Met with a mixture of approval laughter, and contempt, a Reveille article about an anonymous LSU nudist, “The Naked Truth,” definitely attracted attention Tuesday. Personally, I am skeptical of the idea that partial or full nudity is empowering.
If a man claims to associate with nudity because he accepts his own body, then I would have to wonder why he feels it necessary to publicly reveal it. If a person is truly self-confident, he doesn’t need to seek affirmation, attention, or acceptance from anyone else.
There are valid reasons why confident, self-respecting people choose to value modesty, which in this context is defined as “propriety in dress, speech, or conduct,” according to Merriam-Webster online dictionary.
One reason for practicing modesty is self-respect. Though we sometimes wish it were not so, we live in a world where image does matter. And showing more skin attracts attention — the kind of attention that is superficial.
For my own sake, and for the sake of those who might be tempted to think inappropriate sexual thoughts toward me, I choose not to wear certain clothing that might encourage that.
Ultimately, each person is responsible for his or her own thoughts and actions towards others. But wearing less clothing often makes it more difficult than it should be for us to value one another as people rather than as sexual objects.
We shouldn’t give everyone the right to our sexuality, even if only visual. The nature of sex itself is valuable and sacred. Our sexuality is intimately personal enough to be protected — not exposed or treated as commonplace entertainment.
We all know the thoughts that are probably going through a guy’s head when he sees a woman with her chest hanging out of her shirt. That’s why dads send their preteen daughters back to their bedrooms to change clothes when they come downstairs wearing a low-cut top.
Sadie Robertson, daughter of Duck Dynasty star Willie Robertson, along with designer Sherri Hill, is bringing modesty into the spotlight with a line of non-revealing yet fun and fashionable prom dresses, according to an article by the Huffington Post.
“Me and my mother and my grandma went to Sherri Hill’s place and we all picked out ‘daddy approved length,’” said Sadie. “She also added a couple inches to some that we loved but weren’t modest.”
I know from personal experience that it can be difficult finding dresses at a length I am comfortable with. By making modest dresses more available, Sadie’s line may encourage more girls to dress modestly.
And in the end, modesty isn’t simply about how much skin is or isn’t exposed. It’s about respecting oneself, others, sexuality and personal convictions – not only on the outside, but also in thought and intent. And while modesty is usually considered a female issue, it’s not gender-specific. For men, practicing modesty is often less about clothing and more about the way they interact with others.
So is your self-worth directly related to how much skin you’re willing to reveal? Of course not, because beauty and worth run much deeper than body-acceptance. Whether you cover yourself head to toe or wear nothing, and whether you dress in fancy clothes or in rags, you are incredibly valuable simply because you were created and given the gift of life. This is the heart of modesty, and it is a lifestyle that reflects that heart in word, in deed and also in dress.