opressiveness of our clothing

[jeanne]

So I was in an Internet discussion on how opressive wearing muslim dresses was for muslim women, when it got me thinking of the rest of us. Isn't all clothing somehow opressive? I love women in uncomfortable clothes? Just the fact that women make such an effort to be pretty, and suffer through all kinds of shit, is half the joy of seeing them.

You just like making women uncomfortable, Tom. In many ways.

Would you dress differently if you could wear anything at any time?

Yes I would. I'd always dress in whatever way I chose on any given day.

Do you like the oppresiveness of dresscodes, (which I must say I do to a extent)?

Yuck.

Is worrying about looks only distressing and painful?

I think this depends on your perspective. If you only think about the parts of your physical self you don't like, then yes.

Is being dressed like god intended us to be, (ie naked) any less opressive? Are we just hiding our bodies with clothing, or making them prettier?

Yes! I love to be naked! And we are both hiding our bodies and making them prettier - all at the same time.

[newby]

Yes! I love to be naked! And we are both hiding our bodies and making them prettier - all at the same time.

Jeanne...after seeing the pic Fox took, i vote you be naked as often as possible

[jeanne]

Jeanne...after seeing the pic Fox took, i vote you be naked as often as possible

You are too sweet! And I am naked as often as possible - and as soon as I get these teenagers out of the house, it'll be possible a lot more often!

[Hime]

I like dressing up, especially when my husband or gf is around to appreciate it. Personally, I'm a big fan of clothes that restrict and re-shape the body, like corsets, push-up bra, high heels, etc. It's exciting to feel like I'm transforming myself for the person I love.

And just to be pedantic, the full head-to-toe coverings that people think of as "traditional Muslim dress" are by no means an essential part of Islam. The Koran says to dress modestly and to cover the hair and the bosom, and throughout the history of Islam different cultures have interpreted that in different ways. The full burqa is associated with the Wahabbi sect, which was born as recently as the 18th century and is much harder on women than traditional Islam. Unfortunately, due to its connection to the wealthy and powerful al-Saud royal family, wahabbism has become extremely widespread in recent years and has smothered many local traditions in the Muslim world, including many more liberal interpretations of the rules for women's dress.