She'd been taught that pants were inappropriate for girls…
![“She'd been taught that pants were inappropriate for girls because they were immodest [...] If women's pants were suggestive, men's were equally so, and they revealed a great deal more of what was underneath them. There was almost always a bulge--you couldn't help but notice it--and if the pants…” quote by Hillary Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/q/img-quotes/963/hillary-jordan-13367_clothing_she-d-been-taught-that-pants-were-inappr_2568703.png)
““She'd been taught that pants were inappropriate for girls because they were immodest [...] If women's pants were suggestive, men's were equally so, and they revealed a great deal more of what was underneath them. There was almost always a bulge--you couldn't help but notice it--and if the pants were tight, you could see practically everything. And the way men were always drawing attention to it! Touching and scratching themselves with total unselfconsciousness, as if they were alone and not in public. She'd even seen Aidan do it a few times, absent-mindedly. And yet no one accused men of being improper or of encouraging sin by reminding women of what hung between their legs. She looked at herself in the mirror, irritated suddenly by the double standard. This was how her body was made. The fact that it was well made and encased in a pair of blue jeans didn't mean she was inviting anything.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The passage critiques gendered double standards in dress codes, highlighting how women's clothing is policed while men's similar behavior is ignored, exposing societal hypocrisy about bodily autonomy.
In simple terms: Women are judged for clothing, men aren't.
Key Takeaway
Challenge gender bias in dress expectations.
Themes
gender inequality
body autonomy
double standards
social norms
feminism
Mood
frustrated
critical
determined
Type
analytical
social commentary
When to use this quote
- school dress codes
- workplace attire
- media representation
- personal fashion choices
Key Concepts
Patriarchal norms
sexualization
social conditioning
Questions to Reflect On
- How do dress codes reinforce gender bias?
- What can individuals do to confront double standards?
A Different Perspective
The argument may overlook cultural variations in modesty standards.