Recently, I found an old article about an Italian beach town whose mayor is trying to make his town a better place to live by banning "revealing" clothing. I posted the link on Facebook and an interesting discussion ensued.

The discussion was prompted by a line in the article stating that a consumer group was arguing that banning "revealing" clothing "is a step backwards for feminism." I said that I can't understand what is so "feminist" about wearing skanky clothing and asked how it would be good for feminism. One of my friends responded with, "[i]ts not good for "feminism" its is just a form of idiot rationalization that you get to dress like a whore and somehow that makes you more liberated and powerful (sic)."

It's amazing that there are women who actually think they're getting ahead by falling behind; becoming less of an object by becoming more of an object. And that's what you are, when you show off what you've got, because men, in general, are very visual creatures. So, if you think you're getting one over on them by showing off your cleavage then you are sorely mistaken.

Perhaps you think you're "winning" because you think that by showing your assets you are somehow in control. Well, whores are not in control because the man doesn't have to buy sex from them, he chooses to do it. Sure, he may have a little impulse control problem that facilitates the transaction, but ultimately he's the one who makes the decision. The Heidi Fleiss's of the world think they're in control because they have something that men want, but, again, the men are the ones who make the final choice. And if men ever got a clue, then you'd be out of a job. And there are a few smart men out there who've figured out that slutting around isn't such a good idea. What if they started to convince other men of that, eh?

According to the dictionary, "feminism" is the theory of the political, economic, and social equality of the sexes. When you use your body to achieve these goals (e.g. by wearing revealing clothing) you are not, in effect achieving those goals because you are still trapping yourself in the objectification of bygone ages. True equality would not require the degradation (yes, that's what it is; let's call an orange an orange, okay) of one of the sexes in order to advance it.

Do yourself, and everyone else, a favor and cover up. If you want true equality then it must be achieved through the right channels.