I found the original post of this thread infuriating and offensive. I had to think hard before posting this rebuttal. I tried to word this with candor and clarity but civility.
I think women get a whole lot of unreasonable judging about what they wear and what they look like in public. If there's no makeup and simple hair, then they don't "look after themselves" or keep themselves "attractive". If they wear clothing that's revealing, tight, or exposes skin then they are accused of being eye candy and chasing the attention of men--being deliberately "over attractive"!
This obnoxious harassment of women and girls and being judged on appearances is now normalized starting in school, where girls are sent home for exposing a midriff, shirt skirts, no bra, coloring their hair purple (or anything eccentric) or other "distracting" appearances. Dress codes in school almost universally apply only to girls. There is loads of documentation of this passion for controlling girls to the advantage of boys. Because often the code is cited as being in place so as not to distract or stimulate boys. Boys get to stay in school and attend classes and girls are sent home to change their clothes. Some are suspended if they persist against the dress codes. How girls dress is more important than how much time they spend in school!
So now we get women who write criticisms of women wearing clothes they like to be seen in in a GYM (institutions dedicated to improving the health and looks of our bodies!!). This isn't old fashioned modesty standards from the OP and others. Or just fussy overbearing opinions. This is making shame where none is valid. This is judgemental unfairness that burdens women every day in every way in all kinds of places. Not just gyms. Not just in recreation or at leisure. In schools, in business, in motherhood and marriage.
We all have to mind our business about what women look like and stand up against this kind of constant unfairness and unreasonable standards and expectations.
Let's produce generations of men who value women beyond their looks. It starts with teaching schoolboys not to be distracted by girls' clothing so girls don't have to be sent home just so boys can keep learning properly.
And it starts with women having opinions of other women that they actually keep to themselves. Think what you must and feel however you justify your judgemental nosy hostility, but stop the gossip about other women, stop posting these kinds of "examples" of what is wrong or bad or inappropriate from other women, and stop letting yourself perpetuate standards that are never applied to men.
Have self consciousness about your role in making other women self conscious about their looks. Self respect for women comes from other women respecting them for their contributions and skills and kindnesses, rather than frowning and rudely disrespecting women for the way they choose to show their bodies in any manner.
If you feel chastised for your meanness and unfairness, don't chalk it up to being silly or not with the times. Own your attitude and change it. Learn your responsibility to stop perpetuating this way of hurting women and stop yourself. Then stop other women, the way I am trying here.
Women are half the world. Is the best we can do is tell each other what we're "supposed" to look like?
For shame, OP.
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