Should Catholics support new laws on banning certain fashions?

[oldcatholicguy]

I’m a young man and it’s very tempting for me to go home and masturbate whenever I see a woman dressed provocatively. Fashion these days reveals so much on women. The winter time used to be safe but even that has turned into a time of temptation with all the tight yoga pants young women are wearing these days.

Should Catholics support new laws to not allow certain fashions that are distracting? Many of my Muslim friends who are from countries such as Pakistan agree with me on this.

“And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and throw it from you; it is better for you to enter life with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into the hell fire.” Matthew 18:9

Conquer the lust in your heart and even naked women will not affect you. You do this by changing your behavior (pluck it out…), not the behavior of others (notice no mention of what you saw in the passage). If women in yoga pants affects you, don’t look at women in yoga pants, picture the Holy Mother in your mind, pray the Hail Mary, etc.

 

[SuzanneD]

You can push all you want, but we live in a society that can’t prevent the killing of unborn humans, there is no way you can prevent lack of modesty in dress. About all you can do is pray. Pray for yourself that you will be able to love them as Christ does, and pray for them that they will have a change of heart. I think it would be hard to lust after someone if when you notice you are doing so, you begin to pray for them. Not like God help her not to dress like a tramp, but like. God please bless this person draw her to you , and let her become aware of your great love for her. Just my thoughts on the matter, not trying to sound preachy.

 

[aspirant]

Most rape cases don’t happen because of fashion.

I agree. They are, however, rooted in the objectification of persons.

However, many masturbation cases happen because of fashion.

I do not agree. Masturbation occurs because a person chooses to masturbate, and this is rooted in the objectification of persons.

 

[aspirant]

Try making eye contact. Try thinking of women as your sisters instead of as pieces of meat. We live in a society where a lot of women only feel worth by how beautiful or sexy they appear to others. Maybe have pity on them, that they don’t feel worthy of honest love and respect.

It doesn’t just help young men stop masturbating

It won’t stop young men from masturbating. Only the cultivation of chastity and love will do that.

Remember, the fashion industry is controlled by Satan, as is Hollywood, the porn industry, North Korea, and Iran.

I’m beginning to agree with the people who suspect trolling.

“And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and throw it from you; it is better for you to enter life with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into the hell fire.” Matthew 18:9

Conquer the lust in your heart and even naked women will not affect you. You do this by changing your behavior (pluck it out…), not the behavior of others (notice no mention of what you saw in the passage).

 

[Susansmum]

And here I was all fired up about men taking responsibility for their own actions and not blaming women for their own lack of restraint…
And I guess it’s a troll post…
Sigh

I do agree with modesty, but I think it is ridiculous that it is acceptable for men to blame women when they can’t restrain themselves, it takes away personal responsibility and takes away the power for men to create a change in themselves and build on their own chastity…

Women are people, not the objects that cause others to sin, or to be used for sinful purpose. I believe that has already been said too…

 

[snowflakeinlove]

Both revealing clothes AND modesty laws can lead to the objectification of women.

It’s obvious how revealing clothes can objectify women, and a lot of clothing meant to be provocative, and a lot of fashion is overly sexualized. But overemphasis on modesty has the same effect-- too much emphasis on sex. There is so much focus on how to dress as to not cause lust that people may end up thinking about sex and becoming obsessed with what women wear all the time!

As someone else mentioned, there will be men who will lust after women who are covered head to toe… so where do you draw the line? Considering this, if the point of enforcing a dress code is to prevent men from lusting, then what is ok to wear, and who gets to set these standards? I don’t think there is an answer to that.

 

[Susansmum]

Perhaps we should work on educating men to prevent them from being lustful rather than expecting women to be responsible for it.
I just dress for comfort.

 

[migueltojose]

Do we want laws to ensure we go to heaven or minimize the risk we won’t?? This is ridiculous… below copied from a similar thread in ‘moral theology’…

FREE WILL - We need people to choose to be modest. Choose to avoid the occasion of sin. Choose not to watch porn or masturbate. Choose to dress modestly. Choose not to overindulge in creature comforts. Choose to be good and virtuous. Choose life. Choose the GOOD NEWS. Choose to repent. Choose to sacrifice and surrender.

NO MORE LAWS. We have enough already. Fewer laws, please… better choices. Better behavior. Better people. Better society. Better country. Better world.

God seems to be a stickler on this one. FREE WILL. Learn to live with it.

Educate, evangelize, enlighten…

Tune In to the Holy Spirit, Turn On to Jesus Christ, Drop Out of the culture of death…

 

[VivienneJ]

Possibly a trollish post, or an OP with an agenda.

Question:
Should Catholics support new laws on banning certain fashions?

Answer:
No

Comments:
Laws in which country? Are such laws currently being considered anywhere in the world and is there any likelyhood that such laws could or would be made in every single country? As I often say, please remember we are on the “WWW” “world wide web” not all who read and post here are in the United States of America.

 

[markomalley]

I’m a young man and it’s very tempting for me to go home and masturbate whenever I see a woman dressed provocatively. Fashion these days reveals so much on women. The winter time used to be safe but even that has turned into a time of temptation with all the tight yoga pants young women are wearing these days.

Should Catholics support new laws to not allow certain fashions that are distracting? Many of my Muslim friends who are from countries such as Pakistan agree with me on this.

Melek…isn’t that Turkish and Arabic for Angel?

The actual problem is an objectification of the human body versus a recognition of the inherent dignity of the human person (as opposed to the physical alone).

I agree that acceptable styles these days are far too provocative, but State prohibition doesn’t work.

