What does modesty mean to teens?
At the first Miss America pageant in the 1920s, New Jersey police told contestants that if they didn't change into more "modest" clothing, they would arrest them for indecent exposure. What were they wearing? One-piece bathing suits that came down to the thigh. At that time, it was customary for people to dress modestly. This isn't so today with ever-increasing dress codes at schools, and teens showing more and more skin.
If I meet someone for the first time and he or she is wearing something indecent, my first impression of that person is lower than it would've been otherwise. I'm not saying that to degrade people, but skimpy clothing trends have gotten out of hand. This wave of indecency affects teens. Teens who see a favorite actor, sports star or singing sensation wearing vulgar clothes want to dress that way, too.
Girls aren't the only ones dressing immodestly. Boys sometimes wear clothes that are too long, too baggy and too low on the hips. Many guys refuse to wear pants that don't cover their shoes.
It's not that I disrespect teens who wear these kind of clothes; I just don't think it's right to overexpose yourself. When fashion models and celebrities endorse skimpy clothing, teens who dress modestly start thinking they need to show more skin, too.
Kindred Motes is a Brewer High School freshman.
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