The Phoenix and Olive BranchDefinition: The “modesty doctrine” is the belief that women need to cover their bodies to prevent men from being attracted to them, because sexual attraction is lust that leads to sin and death for both. The modesty doctrine is not the same as wearing conservative clothing. You can do the latter without believing the former. The modesty doctrine is found in fundamentalist Christianity, Judaism and Islam, with milder echoes in mainstream Western culture.
My posts about the Modesty Doctrine:
The Message vs. the Gospel: Lust and Responsibility
Modesty: A Response to Common Misunderstandings
How the Modesty Doctrine Hurts Men, Too
Quick Hits: Modesty, LGBTQ, and “Honoring” Women
Memorial Monday’s Massive Modesty Media Mention
Modesty, Body Policing and Rape Culture: Connecting the Dots
Recommended posts from others on the Modesty Doctrine:
The Modesty Myth: a new series on From Two to One
Love, Joy, Feminism: The “Problem” of Lust
Love, Joy, Feminism: I Wear a Bikini (Gasp!)
Love, Joy, Feminism: How the Purity Culture Made Me Afraid of Men
Friendly Atheist: A Pastor Tells Women How to Dress Modestly
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