Leggings?

One of the aspects of the women’s movement has been to insist that how women dress should be a non-issue

I have long been a supporter of women’s rights regarding a wide range of issues: discrimination, harassment, abuse, health care, equality, #MeToo and so on. There has been progress, but far more is needed. There is always pushback, such as men pretending they are now being discriminated against because of the focus on women’s issues. Not unexpected, not going to change what still needs to be done to address fundamental aspects of the lives of females that need mitigation.

Now, I realize there are women who take issue with the concept of women being the victims of much of anything. These skeptics tend to be older, politically conservative females. They even insist that a little harassment never hurt anyone. One could posit that these women are traitors to their gender, failing to acknowledge that men should not be allowed to determine how women live their lives or what constitutes acceptable behavior, comparable compensation, equivalency of opportunity. These anti-feminist females seem afraid of being on a level playing field.

So imagine my dismay when I recently discovered the controversy regarding leggings. I originally assumed it was about men once again treating women as objects because of how they dressed. Then I became aware that other women were insisting that women who wear leggings are undermining the goals of female equality, respect and freedom from harassment. I asked my attractive, petite, leggings-wearing wife if she was aware of the controversy, and she was not only surprised but quite angry that some women were so foolish as to criticize what other members of their gender chose to wear.

I will confess I think my wife looks utterly awesome in leggings. Yes, I own this perspective. How is this a problem? Being pragmatic, I read the rationale for some women justifying this anti-leggings bias, but was unable to find actual justification — just assumptions. Nor do I accept the sexuality of females as being a problem. It’s how nature ensures continuation of species even though this is largely a non-issue for humans. It’s not unnatural for males to be attracted, but it is unacceptable to act upon that attraction in unwanted ways.

Some of the comments by these women are…well…quite odd. “Leggings make not-ogling by men impossible.” “Leggings are so naked…so exposing.” As one feminist noted regarding these and other comments from women about women wearing leggings: “Thanks to internalized misogyny, sisters are doing it for themselves.” One of the aspects of the women’s movement has been to insist that how women dress should be a non-issue, not open for comment and criticism by those who seem to believe their own values should apply to everyone else. From makeup to high heels to [fill in the blank], a woman’s style should be what she wants it to be, and men should behave and be respectful.

But a larger issue is how conformity and civil rights intersect when socio-cultural change is in process. The same kind of distortions that excessive aspects of feminism can represent also show up in other issues. Political correctness derailed when it resulted in coercion and censorship by supporters that mimicked the same by those vehemently opposed to it. Free speech was being lost to demands regarding identity politics that defied societal realities and common sense. Good intentions can be positive…or destructive.

Idealism easily becomes antithetical to having differing opinions yet sharing common goals. Discussions can contain both serious thoughts and shared humor. “Winning” is often complex, with give and take, agreeing and also agreeing to disagree. Civil rights and fairness can coexist nicely, but this requires a live-and-let-live approach that sets boundaries but also ensures they are reasonable and promote peaceful coexistence.

So, leggings look better on certain body types than others. On some women they are sexy, on others they are aesthetically marginal or worse. Opinions will vary as to if, when and where they are acceptable…or not. But a sign of maturity and wisdom is sometimes keeping one’s opinion to one’s self. Leggings, as a topic, should disappear…sooner rather than later.