 

[severus68]

I’m a young man and it’s very tempting for me to go home and masturbate whenever I see a woman dressed provocatively. Fashion these days reveals so much on women. The winter time used to be safe but even that has turned into a time of temptation with all the tight yoga pants young women are wearing these days.

Should Catholics support new laws to not allow certain fashions that are distracting? Many of my Muslim friends who are from countries such as Pakistan agree with me on this.

NO! Perhaps you should stop looking at women as sex objects but as persons. Please do not blame women for your bad habits.

 

[severus68]

That is not my point. My point is that it has no positive effect, I have experienced it first hand. I would even venture to say that this outward focus on the behaviour of others and not yourself will have a net increase in the objectification of women.

It is the same thing a Mullah would say in a village that justifies honour killings.

Jail time? Are you serious? This sounds like a total troll. Go follow St. Anthony’s example and go to the desert and fight your own demons. Then come back after you are pure of heart. That would be a journey, an inner journey, worth exploring

Well said, again.

 

[severus68]

I also go to college and I agree with you. Women on college campuses dress like they’re heading to work at a strip club. I can’t control getting aroused when I see them. I can’t avoid them since they’re all over my campus.

I seriously think you and ChangedMan should wear horse blinkers when you are out in public. Perhaps holding a sign in front of you asking women to stay out of your sight?

 

[severus68]

Absolutely not!

In the United States of America we do not believe it is the place of government to make laws banning fashions for either male or female citizens. We are citizens of a constitutional republic, not a theocracy, and such laws would not be tolerated.

The entire concept of forcing women to cover themselves because males can not or will not control their urges is an entirely foreign and quite frankly repulsive concept to us.

If a man sexually assaults a woman in our society it is a crime (a felony to be exact). The Catholic Church would regard such an assault as a mortal sin. It does not matter if the woman is wearing a full length skirt, shorts, exercise pants, blue jeans or any other apparel. Our society expects men to control their biological urges and our laws demand it.

Self control is taught to children from an early age by both the family and the church. Those that stray from those teachings pay the consequences one way or another.

I understand that subjection of women by males in Muslim countries is the norm, but we do not and will not tolerate those traditions here in the United States.

De Oppresso Liber

YES!

 

[Melek]

NO! Perhaps you should stop looking at women as sex objects but as persons. Please do not blame women for your bad habits.

I think many of you are missing the point here. It’s unavoidable to see women on a college campus. In my high school, we had rules that girls couldn’t wear tight clothing or anything that reveals too much skin. The same rules should be applied to universities all over the country. For those of you saying such rules wouldn’t work, explain to me then why I had an easier time controlling myself back in high school when my hormones were raging more than I do now in college?

I get tempted to masturbate because of biology. Biology controls how my hormones react. Many of you from older generations didn’t have a problem with this because the fashion was nowhere near as bad.

You guys can argue all you want but there is no reason to be wearing clothes that are ridiculously tight. There is no way those kind of clothes are comfortable.

 

[maryjk]

NO! Perhaps you should stop looking at women as sex objects but as persons. Please do not blame women for your bad habits.

Gee, go to bed, and see what happens? 40+ posts about legally banning yoga pants.

OP,
Control yourself. The government doesn’t need to make laws banning styles of dress because you don’t know how to treat women.

 

[Melek]

Gee, go to bed, and see what happens? 40+ posts about legally banning yoga pants.

OP,
Control yourself. The government doesn’t need to make laws banning styles of dress because you don’t know how to treat women.

I treat women fine, thank you very much. However, their fashion can unfortunately make many men treat themselves bad by masturbating.

 

[maryjk]

I think many of you are missing the point here. It’s unavoidable to see women on a college campus. In my high school, we had rules that girls couldn’t wear tight clothing or anything that reveals too much skin. The same rules should be applied to universities all over the country. For those of you saying such rules wouldn’t work, explain to me then why I had an easier time controlling myself back in high school when my hormones were raging more than I do now in college?

You were a child in high school. Now you are a man. It is time to grow up.

I get tempted to masturbate because of biology. Biology controls how my hormones react. Many of you from older generations didn’t have a problem with this because the fashion was nowhere near as bad.

You are tempted because of biology. You act on that temptation because of free will.

You guys can argue all you want but there is no reason to be wearing clothes that are ridiculously tight. There is no way those kind of clothes are comfortable.

Yes, they are very comfortable.

 

[Ophelia23]

You’re assuming I want to turn America into Saudi Arabia. That is not true! I’m just disturbed that fashion today is so much more provocative than it was in say the 90s. It’s only going to get worse too! We are on a dangerous path my brothers and sisters. The fashion industry is destroying our morality! Satan is controlling the fashion industry.

Clearly you don’t remember the '90’s too well. While pants were baggier, shirts were a heck of a lot tighter and shorter… Not to mention the mini-skirts! And let’s delve into the 80’s. Neon yellow skin tight mini-dresses with cut outs on the sides and top. Tight acid washed jeans with holes intentionally (and strategically…) cut up the entire leg, to expose as much skin as possible… My point, this is not new.

Nobody will disagree with you that fashion by in large lacks modesty. We all want more modesty in our society. But you are young, hormonal, and easily tempted. With youth and inexperience comes the idea that we can simply force others to dress the way we would like. Don’t you see the conflict here? It’s like saying your toe hurts so to address it you’re just going to cut your leg off. It doesn’t solve anything and only leads to bigger problems. And there are bigger problems. This is part of a much bigger issue. The least effective way to convert others is to force it. We need to teach, not bully. To lead by example, not to lead with hard-headed and ill-planned law.

 

[Melek]

You are tempted because of biology. You act on that temptation because of free will.

Since such laws will probably never see the light of day, I have to take this advice. Hopefully my hormones will calm down soon so it will be easier to not be tempted to masturbate.