Why are dresses and skirts seen as being more modest than pants and jeans?

[Anonymous]

In families like the Duggars and other groups. Wouldn't the fact that skirts and dresses fly up in the wind and have an opening that can reveal undergarments make them less modest?

[Anonymous]

I guess it's b/c dresses and skirts are what have always been traditionally worn through time by women. Pants were seen as indecent when women first started wearing them, maybe b/c they left less to the imagine re the crotch/butt area. Also pants gave women the freedom/power to do the same work/tasks as men (i.e. ride a horse freely) so they were seen as subversive.

[Anonymous]

The skirts and dresses are at least over the knee length and longer and the undergarments are often a longer length as well (think knickers).

[Anonymous]

People who think this would usually wear the kind of dress/skirt that does not fly up in the wind or show undergarments. You don't see them wearing miniskirts, do you?

[Anonymous]

Pants show the shape of legs and butt, skirts/dresses do not - at least the type of dresses and skirts that the duggars would wear.

[Anonymous]

There is nothing immodest about the women Duggars' Little House on the Prairie garb. Not only does it distort their shape and make them seem heavier, but it's the type of dress that is always very obviously "fundamentalist" dress to me. Body-hiding wear is common among religious conservatives, and I mean REALLY conservative not GCB-style.

[Anonymous]

Pants show that women do not have a penis, and have labia.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pants show that women do not have a penis, and have labia.

Not all pants are spandex.

[Anonymous]

I always wonder this too but just assume its what pp stated, historically men wore pants and women wore skirts. I totally agree that skirts like the Duggars wear make you look horriblely shapeless and heavy but I'm pretty sure that's the point. Not all religious conservative people wear such ugly clothes though, I work with a wonderfully fashionable Jewish Orthodox woman who is always in a skirt that goes to the knees. She always looks very cute though, has a great collection or riding boots and tights and really knows how to work a skirt.

[Anonymous]

If you've been to the the chabad community in crown heights, Brooklyn, the girls wear long skirts but they are skin tight. Pants would be more modest.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pants show that women do not have a penis, and have labia.

Not all pants are spandex.

True, but virtually all pants show the curve of the butt and the outline of the crotch/butt area.

To the PP who referred to the Little House on the Prairie dresses - it's been years since the Duggars wore those. The Duggar girls tend to wear "modern modest" clothing now - longish skirts with tops that don't show any cleavage or chest.

[Anonymous]

See also Deuteronomy 22:5.

[Anonymous]

I'm with you, OP. My sister-in-law is fundamentalist Baptist and wears the long shapeless skirts. We are not allowed to buy my niece pants or leggings because she has to wear skirts. She is 4. She is climbing around on the jungle gym wearing skirts and I can't really see how that is more modest, and I wonder if they'll let her play sports. (this is just one reason why i can't use my brother as a guardian for my daughter.)

[Anonymous]

I love dresses and skirts. I think a woman looks better in a skirt or dress compared to shirt with shorts. Do not know women are supposed to prefer shorts or pants. I have even found a way to use dresses as business attire.
Right now with my current body weight (plump), I definitely look better and feel more comfortable this way.
My mom was surprised to hear that I have 18 dresses

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you've been to the the chabad community in crown heights, Brooklyn, the girls wear long skirts but they are skin tight. Pants would be more modest.

Mmm, Jewish girls ...