Not too long ago, there was a mini public debate going on in Etobicoke, Ont. that reached as far as western Canada about what people – mainly women – can and should wear. It isn’t a new argument; in fact, it’s one that seems to be renewed every year or so as the views on clothing decency change.
This particular argument started when a high school student said that she has a right to wear a midriff-baring crop top to school after a teacher told her it was inappropriate. From her corner, she argued that teachers were “sexualizing” female bodies by observing her in that manner. Other supporters argued that it was slut-shaming to criticize her clothing choice.
In the opposite corner, the teachers and others argued that it was inappropriate. There are clothes that should and shouldn’t be worn and some are just not professional. After all, they argued, we have to draw the line somewhere. There has to be a limit as to what types of clothes should be allowed. Otherwise, what’s to stop girls from wearing bikinis or guys from wearing Speedos to school or any other place?
That line that people talk about, the one that indicates where limits should be set, could be called the Line of Acceptability. In every era, people have argued about where the Line of Acceptability should be set. When it comes to clothing, what is too much or too little? When should women (since they’re always the gender of focus in this topic) start to feel shame for what they’re wearing?
Women have pushed the boundaries to the point where just about every scrap of clothing is being debated. It’s gotten to the point where women are arguing that walking around in mini shorts and a bikini top should be acceptable. Many are of the opinion that women shouldn’t be oppressed by outdated beliefs and have the right to wear what they please.
The reality is that the Line of Acceptability isn’t set in stone, nor should it be. People in every era believe that once they adjust where that line should be, that’s where it should stay because they’ve gone as far as they should go. Tank tops? Fine, it’s acceptable, but no more. V-neck shirts with a hint of cleavage? Okay, but that’s it. However, it doesn’t work like that. That line is flexible and it will change every time there is a shift in public attitude because that line is set by the majority consensus.
In the 1920s, flappers flaunted their disdain of modern conventions by wearing short skirts and cutting their hair. Back then, a short skirt that ended at the knee was viewed the same way as today’s short skirt that ends just below the derriere. The majority consensus determines where the line should be and anyone who steps across that line, such as flappers or high school girls, is harshly chastised. According to this modern high school example, one could say that the midriff-baring top is inappropriate because it deviates from what’s considered acceptable in a professional environment.
However, fashion progress has always depended on these individuals to set new standards and trends. Women today wouldn’t be wearing denim or pants or skirts above the ankle were it not for those trendsetters, even if they were considered scandalous at the time.
So how can we criticize that high school girl for doing what individuals in every era have done?
The answer comes down to not what she was wearing, but where she was wearing it. There’s a difference between what you wear out with friends and what you wear while at school or work. In a professional environment, the individuals around you have to be there. They don’t have the choice of going somewhere else or shutting their eyes. As such, there’s only a small amount of deviation from the norm that is allowed in order to maintain a balanced environment, unlike other casual personal settings.
If you want to change the majority consensus about what apparel is considered appropriate and acceptable, start that conversation on your own time. If it’s successful, it’ll eventually make its way into professional environments. In the meantime, focus on maintaining a professional appearance until your preferred fashion style catches up.
