The Modern Nudist Is Modest | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Politics and Activism

The Modern Nudist Is Modest

The nudist of today is actually more modest than we think.

364
The Modern Nudist Is Modest
pexels.com

It seems as we progress as a society, there are some things that we tend to forget about. Whether it be our racial views, our religious views or one of the million other views that divide us, we've decided, as a society, to continue to restrict each other and limit our ability to express ourselves. High schools are sending home students because they're shoulders are exposed or you can see a woman's knee. I believe that out of all of our divides and our limitations that are put onto us by normality, we need to stop hyper-sexualizing our female population. We need to move past this fear of our anatomy and evolve into this acceptance of what hides beneath. We need to stop calling our women hoes, sluts and whores for being comfortable. We need to stop sending young girls the message that making a man comfortable is more important than their education.

Across the country, dress codes reside inside of schools, workplaces and households. Of course, dress codes are appropriate but logic has it's limit and it seems these dress codes have reached the end of their rope. High schools claiming that they "set an example of the kind of dress code a young student would experience in the 'real world,'" yet students are sent home for showing their collar bone? When are we going to teach students not to be scared of themselves? Horrified that they're knees might distract their peers? A big issue with the sexualization of girls in high schools is that these girls are all underage. Students are being pulled aside by teachers saying that their bodies are viewed as the problem and not confronting the fact that we are teaching men in schools everywhere that it isn't their fault for being distracted by a women's collar bone or knee or inherently basic anatomy simply because it's on a woman.

At the high school I spent four great years in, girls were sent home every single day for having shirts that were cut below their collar bone or jeans with holes in the knees or a classy dress that sits right above the knee despite the boys in my school allowed to wear shorts way above the knee, tank tops and so much more. It's become so blatantly obvious that this isn't apparent only in high schools, either.

Woman's censorship is limited so harshly. Men are seen shirtless on billboards, magazine covers, movies and it seen as normal and acceptable. Women, though? We can only be found shirtless in sex-related scenarios. Women are judged for breastfeeding their children and are shunned into bathrooms in fear that someone will interrupt them feeding their child because the idea of a women's breast not being used for sex is out of the question. It's gotten so bad, that we need a #FreeTheNipple campaign.

We're censored for art but when our bodies are on magazines, it's seen as acceptable. Women are taught that if we dress a certain way, we will attract stares and bad things will happen to us because of it. Men are not taught not to do bad things simply because of the way a woman is dressed. We are taught that if we expose to much of ourselves, we'll never be found appealing or get married or have a happy life. We forget that men do indeed, have full control over their bodies and their eyes and actions. I'm tired of wearing a skirt and feeling comfortable but being scared that a man might just see this skirt as an invitation to my body despite the lack of an actual invitation.

It's offensive to men that they've become this shell of a body with no moral compass to tell them what is right and what is wrong; that they all come programmed with the primal instinct to be distracted by the skin and unable to control themselves or have the knowledge to know yes from no. I'm tired of seeing my sisters being taught that their education is less precious than it is to keep a man comfortable. I'm exhausted with trying to counter my little sister's idea that she must be fully covered in order to be seen as anything more than her body.

I'm no longer going to overlook the idea that women must get a man's attention by showing skin while simultaneously losing the respect of a man by showing skin. We're stuck in this catch 22 that nothing we do with our bodies is acceptable. I'm going to make in crystal clear for everybody, now:

If a man does something stupid, it is because the man chose to do something stupid. Not because my skirt persuaded him to do something stupid, or my knees forced him to do something stupid. My body is not dangerous, my underage sister's body is not dangerous to her peers. I'm tired of being seen as this loaded rifle for no reason other than the assets my body posses. If I'm a loaded rifle, it's because my words are loaded and my willpower can kill. And I never miss a shot to shoot down the idea that I need to hide my body to keep anybody comfortable. I'm going to do what I want and wear what I want because I am comfortable. That's that.

I am more of a bullet than a shotgun. I am more a person than the sum of my clothing choice.

The female body is paraded and described on virtually every media platform but completely unacceptable in real time. Basically, the female body can be sold but not possessed.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

The Daily Struggles of Being a College Commuter

It's not all morning coffees and singing along to the radio.

194
The Daily Struggles of Being a College Commuter
morethanwheels

I've been in college for four years now. I spent half my time as a commuter and half as a resident so I've experienced both sides of the housing spectrum. One thing I've learned comparing the two is that my struggles as a commuter far outweigh anything I went through while living on campus. Commuters have to deal with the problems school brings along with a slew of other issues; I've filled up my gas tank in the worst kind of weather conditions and napped in random places in public more times than I'm proud to say of. This is a list of some of the most challenging aspects of being a commuter.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

15 Times Michael Scott's Life Was Worse Than Your Life

Because have you ever had to endure grilling your foot on a George Foreman?

2980
Michael Scott
NBC

Most of the time, the world's (self-proclaimed) greatest boss is just that, the greatest. I mean, come on, he's Michael Freakin' Scott after all! But every once in a while, his life hits a bit of a speed bump. (or he actually hits Meredith...) So if you personally are struggling through a hard time, you know what they say: misery loves company! Here are 15 times Michael Scott's life was worse than your life:

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

12 Midnight NYE: Fun Ideas!

This isn't just for the single Pringles out there either, folks

17346
Friends celebrating the New Years!
StableDiffusion

When the clock strikes twelve midnight on New Year's Eve, do you ever find yourself lost regarding what to do during that big moment? It's a very important moment. It is the first moment of the New Year, doesn't it seem like you should be doing something grand, something meaningful, something spontaneous? Sure, many decide to spend the moment on the lips of another, but what good is that? Take a look at these other suggestions on how to ring in the New Year that are much more spectacular and exciting than a simple little kiss.

Keep Reading...Show less
piano
Digital Trends

I am very serious about the Christmas season. It's one of my favorite things, and I love it all from gift-giving to baking to the decorations, but I especially love Christmas music. Here are 11 songs you should consider adding to your Christmas playlists.

Keep Reading...Show less
campus
CampusExplorer

New year, new semester, not the same old thing. This semester will be a semester to redeem all the mistakes made in the previous five months.

1. I will wake up (sorta) on time for class.

Let's face it, last semester you woke up with enough time to brush your teeth and get to class and even then you were about 10 minutes late and rollin' in with some pretty unfortunate bed head. This semester we will set our alarms, wake up with time to get ready, and get to class on time!

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments