I generally try to be careful with my language. Part of it is that people have a tendency to argue everything, particularly on the Internet. I don’t have a problem with argument as most of you know, but I also don’t like having to say, “Fine, I’ll concede that for argument, now what difference does it make?”
Anyhow, this is a long way of getting at a discussion in another place regarding the apparel choice of young girls this Halloween. Those familiar with these conversations know that the age group being discussed is anywhere from as young as 4 and topping out at about 14. In the discussion, some went so far to describe the looks of these young girls as akin to sluts.
And naturally enough this is where a tangent is chosen. Apparently one was okay to describe a problem of young girls being over sexualized – for the record, this was my approach – but to describe the attire as slutty invited eye of the beholder talk. From there, one is questioned on how one knows these young girls are sluts, as if such an accusation were made of for the most part prepubescent girls. Hence, the discussion no longer regards whether it is proper for young girls to wear such apparel but whether it is appropriate for old men to comment upon said apparel.
I realize it was chic throughout most of the 90s to abandon stereotypes. They were evil. Well, often times mixed up in stereotypes are things called customs. Women who offer services at a price, at significant discount, or for free have ways of dressing to aid their discerning customers in finding them. This is a convenience for their customers.
At this point folks will argue the custom is wrong. It may well be. The last time I checked though, a man who stated a woman was dressed inappropriately was not generally soliciting services. In the lust to condemn the man for judging the woman, we forget that he has made a judgement of her: namely, that she is a beautiful and worthy, not fitting to be attired in the dress of the red light trades. It is this judgement that is mocked and derided in the fight for illusory liberty.
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