image you choose to present. Draw attention to your talents, abilities, and skills. Engage someone in conversation. It will help you gain so much more than trying to emulate the latest celebrity trend.

I do know this; youth and outer beauty fade. If you choose to concentrate on the outer part, you will constantly be on a treadmill of measuring yourself up to someone younger, thinner, and probably "hotter" than you.

Do yourself a favor and reject the crowd. Nurture your inner self. Wear beautiful clothes and yes, even wear shorts and bikinis. But understand that your skills and talents are what will feed your soul, not the never-ending quest to look "hotter."