Don’t Tell Me What I Should Do With My Body: Part 2

I grew up with a strict dresscode imposed on me through my parents, my educational institution, and my culture. My body is policed and others determine what is appropriate and what is not.

Arbitrary standards of “casual,” “business casual,” “professional,” “semi formal,” and “formal” are set. Within each of these dress codes is a set formula as to what I can and cannot wear. This formula includes factors such as color, length, type of clothing, amount of skin showing, as well as many more. It’s against the rules to abide by my own standards (unless my standards align perfectly by the norms set in place already).

Women are told that our bodies are distracting. They must be hidden from view as much as possible as to not attract unwanted attention.

God forbid the existence of my body is a distraction. I can’t help the fact that my shoulders are irresistable, so they must be hidden away. Can’t let people know that there’s skin underneath the cloth that I must drape on my body. I can’t show too much leg without it being scandalous (who woulda thought that humans have legs!).

The more skin I show, the bigger slut I am perceived to be. The less skin I show, the more prudish I become. So I am forced to play the game of balance each and everyday I dress myself.

If one day the balance is off, and something negative happens, such as rape or sexual assault, I am blamed.

“You can’t wear clothes that are too tight.”

“If you wear a dress, you have to be aware that men will take pictures up your legs when you’re not looking.”

“If you wear a tank top to school, you’ll be sent to the principal’s office to change.”

What is so scary about my body? Why is it treated as a sexual object instead of part of a living being? Why do I have to follow so many goddamn rules?

I am not in charge of anyone elses temptation expect my own. Actions against me based on how I choose to present myself are not the fault of myself, but rather, the fault of the aggressor.

Not sure why such a concept is so difficult for people to understand. But time and time again women are blamed for their own sexual assaults as if having a body and showing skin is an invitation for sex.

Animals don’t wear clothing, but we see this as perfectly normal. Are humans not animals? Are our bodies so sacred that they must be invisible to the naked eye? Why do the clothes we wear (or choose not to wear) undergo such scrutiny? Why are our bodies forced to abide by arbitrary rules and standards?