--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: She'd been taught that pants were…" description: "\"“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, an..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/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… ![“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/quotes/i/963/hillary-jordan-13367_clothing_she-d-been-taught-that-pants-were-inappr_2568703.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/963/hillary-jordan-13367_clothing_she-d-been-taught-that-pants-were-inappr_2568703.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/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.”” [Hillary Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-jordan/) ## 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. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Clothing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clothing/) [Double standard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/double-standard/) [Equality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/equality/) [Fashion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fashion/) [Gender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gender/) [Inappropriate Girls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inappropriate-girls-1672477/) [Legs Looked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/legs-looked-1672478/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Modesty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/modesty/) [Pants Inappropriate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pants-inappropriate-1672475/) [Pants Suggestive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pants-suggestive-1672476/) [Underneath Bulge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/underneath-bulge-1672479/) [Women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/women/) ## Related quotes > [“it was "the hardest damn thing I ever did in my life. I don't care how many feathers a man wears in his hair,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-crichton/it-was-the-hardest-damn-thing-i-ever-did-in-my-life-i-don-t-care-how/) [Michael Crichton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-crichton/) > [For me the most interesting thing about Leigh Bowery was the way he used his body as a style statement. He was a big…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boy-george/for-me-the-most-interesting-thing-about-leigh-bowery-was-the-way-he/) [Boy George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boy-george/) > [The laughter in response to my question unmasked the double standard our deconstructionists espouse. And that is precisely the double standard of atheism! It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/the-laughter-in-response-to-my-question-unmasked-the-double-standard/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [The police can go to downtown Harlem and pick up a kid with a joint in the streets. But they can't go into the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-police-can-go-to-downtown-harlem-and-pick-up-a-kid-with-a-joint/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [The Church has no double standard of morality. The moral code of heaven for both men and women is complete chastity before marriage and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/the-church-has-no-double-standard-of-morality-the-moral-code-of/) [Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/) > [“Just because a person is attractive/beautiful, this does not mean it is okay to villainize them. We always say that we cannot judge a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-joybell-c/just-because-a-person-is-attractive-beautiful-this-does-not-mean-it/) [C. JoyBell C](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-joybell-c/) > [“We�'ve all heard the statement "It�s not fair that a woman who sleeps around is a whore, but men who sleep around are studs."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-ve-all-heard-the-statement-it-s-not-fair-that-a-woman-who-sleeps/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [One of the reasons I don't trust the media is you can't have a double standard for guys you like and dislike.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-barkley/one-of-the-reasons-i-don-t-trust-the-media-is-you-can-t-have-a-double/) [Charles Barkley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-barkley/) > [When it comes to antisemitism, I have felt for a long time that there's a double standard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suella-braverman/when-it-comes-to-antisemitism-i-have-felt-for-a-long-time-that-there/) [Suella Braverman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suella-braverman/) > [Many women have made the mistake of changing their beliefs to accommodate their work; it must be the other way around. No circumstance is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-kay-ash/many-women-have-made-the-mistake-of-changing-their-beliefs-to/) [Mary Kay Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-kay-ash/) > [I think we cannot have a double standard. We cannot see our art as different from the reality. We cannot use two different sets…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ai-weiwei/i-think-we-cannot-have-a-double-standard-we-cannot-see-our-art-as/) [Ai Weiwei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ai-weiwei/) > [“It was astonishing that the pseudo wreckers, who knew perfectly well that they weren't wreckers, believed that military men and priests were being shaken…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleksandr-solzhenitsyn/it-was-astonishing-that-the-pseudo-wreckers-who-knew-perfectly-well/) [Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleksandr-solzhenitsyn/) > [I'm shocked at the sexism and double standard coming out of the far right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-mikulski/i-m-shocked-at-the-sexism-and-double-standard-coming-out-of-the-far/) [Barbara Mikulski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-mikulski/) > [I want someone that'll love me unconditionally through the good and bad. No double standard. I want something real, just once.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-want-someone-that-ll-love-me-unconditionally-through-the-good-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I think people are more likely to comment on a thin person's weight then the weight of an over weight person. Double standard?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-think-people-are-more-likely-to-comment-on-a-thin-person-s-weight/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Hillary Jordan > [“It wasn't her fault if she seemed less than human, it was the fault of them that did this to her, and them that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-jordan/it-wasn-t-her-fault-if-she-seemed-less-than-human-it-was-the-fault-of/) [Hillary Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-jordan/) > [“She prayed for that all through the night, uncertain to Whom or what, but with a feeling that almost resembled faith.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-jordan/she-prayed-for-that-all-through-the-night-uncertain-to-whom-or-what/) [Hillary Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-jordan/) > [“Death may be inevitable, but love is not. Love, you have to choose. I'll begin with that. With Love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-jordan/death-may-be-inevitable-but-love-is-not-love-you-have-to-choose-i-ll/) [Hillary Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-jordan/) > [“She reached out and stroked my hair just as she had when I was a child. I closed my eyes and let sleep take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-jordan/she-reached-out-and-stroked-my-hair-just-as-she-had-when-i-was-a/) [Hillary Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-jordan/) > [“It wasn’t just that he loved her; it was that he loved her, in particular.