Modest exercise clothing?

[Portrait]

I think its safe to say you have an un-catholic agenda then.

Both men and women are responsible. Not just men, and not just women. What you are doing is choosing to continue the distortion. Instead of males neglecting their responsibility, you want to make a mass call for women to neglect theirs.

That is now how it works, both sexes are responsible… unless you are trying to say that women are helpless creatures who can’t handle any responsibility that inconveniences them. I know lots of women who would disagree with you on this point.

So I can only appeal again that you put aside your ideologies and do what is RIGHT and Catholic. If you are a woman, start taking up your responsibility without neglecting it. That would be to dress modestly and take care to not tempt ones brother. This is the wisdom of the Church fathers. We would do well to respect their teachings in our piety.

Dear friend,

Cordial greetings and a very good day. Jolly splendid post and bang on target.

Whilst men are indeed responsible for the custody of their eyes (cf. Job 31: 1), women also have a duty to clothe themselves in modest attire that does not transgress the boundaries of propriety. To assert, as some do, that the onus is entirely upon men to bridle their unchaste thoughts, is not only un-Catholic and un-balanced, but also gives ground to the godless ideology of radical feminism.

Women cannot be exonerated from their duty to be clad in seemly apparel (I Tim 2: 9) and this has always been the consistent teaching of the Church down through the ages, streching right back to “the wisdom of the Church fathers”, of which you speak, dear friend. Here is how a pre-Vatican II manual of instructions in the Catholic Faith puts it:

"The virtue of modesty is the virtue which protects chastity by inclining us to guard our senses, so as not to invite temptation, and to be considerate in our dress and behaviour, so as not to cause temptation to others".

(Christ in Us, Killgallon and Weber, Sheed & Ward 1959, p. 269, added emphasis mine).

This teaching has not gone bad or become irrelevant with the passage of time and neither has it been officially repudiated by the contemporary Church. This, dear friend, is what our Church has always taught and always will teach.

God bless and thankyou for your contributions to the thread.

Warmest good wishes,

Portrait

Pax

 

[maryjk]

Again, please, watch the video.

Sorry, I won’t click on any link posted by a new member.

It might surprise you to know that over centuries, people came up with standards for what constitutes as tempting and what doesn’t. The priest explains these standards (which ideally should have been taught by ones parents already).

A t-shirt is not always modest. Its not about just showing skin either. These are things you need to learn.

There is a reason why people used to say things like “who is that Girl’s mother?” when they saw a woman dressed badly. It was because one assumed that the mother had failed at her job of educating her children. Today, we seemed to have a lot of mothers who failed at it. It doesn’t mean that women shouldn’t start learning the right way.

Wearing a t-shirt and shorts to work out is not immodest. If her boyfriend can’t stop lusting after her, he needs some help.

 

[tabycat]

Since men can’t seem to control their thoughts,
just wear a burqa and be done with it…

There is one problem: Some men still would be turned on;

 

[Do_Good_Then_Go]

Again, please, watch the video.

It might surprise you to know that over centuries, people came up with standards for what constitutes as tempting and what doesn’t. The priest explains these standards (which ideally should have been taught by ones parents already).

A t-shirt is not always modest. Its not about just showing skin either. These are things you need to learn.

There is a reason why people used to say things like “who is that Girl’s mother?” when they saw a woman dressed badly. It was because one assumed that the mother had failed at her job of educating her children. Today, we seemed to have a lot of mothers who failed at it. It doesn’t mean that women shouldn’t start learning the right way.

I know this wasn’t directed at me but I did watch the video The priest is talking about dressing modestly at Mass. He would like to see men dressed in suits and ties (but they don’t HAVE to) and he thinks women’s clothing must have sleeves and must be below the knee for modesty (and they MUST dress like this). That is his opinion, it is not a requirement of the Church, and this thread is not ABOUT what is appropriate for Mass, it’s about exercise clothes! There is NOTHING wrong with wearing a t-shirt and mid-thigh shorts when exercising. It is NOT immodest or inappropriate.

This whole idea that men can’t control their thoughts at the sight of a woman’s knee or a bare arm and so need to be protected and that women must meet unreasonable standards of dress to ‘help’ men control themselves (and that if they don’t they are impure and they are the ones who are in error because they are encouraging others to sin) is so anti-woman that it makes me feel ill. It’s anti-man as well.

I can only remain thankful that I don’t actually know anyone in real life who thinks like this!

 

[Portrait]

Again, please, watch the video.

It might surprise you to know that over centuries, people came up with standards for what constitutes as tempting and what doesn’t. The priest explains these standards (which ideally should have been taught by ones parents already).

A t-shirt is not always modest. Its not about just showing skin either. These are things you need to learn.

There is a reason why people used to say things like “who is that Girl’s mother?” when they saw a woman dressed badly. It was because one assumed that the mother had failed at her job of educating her children. Today, we seemed to have a lot of mothers who failed at it. It doesn’t mean that women shouldn’t start learning the right way.

