A rant about immodesty

I am 18M, living in a western country. When warmer seasons arrive, both men and women, though most often the latter, begin dressing in clothing that is objectively immodest. Short shorts, cleavage, cropped shirts, short skirts, or, in men, being shirtless. However, once again, this is rarer in men and more frequent in women (though still existing in men, as well).

I have very rarely spoken out against immodesty, and even less directly to the immodestly-dressed person (perhaps once or twice in a situtation relating to Churchwear). However, it seems that any time I do speak out against immodest clothing choices, I am faced with a very similar reply, such as, «well, you shouldn’t be looking, and it’s fully on you if you fall into lust».

While it is true that it is my responsibility if I fall into lust, it seems wholly unfair that many men including myself, and sometimes women, have to be recurrently anxious not to look at what often seems to be the majority of young women who are dressed in very revealing clothing. Furthermore, Christ taught, "Woe to that man through whom temptation arises!"

I have been told that this type of clothing is often worn because of «freedom»; but what is the point of freedom if, by flashing intimate parts of yourself to express your sexuality or sometimething of a similar nature, you turn that which is intimate and special, reserved for intimacy between two married spouses, into something which is no longer special or intimate as the hundreds of people you may walk past behold these parts? Men and women are valuable, and immodesty serves to devalue that which is sacred, such as sex.

I know that there are women who dress this way to get attention. But in dressing as such, you may mostly gain attention from the «wrong» sort—those who value sex, pleasure, and your physical body more than you as a person; i.e., those who may simply want to use you for their own pleasure. And this makes sense. Our society pushes this clothing unto young women who may feel «not good enough» or «not beautiful enough» if they choose to wear modest clothing. And I know how important this can be to women. Yet since secular society seeks to worship sex as its highest ideal, young girls and women struggle with their physical appearance if they choose modesty.

I am writing this because I am well aware that I and many others are tired of being forced to see these things seemingly everywhere we look, constantly having to be very careful not to fall into temptation. Yet I also write this as this has spread to the Mass, as well. When I am sitting in the pews, I do not, at all, want to worry about having to not look at someone who is dressed in very revealing clothing with cleavage being visible to many. Could we not make at least a small effort in dressing modestly when going to the House of God to stand before the Holy of Holies, receiving the True Body and Blood of Christ? We go to Church, not to draw attention to ourselves, but rather to behold God.

Yet I also hear the retaliational claim of «well Jesus accepted the prostitute, and He would accept someone immodestly dressed». Though God’s love is unconditional, do not think that, just because He would accept an immodestly dressed prostitute that He would be completely happy with you choosing to dress immodestly. If God is clearly against immodesty, which He is, but makes an exception to those who do not have modest clothing (e.g., a prostitute), then why should you dress immodestly? Is that not abusing His love and grace?

Now again, I am not telling you what to wear or not. I am encouraging you to reconsider your choice if you do dress immodestly. Thank you for understanding. God bless.