Leggings stretch over modesty issues

Leggings — oh, how those spandex-polyester blends raise quite a dispute over modesty.

Whether monochromatic or technicolor, patterned or solid, reindeer or unicorns prints, these stretchy devils have sparked countless blog debates and Facebook crusades. And I’m sick of it. As in — my eyeballs will revolt if I read another post about it, and I will go blind, hopefully temporarily.

Let me get started by saying I believe in modesty. I believe that by dressing appropriately, a woman receives more credibility with herself and others.

Honestly though, I’m tired of all the fuss over leggings. So a person writes a blog about how they think leggings are immodest. That’s her opinion, and she is entitled to it. I read the “Why I Choose to No Longer Wear Leggings” post by Veronica Partridge, and I thought she expressed her opinion about the matter respectfully.

My problem is with the argument that by wearing leggings, I’m being objectified by men. As a woman, I find it frustrating to be clothed from my neck to my ankles and still be seen as a sexual object.

While I see the point that leggings are form fitting, are they worse than tight jeans? Especially ones with considerable butt-bling clearly meant to draw the eye?

I’m tired of this beaten-down philosophy that men are the victims, that women are to blame for their lustful thoughts and actions. Guys: women are not the villains here. We do not sit, scheming and twirling our mustaches like old black-and-white movie fiends, thinking up ways to be sexually objectified. Some women may like that sort of thing, but I don’t, and I’m willing to bet a majority of women don’t want that either.

I feel like we have limited options here. Either women don’t wear leggings and the millions of men everywhere slowly unfold out of their fetal positions from being “victimized,” or women continue to wear leggings and men exercise self-control. Maybe that’s a little harsh, but I’m just so sick and tired of the “she was asking for it” dribble. Especially when a woman is fully clothed.

So here’s what I think: if a woman finds leggings immodest and doesn’t want to wear them, good for her. If a woman thinks leggings are modest and decides to wear them, good for her. Whether or not you consider leggings modest is a personal choice.

I grow tired of roving eyes and roving thoughts being blamed on fully-clad women, which — let’s be honest — has been happening since the beginning of the human race.

I find the leggings issue just another runaround about who’s to blame for immorality, and once again the finger is pointed at women. It’s a one-dimensional solution to a two-dimensional problem and, in the words of Forest Gump, that’s all I have to say about that.

— Katherine Lambert is a print journalism major minoring in health education and promotion. She enjoys cooking, swimming, running, eating chocolate and reading any and all books she can find. Email her at katherine.l.larsen@gmail.com.