Dear friend,

Hello again.

Modesty in one’s attire comes down to personal sensitivity and avoiding being an inducement to sin in others. The problem today, dear friend, is that most women live and move in a decadent culture that sadly does not inculcate to them the concept of personal sensitivity. Moreover, it encourages them to dress in a manner that is sexually provocative so as to attract or tease males. The sexualisation of Western culture makes it jolly easy for a young woman to start wearing indecent clothing, even in sportswear. Its takes a very pious woman indeed to swim against the stream and resist the allurements of seductive style fashion garments.

The concept of personal sensitivity is the sense of shame one feels in exposing to public gaze what should be reserved exclusively for the bedroom and one’s spouse. Quite conveniently, there is a significant overlap between what should be reserved for one’s own privacy and spouse and what would lead others into temptation. Women who profess religion, dear friend, must needs be more careful as regards their choice of clothing and ensure that they are not dressing immodestly, either in public or in the gymnasium or sports field.

God bless.

Warmest good wishes,

Portrait

Pax

 

[Walking_Home]

Originally Posted by i_am_a_Catholic
Again, please, watch the video.

---

— well said. I’d say all this focus on women and “modesty” – engenders aggression/violence towards women.

 

[Walking_Home]

Dear friend,

Hello again.

Modesty in one’s attire comes down to personal sensitivity and avoiding being an inducement to sin in others. The problem today, dear friend, is that most women live and move in a decadent culture that sadly does not inculcate to them the concept of personal sensitivity. Moreover, it encourages them to dress in a manner that is sexually provocative so as to attract or tease males. The sexualisation of Western culture makes it jolly easy for a young woman to start wearing indecent clothing, even in sportswear. Its takes a very pious woman indeed to swim against the stream and resist the allurements of seductive style fashion garments.

The concept of personal sensitivity is the sense of shame one feels in exposing to public gaze what should be reserved exclusively for the bedroom and one’s spouse. Quite conveniently, there is a significant overlap between what should be reserved for one’s own privacy and spouse and what would lead others into temptation. Women who profess religion, dear friend, must needs be more careful as regards their choice of clothing and ensure that they are not dressing immodestly, either in public or in the gymnasium or sports field.

God bless.

Warmest good wishes,

Portrait

Pax

---

Be responsible for yourself --“Portrait” – for your own thoughts --and quit passing off men’s weaknesses onto others.

 

[underacloud]

"The virtue of modesty is the virtue which protects chastity by inclining us to guard our senses, so as not to invite temptation, and to be considerate in our dress and behaviour, so as not to cause temptation to others".

(Christ in Us, Killgallon and Weber, Sheed & Ward 1959, p. 269, added emphasis mine).

This teaching has not gone bad or become irrelevant with the passage of time and neither has it been officially repudiated by the contemporary Church. This, dear friend, is what our Church has always taught and always will teach.

Yes, the Church teaches the importance of modesty. I don’t think anyone here debates that.

But she does not give us a list of suitable cloths for any given occasion. The OP wants opinions regarding suitable clothing for the gym. She already accepts the need for modesty, but like many people isn’t sure where to draw the line. So, reiterating Church teaching doesn’t really she light on the details needed here.

She wants to know whether a T-shirt and shorts is acceptable clothing for the gym. There’s no Church document that tells her either way. My opinion, and that of many posting in this thread, is that a T-shirt and shorts are (usually) fine…although others note that *some *T-shirts and shorts are not. I go the gym about twice a week and wear a T-shirt and shorts. It’s the most comfortable attire for me (BTW I’m male).

 

[severus68]

Or as Tom Lehr put it in the song ‘Smut’ off his album ‘That Was the Year that Was’

All books can be indecent books
Though recent books are bolder,
For filth (I’m glad to say) is in
the mind of the beholder.
When correctly viewed,
Everything is lewd.
(I could tell you things about Peter Pan,
And the Wizard of Oz, there’s a dirty old man!)

So, if you’re letting other’s weaknesses or proclivities dictate your dress it’s going to be very hard. If you simply dress as is best/appropriate for the activity with no intention to elicit a prurient reaction I think you’ve done all you can.

Exactly.

 

[Debora123]

---

Be responsible for yourself --“Portrait” – for your own thoughts --and quit passing off men’s weaknesses onto others.

 

[Debora123]

Yes, the Church teaches the importance of modesty. I don’t think anyone here debates that.

But she does not give us a list of suitable cloths for any given occasion. The OP wants opinions regarding suitable clothing for the gym. She already accepts the need for modesty, but like many people isn’t sure where to draw the line. So, reiterating Church teaching doesn’t really she light on the details needed here.

She wants to know whether a T-shirt and shorts is acceptable clothing for the gym. There’s no Church document that tells her either way. My opinion, and that of many posting in this thread, is that a T-shirt and shorts are (usually) fine…although others note that *some *T-shirts and shorts are not. I go the gym about twice a week and wear a T-shirt and shorts. It’s the most comfortable attire for me (BTW I’m male).

