Log in

Login to your account

Username *
Password *
Remember Me
  • Forgot your password?
  • Forgot your username?
Facebook linkedin Twitter RSS
logo
  • Home
  • Elana
    • Dr. Elana Maryles Sztokman
    • Elana's Books
    • Media Appearances
    • Speaking Engagements
    • Consulting Services
    • Resources
  • Blog
    • Gender Issues in Education
    • Gender in Judaism and Orthodoxy
    • Gender in Israel
    • Politics and Leadership
    • Economics, business and working life
    • Body Issues
    • Men, boys and masculinities
    • Spirituality
    • Social Activism
    • Random Musings
  • Books
    • The Men's Section
      • Book Events
      • Book Q&A
      • Book Reviews
    • Educating in the Divine Image
      • Book Events
      • Book Q&A
      • Book Reviews
    • The War on Women in Israel
    • Masala Mamas
      • Book Events
      • Book Q&A
      • Book Reviews
  • Contact
  • Jewish Feminism Telecourse
    • About
    • FAQ
    • Sign Up
    • BRAND NEW TELECOURSE from JewFem.com
    • Desire: Favorite Readings
  • Discussions
Print

Dignified in Pants

JewFem Blog: Body Issues
Elana Sztokman
Monday, 06 February 2012
4478 Hits
0 Comments

Just because I wear pants, it doesn’t mean I lack dignity. Or self-respect. Or even modesty.

Which is why I find pieces, like this one, suggesting that dignity for a woman means excessive body-cover, so offensive.Wearing pants: It's not about modesty but about obedience

When rabbis or anyone else claim that women need to cover their skin, their elbows, ankles and necks for the sake of “dignity” or “self-respect” or “protecting sexuality,” what that means is that people who dress like me are not dignified. We are overly sexualized. We might as well be walking naked on the subway platform. But It is just not true.

My body is mine alone, and I project that in my clothes. Not floor-sweeping skirts, not scarves to my forehead or necklines that choke. No, I wear pants, sometimes jeans, sometimes shorts and, yes, sometimes even sleeveless tops. I wear clothes that are comfortable, that feel good, that let me move and sit on the floor or in a chair, that enable me to ride a bike or climb a tree if I so choose, that let me wear my hair in a ponytail or in a scrunchie or even just down. Ultimately my hair is mine alone, as are my elbows, my neck, my ankles and skin. Before I look in a mirror, I look inward and ask myself how I feel about my body at this moment, and I let my inner voice of self-respect guide me.

In addition Gavriella Lerner’s assertion of choice followed by an admission that she does what she believes is expected of her according to halacha is a classic Orthodox non-sequitur. As in, I choose to do what I’m told.


Read more: http://blogs.forward.com/sisterhood-blog/150237/#ixzz1lbssqs7z
Tweet
Share on Pinterest
Tags:
tzniut pants skirts
The slippery fish of news; or gender, politics and...
On Rav Bina, and What Passes for 'Love'

About the author

Elana Sztokman

Elana Sztokman

The JewFem blog is written by the award-winning writer Dr. Elana Maryles Sztokman, former Executive Director of JOFA, the Jewish Orthodox Feminist Alliance. Elana's books include The Men’s Section: Orthodox Jewish Men in an Egalitarian World, which won the 2012 National Jewish Book Council Award for Women's Studies, Educating in the Divine Image: Gender Issues in Orthodox Jewish Day Schools, which won the 2013 National Jewish Book Council Award for Education (co-authored with Chaya Gorsetman), and the forthcoming The War on Women in Israel: How Religious Radicalism is Stifling the Voice of a Nation Elana writes frequently at The Forward, Haaretz, The Jerusalem Post, Lilith, and more.

Author's recent posts
More posts from author
Tuesday, 02 February 2021 How lockdown is affecting my relationship with my body
Sunday, 31 January 2021 Conversations with my Body: Now on sale
Thursday, 28 January 2021 Amy Coney Barret and Me: Thoughts on women who uphold the patriarchy
Tuesday, 26 January 2021 Hard lessons I learned from four years of doing media opposite Trump supporters
Sunday, 24 January 2021 Merav Michaeli for Prime Minister

Related Posts

On modesty, sexuality, and watching girls' bodies: part 2

JewFem Blog: Gender Issues in Education

What 'Provocative' Justifies

JewFem Blog: Gender in Israel
 

Comments

Already Registered? Login Here
No comments made yet. Be the first to submit a comment

Copyright © 2015 Elana Sztokman. All Rights Reserved.
Website created by LiteSites