A few days ago, someone asked me a question on Quora:
“It’s not about short clothes, it’s about small-mindedness.”
Do you agree? Please share your thoughts.
From the way the question was framed, it was clear that it was aimed at discussing girls’ clothing and boys’ mentality. It seemed expected that the answer should blame men for having a “small mindset.” And honestly, anyone taking a stand for men might even get trolled.
That’s why, right from the beginning of my response, I chose to honestly acknowledge my fear before expressing my views. Here’s what I wrote:
My Response:
I might get criticized by some people for saying this, but here are my thoughts:
1. From the perspective of Darwin’s theory of evolution,
it’s simple: Primitive humans roamed without clothes. As they evolved and became more intelligent, they began covering at least their waist areas. As society progressed and modernized, people wore more clothing, symbolizing a more civilized state. However, in recent times, it seems that both wisdom and clothing are diminishing.
Clothing and Human Development:
In this sense, clothing can be seen as a marker of human development. A fully covered body reflects a modern and developed mindset — and you can draw your own conclusions about the opposite.
Even according to religious traditions — Christianity, Judaism, and Islam — when Adam and Eve sinned, one of the first punishments they faced was the loss of their clothing. They immediately felt shame and sought to cover themselves with leaves, even though they were husband and wife.
From this viewpoint, wearing clothes signifies modesty and honor, while being uncovered reflects shame and disgrace.
2. If someone wants to fully justify girls wearing revealing clothes,
then they should refrain from blaming men’s mentality. After all, the men being criticized are often fathers, brothers, and well-wishers.
If a father scolds his daughter for dressing immodestly, does that make him small-minded? No — he genuinely cares for her well-being.
Thus, the mentality that openly justifies wearing minimal clothing without hesitation is itself a narrow and shallow one.
3. As for men with dirty minds —
such men will look lustfully even at fully covered women. Clothing alone doesn’t fix their mindset.
For this, we must hold society’s declining values and cultural degradation responsible.
4. If you truly view another woman as your mother or sister,
then you will automatically protect your gaze, even if she were standing in front of you without clothes.
This requires strong values and a healthy societal atmosphere.
But when girls parade around in revealing clothes, provoking attention, and boys leer at them — what kind of upbringing or culture are they promoting for the next generation?
Lastly, if you didn’t like the example about human evolution, here’s a fun fact:
I didn’t create that example myself. It was actually shared by a young woman while addressing a public gathering.
If you found my answer reasonable, feel free to upvote it.