That depends. Being modest does not mean wearing a really short tight
skirt. Modesty is a way of behaving. Just like there are different kinds
of pants, there are different kinds of skirts. Someone who wears
skin-tight jeans is "covered up" but is far from modest.
Many frum women wear long skirts and tights underneath in order to cover
their legs as well as to hide the split between their legs above their
knees. It is considered improper for a woman to show that split, which is
something that no pair of pants is going to hide.
>Your comment also suggests that women hold responsibility for whether
>or not they are treated like sex objects. Noone should treat anyone that
>way and the incentive for not doing so should come from within.
Yes, that is true. But it is more likely that a woman is going to be
treated as a sex object if she dresses the part. And it is a denial of
human nature to say that a woman should dress the way she wants and men
should restrain themselves.
>A very
>essential part of Judaism lies in the individual's struggle to perfect
>him or herself. We should struggle with ourselves to see value in others
>beyond their outward appearance the same way we should struggle to
>perfect ourselves in other ways.
Yes, that is true, But we are also not supposed to put a stumbling block
before a blind man. While we can work to improve ourselves, it is not fair
to say that we can do whatever we want because we should all do what is
right. We have to deal with the fact that people are human and therefore
not perfect.
>So why can't a woman wear pants?
I think the answer to your question is that it is not enough for a woman to
wear skirts. It has to be part of a generally modest demeanor. But
remember that a woman who wears pants will definately be showing the split
above her knees, which is forbiden.
I think that your questions come from a general feeling that it is no big
deal to show your body because it is generally covered and after all,
people should rise above it. But the reality is that we are failable
humans, and it is not possible to do so.
There is a book by [Rabbi] Manis Freedman titled "Why Doesn't Anyone Blush
Anymore?" about how many things are so "normal" in this society that we do
not recognize that this is not the way it has "always" been. The Torah
teaches us how to behave so that we do not take for granted contact with
the opposite sex. While for most people it is the most normal thing in the
world, the Torah prohibits men and women from getting too close to each
other so that contact, when it is made, is special and holy. While this is
"abnormal" in most of American society today, there is no reason to think
that this is "better" than the way it was before.
Nechama Cox
nechama@borealis.com