Up Front by Emma Hart

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Up Front: That's Inappropriate!

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  • Jackie Clark, in reply to Jacqui Dunn,

    I was asking, Jacqui, because I did go to Marsden, and your description of boaters etc sounded very familiar, is all.

    Mt Eden, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 3136 posts Report

  • Jackie Clark,

    Once again, I go to edit a post, and save it only for it to disappear in the ether. Where’s the complaints dept?

    Mt Eden, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 3136 posts Report

  • Tamsin6,

    Came across a little girl called 'Diamante' the other day. So, not even semi-precious?

    London • Since Dec 2007 • 133 posts Report

  • Tamsin6, in reply to Tess Rooney,

    Short skirts highlight the upper thighs. They skim just below the buttocks. As a woman walks in a short skirt her hip movement is accentuated and her thighs can be seen rubbing one another.

    None of this causes promiscuity.

    However it does send a sexual signal. I’m saying we should reign in teenagers from giving out sexual signals. If you disagree with me, fine.

    Tess, I so disagree with you. Quite apart from your lack of reasoned argument about why young girls should be prevented from giving out sexual signals (why not? They have a sexuality, it is theirs, why can't they explore it?), on the one hand you mention upthread that netball skirts are short for practicality - I've worn them, they ain't practical - shorts now, for netball, would be excellent, and wouldn't lead to those irritating little boys looking up your skirt as you play netball - presumably trying to get a load of all those sexual signals you are sending with those thighs rubbing together.

    Also, around here, in a very Muslim populated area of East London, trousers are discouraged in certain schools, unless paired with a shapeless skirt or tunic to completely conceal the pubic area. That way, I suppose, we could pretend young girls don't have a pubis, and therefore no-one (including the girl herself presumably) will think of using it. FFS.

    London • Since Dec 2007 • 133 posts Report

  • Greville Whittle,

    The idea that I'm having the most trouble with is that young women are somehow supposed to be responsible for the way others interpret the way they dress/act etc.

    Regardless of how you, heh, dress it up, it's just another form of the old "Look how she's dressed, she totally wanted it" bullshit.

    Funnily enough when I went to Massey in the early 90s, one of my girlfriends was branded a slut by some of my friends for not having sex. Her supposed crime was to talk open and honestly about sex, state that she enjoyed it, and give clear and coherent reasons for not wanting to have any for a little while. I on the other hand, enjoyed the refreshing lack of confusion (on my part).

    BTW Older members of our KAOS club used to speak of their Christchurh bretheren with awe and fear in equal measure :)

    Hamiltron • Since Oct 2008 • 50 posts Report

  • FletcherB,

    Came across a little girl called ‘Diamante’ the other day. So, not even semi-precious?

    Name your child 'value-less fake copy of something precious'?

    That shows a distinct lack of thought....

    West Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 893 posts Report

  • Danielle,

    Doesn't Mitsubishi have a model of car called the Diamante? I always thought that was ridiculous.

    Tess's rather... expressive... description of short skirts was more thought than I have ever put into the entire 'sexual signals' issue. Obviously pondering how best to repress all teenagers makes everything so much hotter!

    Charo World. Cuchi-cuchi!… • Since Nov 2006 • 3828 posts Report

  • giovanni tiso,

    Doesn’t Mitsubishi have a model of car called the Diamante? I always thought that was ridiculous.

    I love random Italian words on Asian cars and dream of one day owning a Suzuki Cappuccino.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report

  • Jolisa,

    And who doesn't want a Nissan Cedric (named after Little Lord Fauntleroy)?

    Auckland, NZ • Since Nov 2006 • 1472 posts Report

  • Andre Alessi,

    Or Spanish words for that matter, such as Pajero.

    Devonport, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 864 posts Report

  • Jolisa,

    Ha! Of course that would be an SUV.

    Sorry, SUV-shaming. Not cool.

    Auckland, NZ • Since Nov 2006 • 1472 posts Report

  • Lucy Stewart,

    Obviously pondering how best to repress all teenagers makes everything so much hotter!

    Effectively repressing sexual behaviour requires so much more consideration of its details and potential outlets, until everything becomes hyper-sexualised and hand-holding is one step away from fornication. Considered outside the social consequences, it's almost elegant.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 2105 posts Report

  • giovanni tiso,

    My mother vividly remembers being tucked into bed by nuns when she was prepubescent, and the edict that her arms should stay outside the blankets, even in winter - of course she had no idea why.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report

  • Andre Alessi, in reply to Jolisa,

    I would be a bad person for suggesting SUV owners were asking for it, wouldn't I?

