Clothing and Sexuality: Male vs. Female

"There are those who, while attracting the attentions of men, are unaware of how forcefully their immodest apparel stimulates fiery passions within the opposite sex. An immodestly dressed woman may think a man is simply admiring her--and she likes to be admired--but often there is much more going on within him. Because a man's passions are triggered more easily, the sight of a woman's nakedness or the curves of her body have a seductive effect on his heart and flesh. A good comparison was made in Reflections of Feminine Modesty that will help explain this truth. 'If a nice-looking man were constantly coming up to you and stroking your arms or your neck or your shoulders and gently touching you, how would that affect you? Sensually! That is the same effect a woman has on a man when he sees her wearing a short skirt, a tight or low cut, see-through, or sleeveless blouse, or a pair of pants.' Though a woman may not realize the degree that her immodest dress affects men, she certainly knows that her behavior attracts a great interest, and she knows furthermore that it is a sexual interest. ... When a woman cares more about being noticed than the well-being of others, she is desperately lacking the love of God in her heart. Charity seeketh not her own. It vaunteth not itself (1 Corinthians 13:4-6). God has not given us liberty to dress any way we please. 'For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another' (Galatians 5:13). When we love the Lord as we should, our clothing will not be selected in order to attract attention to ourselves. When we love mankind as God loves them, we will desire to have a godly influence on them."

(Modesty a Matter of the Heart by Kathy Murray, 2005, [email protected])

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