Exactly.

What else would someone possibly wear to the gym besides a t-shirt and shorts anyway??

A dress???

 

[severus68]

To the argument that say “men think differently than women”, I would argue the fact that these men know that their thinking is not very “holy”, so as NOT to say that their thinking is a better way of thinking compared to womens way of thinking, so as to have all people respect their way of thinking more than to respect womens way of thinking.

Women shall NOT be asked to adapt to a sinful way of (anyones) thinking.

Let men learn to control themselves just the way women do. For generations women are demanded to behave regardless whatever, so men shall learn to do the same, especially in this modern culture. If we allow men to control women, instead of controlling themselves, our modern culture will turn more and more barbaric, a culture that will look down on women based on the way they dress.

Exactly! Saying “we can’t help ourselves” as we are more visual than women, we need sex more than women" etc is just pathetic and an insult to right thinking men and women.

 

[TrueLight]

Yoga pants and a long tee shirt.

If I can manage to wake myself up early tomorrow, that’s what I’m wearing.

 

[severus68]

I think its safe to say you have an un-catholic agenda then.

Both men and women are responsible. Not just men, and not just women. What you are doing is choosing to continue the distortion. Instead of males neglecting their responsibility, you want to make a mass call for women to neglect theirs.

That is now how it works, both sexes are responsible… unless you are trying to say that women are helpless creatures who can’t handle any responsibility that inconveniences them. I know lots of women who would disagree with you on this point.

So I can only appeal again that you put aside your ideologies and do what is RIGHT and Catholic. If you are a woman, start taking up your responsibility without neglecting it. That would be to dress modestly and take care to not tempt ones brother. This is the wisdom of the Church fathers. We would do well to respect their teachings in our piety.

Saying the truth is having a non-Catholic agenda? That is hilarious. A man is responsible for lusting, full stop. If a woman sets out to incite lust, that is her sin. You are making women responsible for a man’s lust, that is shifting the blame. I do not think most men want to be considered helpless things who can’t control themselves.

 

[Walking_Home]

Originally Posted by francisca
To the argument that say “men think differently than women”, I would argue the fact that these men know that their thinking is not very “holy”, so as NOT to say that their thinking is a better way of thinking compared to womens way of thinking, so as to have all people respect their way of thinking more than to respect womens way of thinking.

---

100% agree.

 

[severus68]

I like looking at women’s necks- not in a vampire-like way though.

I need women to wear turtlenecks at all times.

Darn! I was hoping there was a real vampire who would post here. That kind of thinking is as logical as some of the things posted here.

 

[severus68]

Again, please, watch the video.

It might surprise you to know that over centuries, people came up with standards for what constitutes as tempting and what doesn’t. The priest explains these standards (which ideally should have been taught by ones parents already).

A t-shirt is not always modest. Its not about just showing skin either. These are things you need to learn.

There is a reason why people used to say things like “who is that Girl’s mother?” when they saw a woman dressed badly. It was because one assumed that the mother had failed at her job of educating her children. Today, we seemed to have a lot of mothers who failed at it. It doesn’t mean that women shouldn’t start learning the right way.

So you are here to teach all these wayward mothers and all of us too?

 

[epan]

What do you suggest for modest as well as practical exercise clothing?

I usually where mid-thigh length shorts and t-shirts or tank tops, but my boyfriend insists that my shorts are too short and when I wear yoga or running pants he says they are too tight. He suggested I wear men’s basketball shorts, but they are heavy and, to be honest, make feel a bit masculine. Any suggestions?

Tell your BF that you will wear his BB shorts, if he puts on your clothes to exercise. Trust your own judgement.

 

[lerapt78]

Traditionally, a woman’s hair used to be an outward physical expression of her sensuality, and it was common in decades past for a woman to keep her hair pinned in public so that her long tresses would be reserved for her husband’s viewing pleasure only.

Long, untamed hair has oft been connected with a vibrant sexuality and so women took pride in their locks, with men’s whole-hearted approval.

But just yesterday a young man posted a thread lamenting the fact that his girlfriend cut her hair short (could be sign of a complete lack of vanity, no?), and yet there was a slew of men who not only did not praise her for what could be considered a truly modest alteration, but actually suggested that she was being selfish for not attempting to cater to the boyfriend’s aesthetic delight.

And now on this thread so many posters are telling a woman going to the gym that it’s moral to obsess about the fit of her shorts (which would be mostly covered by a t-shirt anyway!) so that the men around her don’t fall into sensual temptation. Is it hard to imagine why some women feel they’re going to lose regardless of intent the second they look in the mirror?

 

[garn9173]

Exactly.

What else would someone possibly wear to the gym besides a t-shirt and shorts anyway??

A dress???

That must cover the knees and don’t forget to keep those shoulders covered