Anyway, I'm taking an English course at our community college this semester, and I've really enjoyed writing these essays. The focus of the course is writing argumentatively, so I've chosen a few very controversial topics...my favorite! ;)
So, since I've taken so much time to write these essays about topics which really are important to me, I figured I might as well share them on my blog! :) I hope you enjoy them!
I'll start with one that, hopefully, isn't too controversial... This essay was a definition argument, and I chose to define the word "modesty".
A Reflection of the Heart
The modesty of women’s attire is a subject of much disagreement and debate. People are always attempting to designate the appropriate length of skirts and shorts, height of necklines, and tightness of outfits. These constantly varying sets of rules are a source of much dissension among all concerned with modesty. As very few people possess the exact same standard for what types of clothing are acceptable, this leads to unnecessary judging of one another’s personal choices. How ideal it would be if there were a set of rules including exact measurements and specific examples of what is truly modest. Modesty, however, cannot be pinpointed as one particular dress code, but is rather an outward representation of a woman’s attitude, regard for others, and respect for herself.The way in which a woman clothes herself often exemplifies her inward motives and attitude. Clothing styles are a strong expression of one’s personality and morals; and as such, bold outfits imply bold personality and moral statements. For instance, flashy and revealing attire gives the impression that a woman wants to draw inappropriate attention to herself. Such attention is often from those who do not have her best interest in mind, and may be the cause of uncomfortable situations. Additionally, wearing this type of outfit is likely to evoke the judgment of others. While this reaction is often uncalled for and unnecessary, it is generally the natural inclination of humans.
Conversely, when a woman chooses to dress herself in shapeless or unflattering attire, she implies that she is unsure of herself and lacks confidence. To be modest is not to be unattractive. In fact, it seems that when a woman goes to extremes in her attempt to conceal her body, she often attracts more attention to herself, thereby defeating the original intent behind her clothing choices.
A modest wardrobe should consist of clothing that is attractive in a way that reflects both a woman’s confidence and her humility. Her apparel should flatter her body without flaunting it, thus representing a humble and unassuming beauty which is a direct result of her heart’s attitude. This modest character is embodied in a woman who is, as the Oxford English Dictionary says, “decorous in manner and conduct; not forward, impudent, or lewd”.
From this humble attitude, there should stem an ambition in women to prove their regard for others by what they wear. Women should consider their audience when choosing their outfit each day. One group of people in said audience is men, who tend to be more visually stimulated than do women. By wearing revealing and indecent clothing, a woman may unknowingly be causing men to have improper thoughts toward her. It should be considered a common courtesy on the part of a woman to adequately cover herself, so as not to be a negative distraction to men.
Another group in a woman’s audience is, of course, other women. Outfits that flaunt and draw attention to a woman’s body often create envy and jealousy in other women. Once again, while this certainly does not mean that a woman should hide her figure, she should take into consideration how her clothing might affect her fellow women. As a member of this gender herself, a woman should typically understand this feeling and wish to lessen it for others.
A third group to consider is those in a woman’s audience who view her as a role model. Often, the people in this group are those younger than she – particularly girls. When a woman decides to wear an outfit, it would be prudent of her to first contemplate what message she will be sending to younger girls who may be observing her. She should ask herself whether she would want to see these girls wearing an outfit such as hers; and if not, she should consider changing it so as to set a positive example.
Just as proving their regard for others, women’s apparel should also indicate a certain level of respect for themselves. Every woman has a desire to be considered beautiful, but women should wish to be viewed as attractive based on their natural beauty, rather than how much their clothing reveals. If a woman is wearing a risqué outfit and receives a compliment on her appearance, she cannot know if the compliment referred to her true beauty or simply to her body. A woman should want to be attractive in a manner that is wholesome and not in ways that only serve to cheapen her beauty.
Women should consider their clothing an opportunity to preserve their dignity, and even to create an air of mystery and intrigue. When a woman chooses to flaunt her body through the clothes she wears, she immediately loses this opportunity. A woman wishing to earn the respect of others must realize that one aspect of this is to treat her body as a delicate vessel which is to be properly concealed from the public. Additionally, a woman who clothes herself properly ensures that her body is a secret to be shared with only her husband. Such intrigue in a woman certainly adds to her attractiveness.
Outward appearance, however, is not the only trait to be considered in women. A woman does not need to attract attention to herself by the way she dresses, but more importantly by her other noteworthy qualities. The apostle Paul states that “women who claim to be devoted to God should make themselves attractive by the good things they do” (1 Timothy 2:10, NLT). The most beautiful aspect of every woman should be the admirable attributes she exhibits.
If a woman’s beauty is judged by such features as her character, values, true motives, and love for others, then modesty should be an extension of these things. Modesty is an outward exhibition of an inward condition, in that the level of humility within a woman will inevitably translate to her external appearance. Every woman must decide for herself what is to be her standard of modesty, but she should remember that what she wears reflects who she is. Women have a great responsibility to represent themselves with propriety; they simply must choose to take advantage of every opportunity to do so.
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