What are your clothes saying?
Letter to the Editor
Skintight red tube top, short tight black miniskirt. Figure clearly revealed; little left to the imagination.
Who am I describing? A typical Notre Dame girl on her way to a bar or a dorm party? Yes and no.
Yes, this description fits many of my Notre Dame sisters on their way to a social event. Unfortunately it also describes one of the prostitutes among the crowd of "sinner" characters during this past weekend's performance of Guys and Dolls in Washington Hall. What does it say when everyone's favorite Friday night fashion is adopted as the costume for a prostitute?
Some may argue that it doesn't say anything, that the girls who go out in these tight clothes simply think they look "pretty" in them. But like it or not these clothes make a statement and that statement is not "Let's have an intelligent and enjoyable conversation possibly leading to a healthy friendship or romance." You can figure out for yourself what these clothes are saying — and I don't think the majority of my fellow Notre Dame girls want to be saying it.
I don't think they truly want a guy to talk to them just because they look sexy. I don't think they want a relationship to start based on the allure of skintight clothes. I think deep down we all want a guy to be attracted to us because of our intelligence, humor, integrity, loyalty and kindness. Not because of our cleavage.
Girls, take a look in the mirror this weekend and ask yourself honestly what your outfit is saying. There's nothing wrong with looking attractive as long as you are still respecting your body instead of flaunting it. Do your clothes say "I respect myself and am proud to look so nice" or do they say "I want to seduce you"?
Do you really want to say that?
Do you think it's right to say that?
Are you prepared for the answer?
Sheila Payne
sophomore
Cavanaugh Hall
February 13, 2001
All Viewpoint Stories for Wednesday, February 14, 2001
