Comments on: ‘Indecent’ Clothing and Abusive Control http://julieclawson.com/2009/09/22/%e2%80%98indecent%e2%80%99-clothing-and-abusive-control/ incantations at the edge of uncertainty Sat, 11 Feb 2012 03:00:47 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Tim http://julieclawson.com/2009/09/22/%e2%80%98indecent%e2%80%99-clothing-and-abusive-control/comment-page-1/#comment-5478 Tim Mon, 05 Oct 2009 19:48:45 +0000 http://julieclawson.com/?p=1205#comment-5478 Thank you for highlighting the story of Lubna Hussein. She is a hero to the human race. Whenever someone takes such a bold stand against injustice, we all benefit. One of the speakers at the Mennonite Church USA national convention this past summer (http://blog.goshen.edu/mpress/2009/07/03/calling-our-sons-and-daughters/) spoke about how men also benefit and experience a "liberation" when they affirm women as equals. We are all blessed when women are free to dress as they desire and express their spiritual gifts in whatever way they choose. I think many churches don't realize that rules about dress create subordination of women. Then again, churches make rules prohibiting women from leadership, knowing full well that they are creating unequal power structures that elevate men to a higher status. By the way, the youth pastor you speak of had some issues. He was paying a little too much attention to your body; let's just put it that way... Michael said: "...in Sudan, a woman wearing pants could very well be the equivalent to women going topless in the United States." Good point. In the U.S., women are arrested for exposing their chest just as in Muslim countries women are arrested for deviating from their cultural dress norms. When will the American culture truly allow equality in dress? Think Janet Jackson. Topfree equality will not be won overnight, but many people are bravely working to make it a reality. Thank you for highlighting the story of Lubna Hussein. She is a hero to the human race. Whenever someone takes such a bold stand against injustice, we all benefit.

One of the speakers at the Mennonite Church USA national convention this past summer (http://blog.goshen.edu/mpress/2009/07/03/calling-our-sons-and-daughters/)
spoke about how men also benefit and experience a "liberation" when they affirm women as equals. We are all blessed when women are free to dress as they desire and express their spiritual gifts in whatever way they choose.

I think many churches don't realize that rules about dress create subordination of women. Then again, churches make rules prohibiting women from leadership, knowing full well that they are creating unequal power structures that elevate men to a higher status.

By the way, the youth pastor you speak of had some issues. He was paying a little too much attention to your body; let's just put it that way…

Michael said:
"…in Sudan, a woman wearing
pants could very well be the equivalent to women
going topless in the United States."

Good point. In the U.S., women are arrested for exposing their chest just as in Muslim countries women are arrested for deviating from their cultural dress norms. When will the American culture truly allow equality in dress? Think Janet Jackson. Topfree equality will not be won overnight, but many people are bravely working to make it a reality.

]]> By: Michael http://julieclawson.com/2009/09/22/%e2%80%98indecent%e2%80%99-clothing-and-abusive-control/comment-page-1/#comment-5470 Michael Mon, 05 Oct 2009 04:40:43 +0000 http://julieclawson.com/?p=1205#comment-5470 Great post. But something to consider is that often times "deceny" is societal in nature. Should women be allowed to go topless everywhere that men are allowed to go topless? I'm not making a judgement either way; I'm just saying that in Sudan, a woman wearing pants could very well be the equivalent to women going topless in the United States. Neither make much sense when you objectively look at them, but both may get you fined or thrown in jail. I guess what I'm getting at is that it's kind of hard to judge the situation without actually being a member of that particular society. Maybe the fact that she wasn't actually caned is a sign of where their society is headed though. Maybe one day ALL societies will evolve to the point where topless, pant wearing men and women alike roam the streets. :P Great post. But something to consider is that often times "deceny" is societal in nature.

Should women be allowed to go topless everywhere that men are allowed to go topless? I'm not making a judgement either way; I'm just saying that in Sudan, a woman wearing pants could very well be the equivalent to women going topless in the United States. Neither make much sense when you objectively look at them, but both may get you fined or thrown in jail. I guess what I'm getting at is that it's kind of hard to judge the situation without actually being a member of that particular society.

Maybe the fact that she wasn't actually caned is a sign of where their society is headed though. Maybe one day ALL societies will evolve to the point where topless, pant wearing men and women alike roam the streets. :P

]]> By: SAGAR PRATAP SINGH http://julieclawson.com/2009/09/22/%e2%80%98indecent%e2%80%99-clothing-and-abusive-control/comment-page-1/#comment-5434 SAGAR PRATAP SINGH Tue, 29 Sep 2009 16:49:58 +0000 http://julieclawson.com/?p=1205#comment-5434 This ariticle shows how arthodox and narrow mnded governments are about women.As the case lubana hussain is given that she was threatened by government. there is no freedom, choices, and safty for females. In my thoughts everybody is equal and having same rights to do anything which they want. On the other hand we also have the countries like USA and UK where women have all the rights. In the end I just want to say that e should lessen the distences between the righs of Male and Female. This ariticle shows how arthodox and narrow mnded governments are about women.As the case lubana hussain is given that she was threatened by government. there is no freedom, choices, and safty for females. In my thoughts everybody is equal and having same rights to do anything which they want. On the other hand we also have the countries like USA and UK where women have all the rights.
In the end I just want to say that e should lessen the distences between the righs of Male and Female.

]]> By: Jen Strange http://julieclawson.com/2009/09/22/%e2%80%98indecent%e2%80%99-clothing-and-abusive-control/comment-page-1/#comment-5396 Jen Strange Wed, 23 Sep 2009 18:49:31 +0000 http://julieclawson.com/?p=1205#comment-5396 great post! so thoughtful. I have found myself purposely wearing my most expensive pantsuits - when I LOVE wearing skirts and dresses - to churches that teach women shouldn't wear pants. My snarky thoughts while doing this: God wants us to wear our best? My outfit was over $100 and you're wearing a $15 Walmart dress. (When I have been coerced into attending, I should say . . . I don't go around looking for churches to piss off. Although that would be fun . . . ) You'll notice that such churches rarely if ever get their undies in a bunch over what the men wear. Nope, always the girls. anyway . . . thanks for the post!!! jen great post! so thoughtful.

I have found myself purposely wearing my most expensive pantsuits – when I LOVE wearing skirts and dresses – to churches that teach women shouldn't wear pants. My snarky thoughts while doing this: God wants us to wear our best? My outfit was over $100 and you're wearing a $15 Walmart dress. (When I have been coerced into attending, I should say . . . I don't go around looking for churches to piss off. Although that would be fun . . . )

You'll notice that such churches rarely if ever get their undies in a bunch over what the men wear. Nope, always the girls.

anyway . . . thanks for the post!!!

jen

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