    After all, noone would ever blame an SUV owner for leading people on into thinking that they are actually wakers.

    Devonport, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 864 posts Report

  • Jolisa,

    Obviously pondering how best to repress all teenagers makes everything so much hotter!

    Not just hotter, but as Lucy points out, way more philosophically exciting.

    I reckon most, if not all, of the moral panic over teen sexuality and its expression is pinned on girls simply because they're the ones who bear the risk of pregnancy.

    Cotton frocks of whatever length are clearly an inadequate contraceptive (ditto hats, gloves, trousers, patent-leather shoes, the average level of hygiene of the average teenage boy, etc) and will, as this thread has shown, inevitably become fetishized beyond the point of reason. A different policy approach is needed.

    How about if, instead of dickering fruitlessly about hemlines, we just lowered the age of same-sex consent to, say, 13, while simultaneously raising the age of heterosexual consent to, arbitrarily, first year at university?

    Struggling to see the flaw in my cunning plan...

    Auckland, NZ • Since Nov 2006 • 1472 posts Report

  • andin, in reply to giovanni tiso,

    They probably had to tie the boys arms to the bedposts.

    raglan • Since Mar 2007 • 1891 posts Report

  • Lucy Stewart, in reply to Jolisa,

    Struggling to see the flaw in my cunning plan…

    Most of the people who need placating don't seem to remember gay teenagers exist?

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 2105 posts Report

  • Megan Wegan,

    We’ve gone nine pages here and Tess’s argument still boils down to “short skirts lead to sex, teenagers having sex is bad, therefore short skirts are bad” without any actual attempt to prove either of the first two assertions, though a nice side-order of “and I had sex as a teenager and I regret it, so everyone else will, too!”. It still comes down, in the end, to a wish to judge women on their sexual behaviour, and an assumption that their dress says something about that behaviour: but this is labeled “concern”. Hence the frustration.

    Emma, I'll go you halves in that pony for Lucy, kay?

    Welly • Since Jul 2008 • 1275 posts Report

  • Danielle,

    everything becomes hyper-sexualised and hand-holding is one step away from fornication

    Yes! Which reminded me of this: The Modesty Survey, in which several hundred teenage Christian boys get kind of freaky about what their female counterparts are wearing. (Example: over 50% of them think a shrug draws too much attention to the chestal region.)

    Emma, I’ll go you halves in that pony for Lucy, kay?

    I'll pitch in.

    Charo World. Cuchi-cuchi!… • Since Nov 2006 • 3828 posts Report

  • Jolisa,

    My mother vividly remembers being tucked into bed by nuns when she was prepubescent, and the edict that her arms should stay outside the blankets, even in winter – of course she had no idea why.

    If the dorm was an unheated one, perhaps it was the nun equivalent of Billy Connolly's suggestion of sitting on your hand till it falls asleep?

    Auckland, NZ • Since Nov 2006 • 1472 posts Report

  • Jolisa,

    The Modesty Survey, in which several hundred teenage Christian boys get kind of freaky about what their female counterparts are wearing. (Example: over 50% of them think a shrug draws too much attention to the chestal region.)

    A quote from the front page:

    Dress for the glory of God

    Well, duh. Who do you think gave me this magnificent chestal region?

    Auckland, NZ • Since Nov 2006 • 1472 posts Report

  • Megan Wegan, in reply to Danielle,

    I was planning to wear a shrug to the pub with Emma on Friday night. Now I have to.

    Welly • Since Jul 2008 • 1275 posts Report

  • Danielle, in reply to Jolisa,

    The 'free text' answers are my favourites.

    For those of you trying to be modest, thank you, thank you, thank you! I certainly notice it and am grateful for it. For those of you who aren't sure about modesty, it is hard enough for us guys as it is; please don't make it harder.

    I see what you did there. Snerk.

    Charo World. Cuchi-cuchi!… • Since Nov 2006 • 3828 posts Report

  • Martin Lindberg,

    I see what you did there. Snerk.

    Oh no - too much fun on that site. Must. Do. Work...

    Stockholm • Since Jul 2009 • 802 posts Report

  • Megan Wegan, in reply to Danielle,

    I am too scared to open Jezebel on this immensely slow connection, but if I remember rightly, the comments on that post were awesome.

    Welly • Since Jul 2008 • 1275 posts Report

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