other than rugby players (eek!) and these two burly guys at my climbing gym (eek eek!)?
A: many girls that shouldn’t.
I find myself asking this every summer, but seriously, why is it that at summer’s first warm ray of sunshine, girls flock to the nearest Abercrombie and buy the shortest shorts that they can still button around themselves? This trend isn’t limited to teenagers or tweens but also twenty and forty-somethings.
I realize that wearing short shorts is a symbol of rebellion, youth, and allure, as it has been for decades (much like showing your neckline was back in the day), but really, what is the motivation here? To look like the ad? To show off your legs? To have the tinest shorts of all your friends? To get the guys’ attention?
Being a girl myself, I confess to having worn shorts for any and all of the above reasons. But life has taught me that often the attempt to look cute can, more often than not, send the wrong message. Revealing the female body in such a way could give any of the following impressions: 1) It could indicate that you find your value in apperance, instead of within, 2) It shows a lack of concern with modesty, and 3) It will get you noticed, but likely by the wrong kind of guy–hey, it’s what he noticed first, right?
But maybe one of the best qualities we can radiate as women is confidence that we don’t have to dress a certain way to gain approval or appeal. Maybe we can find flattering outfits that don’t revolve around showing off our bodies, and maybe it actually honors our bodies not to show them off. Shorts can be fine to wear; same with sundresses and skirts. But when it comes to making a purchase you find yourself questioning, I suggest you ask yourself, what’s the motivation? Just some food for thought.
