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Erin Franco

Earthquakes caused by too much cleavage?!

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2010 27 Apr

This article inspired me to write this little post today. An American college student called for women to dress as immodestly as possible for the day (last Monday) in a massive “science experiment” that will disprove the ridiculous remarks made by an Iranian cleric that, “Many women who do not dress modestly…lead young men astray, corrupt their chastity, and spread adultery in society, which increases earthquakes.” 

My comments on earthquakes caused by too much cleavage? 

Of course I don’t agree that a lack of modesty causes earthquakes. Or that Girls Behaving Badly is the sole cause of our culture’s rampant adultery, broken relationships, divorce and general disbelief in the possibility of a lifetime of free, total, faithful and fruitful love. 

However, I do think that our culture’s general acceptance of sexy clothing is a symptom of an underlying disrespect–make that a lack of understanding–of the God-given dignity of both men and women. 

My comments on BoobQuake 2010? 
Wearing something to blatantly inspire lust in men isn’t respectful to men. It’s manipulative. Even if we don’t know it or mean to do it. If girls only understood just how much their clothing affects men–and how gorgeous we already are to them!–we’d all realize that.    
We don’t have to show off our stuff in order for men (at least the nice ones we’d think more than two seconds about spending a life and having babies with) to think we’re the most beautiful creations of God they’ve ever seen. They are hardwired to love both the beauty of a woman’s form and the sweetness of her heart. Dressing modestly helps them to remember that they like the heart part too! 🙂
Dressing modestly doesn’t mean you have to be frumpy, wear a sack, or never wear anything that flatters your figure again. It doesn’t mean we have to be ashamed of the blessings of any God-given-especially-good-looking body parts. Modesty just helps the good guys be good and reign in their thoughts out of respect for you.

A friend of mine once told me that one of the guy friends she most respected explained to her that even “good” guys have lustful thoughts pop into their heads; instead of taking those thoughts and running with them, however, those guys throw them out with the trash.

Another point? Let me creep you out by reminding you that “men” aren’t just the cute ones we want to notice us: “men” include our fathers, brothers, rabbis, priests, teachers and husbands (etc.!)–men who truly want to keep their minds and hearts clean and clear. 

We’re not responsible for what men think, but all of us are responsible for loving and respecting one another. In my eyes, dressing modestly is a wonderful way for me, as a woman, to communicate love and respect to myself and men.
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  1. Michael says

    May 10, 2010 at 3:37 am

    Very well written Erin. I wish many more people would read and understand this issue the way you do. And I almost fell out of my seat laughing at the "BoobQuake 2010"…

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Hi there!

I'm a south Louisiana girl, Catholic wife, writer, speaker, and mother of six. Since I started my blog way back in 2009, life has been a roller coaster of babies, plot twists and a plane crash or two. I've been chronicling things here as I've been learning to love and suffer and laugh and trust in the goodness of God in the ordinary and the extraordinary--with a little espresso and a lot of Divine Mercy. Read More…

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