I think that the frum world's claim that tznius decreases
the objectification of women, refocusing attention from her body to her inner
self, is a misunderstanding of how modesty mores affect objectification. Their
model assumes that it's a straight line, like this:
I think it's really a "U" like this:
(Graphs are for illustration only. They are not based on
anything other than my speculation.)
Probably true, although I would nitpick on the exact positions you've placed things on the graph - you honestly think burkas are as objectifying as porn?
ReplyDeleteYes. Both make a woman's sexuality her only important feature. Porn tries to sell her sexuality, and burkas try to hide it.
DeletePorn's only aim is to sell her sexuality. Burkas may originally have been solely to hide sexuality, but to a great extent are now cultural, and hence mostly have a limited effect on the perception people have of the women wearing them.
DeleteWhat is their perception of women who *don't* wear them? Are they prust? Is there something wrong with a woman who would allow a man to see her without one? Can men be expected to control themselves, or is it up to the women to hide their lascivious existence?
DeleteSure, they're cultural. But their purpose is to hide women's sexuality in a culture that sees women as walking sex.
Not denied. It's to what extent I'm arguing about.
DeleteI love these very unscientific graphs :) It's very true, and says a whole page-worth in a simple visual.
ReplyDeleteHey G3! I haven't been by for a long time, glad to see that you are still blogging. I lot of skeptic blogs have ended, but I think there is still plenty more territory to cover.
ReplyDeleteAs far as tzniyut, I think that the "objectification" argument that is used by many Orthodox spokespeople is just a form of apologetic, is disingenuous, and has nothing to do with the real reason for women's modesty, which is to try to prevent men from getting sexually stimulated. If objectification were the real reason, you wouldn't have many other traditions that do objectify women, such as the "lo asani isha", "kniya" of women for betrothal, and the "selling" of girls to marriage.
This is classic horseshoe theory.
ReplyDeleteIt's called the Theiss Titillation Theorum
ReplyDelete