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-jordan/it-wasn-t-just-that-he-loved-her-it-was-that-he-loved-her-in/) [Hillary Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-jordan/) > [“How could predetermination and free will both exist? “It’s”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-jordan/how-could-predetermination-and-free-will-both-exist-it-s/) [Hillary Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-jordan/) > [“Daddy shook Pappy's hand, then Henry's, then hugged the children. At last he turned to me. Softly, in a voice meant for my ears…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-jordan/daddy-shook-pappy-s-hand-then-henry-s-then-hugged-the-children-at/) [Hillary Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-jordan/) > [When that mama worry takes ahold of a woman you can't expect no sense from her. She'll do or say anything at all and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-jordan/when-that-mama-worry-takes-ahold-of-a-woman-you-can-t-expect-no-sense/) [Hillary Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-jordan/) > [“If God is the Creator, if God englobes every single thing in the universe, then God is everything, and everything is God. God is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-jordan/if-god-is-the-creator-if-god-englobes-every-single-thing-in-the/) [Hillary Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-jordan/) > [“I talked to her just like I talk to a laboring woman. Mothers need to hear them soothing words. They just as important as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-jordan/i-talked-to-her-just-like-i-talk-to-a-laboring-woman-mothers-need-to/) [Hillary Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-jordan/) > [“To be touched with love was a kind of miracle.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-jordan/to-be-touched-with-love-was-a-kind-of-miracle/) [Hillary Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-jordan/) > [“But I must start at the beginning, if I can find it. Beginnings are elusive things. Just when you think you have hold of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-jordan/but-i-must-start-at-the-beginning-if-i-can-find-it-beginnings-are/) [Hillary Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-jordan/) > [“You’ll move if I say so,” Hap said. “For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-jordan/you-ll-move-if-i-say-so-hap-said-for-the-husband-is-the-head-of-the/) [Hillary Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-jordan/) > [This was the truth at the core of my existence: this yawning emptiness, scantily clad in rage. It had been there all along.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-jordan/this-was-the-truth-at-the-core-of-my-existence-this-yawning-emptiness/) [Hillary Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-jordan/) > [“...like the way a child hankers for a holly berry. He don't know it's poison, he just sees something pretty and red and he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-jordan/like-the-way-a-child-hankers-for-a-holly-berry-he-don-t-know-it-s/) [Hillary Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-jordan/) [Explore all 50 Hillary Jordan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-jordan/) ## More Clothing quotes > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [“You should wear whatever clothing you feel most comfortable in. Being comfortable in yourself is the best way to be attractive to others.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-rees-brennan/you-should-wear-whatever-clothing-you-feel-most-comfortable-in-being/) [Sarah Rees Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-rees-brennan/) > [Clothing doesn’t lie, it shows everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yohji-yamamoto/clothing-doesn-t-lie-it-shows-everything/) [Yohji Yamamoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yohji-yamamoto/) > [I never thought I'd have a clothing line.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boosie/i-never-thought-i-d-have-a-clothing-line/) [Boosie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boosie/) > [It's always uncomfortable for me when I take off my shirt. No one else is taking their shift off. Why is everyone else in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-lautner/it-s-always-uncomfortable-for-me-when-i-take-off-my-shirt-no-one-else/) [Taylor Lautner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-lautner/) > [The first clothing line I had was called Very Rue. Then we changed the name and moved to QVC, and the name became A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rue-mcclanahan/the-first-clothing-line-i-had-was-called-very-rue-then-we-changed-the/) [Rue McClanahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rue-mcclanahan/) > [“Twice, in half an hour, Hetty had held up Miss Barlow's plans, and prevented her from moving as quickly as possible on to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-gibbons/twice-in-half-an-hour-hetty-had-held-up-miss-barlow-s-plans-and/) [Stella Gibbons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-gibbons/) > [Clothing should be like food. There should never be a $5000 sweater. You know what should cost $5000? A car.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye-west/clothing-should-be-like-food-there-should-never-be-a-5000-sweater-you/) [Kanye West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/) > [Clothing is art. It's an expression of how you feel. I think that it's not so much a question of a certain style or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/clothing-is-art-it-s-an-expression-of-how-you-feel-i-think-that-it-s/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [I'm just showing my personality in my clothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwyane-wade/i-m-just-showing-my-personality-in-my-clothing/) [Dwyane Wade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwyane-wade/) > [That's when you know you know somebody. When you know every piece of clothing they have in their wardrobe. That's friendship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilana-glazer/that-s-when-you-know-you-know-somebody-when-you-know-every-piece-of/) [Ilana Glazer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilana-glazer/) > [I am not really interested in clothing as a conceptual art form.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/issey-miyake/i-am-not-really-interested-in-clothing-as-a-conceptual-art-form/) [Issey Miyake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/issey-miyake/) > [For me, the best way to know me is to look at my clothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rei-kawakubo/for-me-the-best-way-to-know-me-is-to-look-at-my-clothing/) [Rei Kawakubo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rei-kawakubo/) > [Art is the clothing of a revelation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/art-is-the-clothing-of-a-revelation/) [Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/) > [“In a meat-eating world, wearing leather for shoes and even clothes, the discussion of fur is childish.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-lagerfeld/in-a-meat-eating-world-wearing-leather-for-shoes-and-even-clothes-the/) [Karl Lagerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-lagerfeld/) [Browse all 336 Clothing quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clothing/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“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. 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