How Short is Too Short?

    

Jessica Simpson

    

 How would you feel if you saw a fifteen-year-old girl wearing very short shorts that reveal her buttocks with a tight skimpy top that exposes her midriff walking down the street?  Is she "on trend" because the latest celebrity was shown in a magazine to be wearing the same outfit in public?  Is this type of clothing appropriate for a young girl?

Miley Cyrus Booty Shorts

    

   Over the decades tops and bottoms have become progressively shorter in length.  What was once considered modest has now been renamed too long.  During the 18th and 19th centuries, women were advised to wear conservative clothing to preserve their modesty.  They only showed their neck or forearms, if any skin at all.  But by the 90s, there was an increase in popularity for crop tops, low- rise jeans, and tight shirts as women's clothing became more provocative.  In today's society, clothing styles are constantly changing.  Both adolescents and adults are faced with the issues of what is considered too short and provocative.  With this being said, are we leaving enough space for the imagination to grow?  As said in Vanity Fair, "the fewer clothes you have on, the more fashionable you are."  

     What kind of role models are we creating for our nations youth?  Celebrities these days are seen wearing almost no clothing, which makes it hard for young girls to understand what they should or shouldn't be wearing.  During this time of their lives, girls are looking for role models and guidance on how to present themselves.  As said by a CNN news reporter, "Often, fashion for teenagers is the result of the desire to be like a celebrity.  Celebrities are perhaps the greatest influences on teenagers in the modern world, and they can have a huge impact on a teens' ideas about fashion and its importance." I would have to agree by saying if a teenager is a huge fan of a celebrity they will try everything in their power to imitate them, which is causing teens to be pressured or interested in certain fashion trends.  Take for example, the 2013 VMA's, where millions of viewers saw Miley Cyrus's provocative clothing ensembles, which included a teddy bear leotard and a nude bikini- in other words, a birthday suit.  Adolescent girls think that it's okay to dress like this even though celebrities portray a different lifestyle.  

       In today’s media, women are often shown dressed provocatively and portrayed as sex objects. The media makes it extremely difficult for young women to not pay so much attention to their bodies.   An article from Seventeen Magazine, stated: “73 percent of people say seeing celebrities and models who dress sexy makes you feel like you need to dress sexier too, and 77 percent say seeing those images makes you feel like you’re not sexy enough. ...seeing your body as a sexual object not only affects how you dress, but how you act.”  Therefore, making these children want to buy the type of clothing they are wearing.  Celebrities have been negatively impacting the way children view what is now considered, the "norm". 

 

     Open any fashion magazine or watch any TV shows, and you'll see that the media creates unrealistic expectations for adolescent girls appearances.  There's no denying that our media and culture are obsessed with women's looks.  Magazines feature numerous celebrities sporting short and provocative clothing that advertise, "they should look 'hot, not later but now" (Essex).  Through my own experiences, when I was a teen, I used to flip through magazines and point out how cute this or that looked on a celebrity.  I wished I had the exact same outfit as they did.  I looked up to these celebrity girls as a role model to maintain the type of clothing they had.  It's true, celebrities on the cover of magazines, or seen on the red carpet during award shows could influence so many people.  Could you be dressed the way you are because of the advertisements you see?   

    

    In conclusion, it has become almost the norm to see someone sport an outfit on the verge of lingerie.  With clothing exposing more of the body, people have crossed the line from showing a little skin to showing every nook and cranny even if it's not appropriate to be seen on children.  One has to remember that fashion sells more than just clothes; it sells values and standards.  Adolescent girls are so easily influenced by the media, celebrity world, and current fashion trends that if someone informed them that wearing nothing but a thong was in "Cosmo", they would be compelled to buy it.  The media and celebrities should remember that children are watching their every steps, and keep in mind not to wear overly provocative clothing when being chased by the "paparazzi", at red carpet events, or in everyday life.

Ethical Questions:
1) At what point do the clothes that we wear and see on other people become too short and provocative?

2)   How does the media affect how women dress?
3) What type of role moles are we creating for the youth?

  Resources:

  www.vanityfair.com

ww.wwd.com

  www.becomegorgeous.com

  www.pinterest.com 

  www.matchmove.com 

  www.apa.org 

  www.ccn.com