Silent No More: Upholding Modesty and Protecting Children in Today's Society

Today, I feel drawn to a specific discussion that some may find annoying. But it's an important issue that troubles me greatly - the disappearing of modesty in our society. It is evident that many women show inappropriate areas of their bodies and exhibit unseemly behavior. While there are those who speak against passing judgment, it is crucial to understand righteous judgement. I believe this is important because it is damaging so many young women and a lot of older women are promoting it.

It's a call for guidance, particularly when observing young girls and women in church imitating these behaviors. This may come as a shock to some, but I don't think that we should be wearing mini skirts and crop tops to service. Not only is this disrespectful to ourselves and others, but it is not showing respect to the one who deserves it the most. God. Now, there are also issues outside of respect that should be discussed.

The possible negative impact on their mental and physical health are indeed worrying. This topic brings forth memories of what I went through as a teenager. During that time, I chose to wear low-cut tops and revealing dresses not out of a want to be myself, as some may claim, but rather driven by a desire for attention. I mistakenly believed that it would lead to affection. In my misguided understanding, I thought having a "baddie" persona, as the teens say, would make me more appealing and visible to men.

It is so sad to see how my previous actions stemmed from a yearning for love and deep-rooted insecurities about who I was. The strong desire for validation was prevalent among the teenagers in my circle, leaving me with little exposure to different ways of thinking. As a sheltered person and being primarily exposed to abuse from men, my perception of them became skewed. I held the belief that they were only interested in physical intimacy and that their behavior could quickly turn aggressive if you did not act in a certain way. Leading me to believe that conforming and agreeing to whatever they said was essential for attracting a husband in the future.

Reflecting on the past, it saddens and angers me to see how I once perceived love - feeling scared that I could be hurt or disliked at any moment. Growing up in a household with an abusive man from fourth grade to ninth grade left me with scary memories. Subsequently, I encountered boys and men who exhibited similar behaviors, acting inappropriately and shaming me for my virginity, which only fueled their anger.

Fortunately, I eventually realized the lunacy of this mindset, and I am relieved that I was not harmed. I am so blessed that my body is still a gift reserved solely for my future husband, and I am thankful that this sacred part of myself remains untouched by another.

I finally was able to embrace my own identity and preferences, rather than conforming to other's expectations. I had to come to terms with the fact that there was nothing wrong with my desire to wear pretty dresses, ponchos, and long skirts. Initially, I stopped wearing these items due to negative comments labeling me as Mormon or Amish, but now I can confidently say that their opinions no longer bother me. Wearing modest clothing makes me feel the most comfortable and beautiful I have ever felt.

Because of my experiences, I am able to understand and discuss the negative impact dressing immodestly has on mental health. I became very conscious of how men viewed my body. The disrespectful behavior from men made me feel insecure and exposed. I felt like I needed to hide away from everyone who even looked at me.

It was difficult to determine if I was valued for my looks or my personality. I constantly questioned my worth to others. I am not alone in feeling this way.

Many women I have spoken to have had similar experiences but sadly, it was even worse for them. They were treated poorly, lost their innocence, and felt regretful. They never learned how to be genuinely confident in themselves. Revealing their bodies didn't make them feel empowered; instead, it caused mental and physical harm. They wish they could turn back time because love did not come from those experiences.

Please take a moment to really contemplate what I've written, as it's an important concept to remember. Upon a closer look, we can see that many issues seem to originate from the home environment. Young girls often seek validation from men because their upbringing is very harmful to their development. A lack of stability and inadequate parenting can lead to this behavior. Some parents even allow their 10-year-olds to wear crop tops and short shorts. When did this become acceptable?

I am appalled by the stores who sell bikinis and revealing dresses for children. This not only exposes them to potential dangers from pedophiles but also normalizes inappropriate attire at a young age. We have got to start focusing on the role of parents in this matter as well. Why would a mother of a vulnerable child choose to buy clothes that exposes them to potential harm? What benefit does this serve? There is a lack of discussion and action on this issue and may I say, a lack of protests and news coverage. I am frustrated by this and by the fact that there is like no accountability from parents.

In a recent conversation I had, someone justified their parenting choices by stating that it was simply the way things were. They mentioned following trends and allowing their children to make their own choices under the example of 'bodily autonomy' and similar concepts. Tell me how that is guiding your child? I could start an even deeper conversation about children and the level of decision-making authority they now have. However, I assure you that delving into that topic would significantly lengthen this post by three hours.

Returning to the main point, the use of that justification negates their accountability and definitely overlooks the significance of responsible parenting. The mindset of trying to be friends with your children and allowing them to rule over their own lives seems ridiculous to me. While my mom and I are like best friends, she is always a parent first. I may not have always agreed with my parents' decisions, but I remained respectful and accepted them. This is what being a child entails – being directed and feeling like it's unfair at times, but ultimately knowing it's for your own good.

The purpose of my post is not only to raise awareness about the downfalls of immodest dressing and bad parenting habits, but also to ask us all to ponder on why we are remaining silent on these issues. Although it involves the children of other people, which can pose challenges to talk about. And those women dressing in such a way are simply going about their lives, some may question, who is being harmed by it? Allow me to guide you through this perspective.

Do we similarly keep quiet about tragedies in other countries? No. Do we ignore animal abuse? No. Do we forget to speak about taxes and government spending? No. Do we ignore the harmful impact of alcohol and drugs? Not really, as there are so many campaigns and organizations dedicated to those causes, with people actively discussing and creating platforms to address them. However, why do we remain silent when it comes to immodesty and protecting children?

I hope that someone is able to find comfort in this post. I know that I am not the only one who thinks this way. It can be scary to discuss these topics. The fear of causing offense and disrupting normalcy is so prominent. However, we should strive to distance ourselves from bad things and guide others in living according to the teachings of the Bible. This message may have been lengthy, but it was important for me to write. By supporting and guiding the women in our lives and upholding the morals we profess to believe in, we can make a difference. It's so important to question whether we truly embody these values if we shy away from addressing and enacting them in our daily lives.