Once upon a time, I used to be among those people who would be offended when people would tell women how to dress.
After all, I am from a country like India where these things still happen-
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As a young schoolgirl, even in a school uniform, there have been men who've been absolutely disgusting with their actions. In India, the tendency to blame women is always there. The onus is on the woman for dressing up and preventing ''lust'' and if anything happens, it's the girl's fault.
While some of you can grimace at how really ''primitive'' and ''regressive'', we might appear, I have to say I had a culture shock when I came to the United States.
Everywhere I turned, I saw women with absolutely skimpy clothes with little left for imagination and if I looked away, I would see a couple in an intimate, inappropriate embrace.
While I could appreciate these women for their confidence - it's like cellulite be darned, these women have no qualms losing their clothes, I don't.
I feel guilty right now, because I know for certain, that I speak to a few people from this very site and I have been vocal about my adventures and funny stories of my encounters with skimpy women.
I've mostly been amused and a little repulsed to be honest.
However, if I as a woman, feel that some of the clothes worn is to the point of indecency, I wonder how men would feel about it. Straight, heterosexual men.
I LOATHE it when any man looks at me in a way that is improper or gaze for too long. I've experienced it so many times, while fully covered that I would vomit on a man who does that.
What my mind can't comprehend is don't these women feel anything? They probably appreciate and want men to gaze at them in that manner.
They've probably been conditioned to think that this is what is attractive, this is what is beautiful.
But as old Indian grandmas say (I can't believe I am referring to them), men just like the women that come easy for a short while but want to be with the one that isn't.
That is hypocrisy.
Like it or not most men themselves are shallow.
Ask a man what he looks for in a woman - is it looks or the heart, and if it were a mutually exclusive set, would he choose beauty over the mind? You'll be surprised what's in their heart of hearts.
Maybe there are men who don't care about these things, but they are a minority.
Let's just be honest with ourselves about everything. Don't blame just the women. Blame the society. Blame the other gender as well.
So while India might have its share of disgusting attitudes towards women, the west has its share of disgusting attire.
Maybe though, as Christians, we can find our own identity and dress modestly all the time. Maybe after a point of time, it will be our mark of distinction.
So what if everyone wears bum shorts? I think long maxi dresses or wraparound skirts, or printed skirts to your knees can be worn with flair. Fashion is all about expressive ideas and a unique identity stands out among a herd.
Less is more, doesn't really apply to clothes.
And unlike my grandma, I would like to say this, keep it classy, not trashy