Interesting Modesty Survey

fpaemp2011

Just came across this today.  The "Rebelution" project did this.  It includes statements I've heard growing up in church, going to Liberty, and hearing friends say those were ideas they were raised with.  Here's the overview from their site and link:

The Modesty Survey was not intended to serve as a scientific measurement of what the average man thinks about modesty. In the strictest sense, it isn't a survey, but a discussion between Christian guys and girls who care about modesty. Over 200 Christian girls submitted their questions. In less than twenty days, over 1,600 Christian guys (12 and up) responded. Close to 200,000 separate pieces of data were collected, including 25,000 text responses.

The survey was presented in a traditional five-point Agree/Disagree format. Each participant was presented with 148 positive/negative statements and was given the options to Agree, Strongly Agree, Disagree, Strongly Disagree, or remain Neutral. Each statement was accompanied by an optional text box for additional explanation.

You can view key explanations and demographic data in the charts and graphs here:  http://www.therebelution.com/modestysurvey/browse (click on the statements within the category to see the overall response and text responses from the guys surveyed.

iamjoesgurl

Wow - I have to say I'm a little surprised.  (pleasantly surprised)  And why would a necklace that makes a "V" be immodest?  Most of it I get, but the jewelry stuff didn't make a lot of sense to me.

fpaemp2011

Well, 46.9% of the guys did disagree with the statement that necklaces that make a v are stumbling blocks, but it is interesting to read the comments.  I was raised in a fairly conservative environment, and followed a lot (although...far from all) of these growing up, and continue to try to follow a good number of them. 

The girls were the ones to submit these questions, so they're probably asking what guys really think about the standards they were raised with.  I know there are some denominations/sects that are very conservative about jewlery, makeup, etc, so I wonder if those questions were from girls raised in those churches.

AnnaW11

That was very interesting. Some of the questions were pretty funny they were asking and I was glad to see that 97% of guys thought they were modest, because I was like "never thought of that before." There were a couple things I've just always had questions about, and that was good to see since it can obviously be awkward to just ask.

I'm glad they did make a big deal about it first being a heart issue, though. I've seen so many young women whose attitude itself is distracting (even in church, youth group, etc.) And I know it is only by God's grace that I haven't gone that route, because I know inmy heart I am capable of the same things. But I used to have a pretty legalistic youth group that didn't address the heart issues, so I was glad to see that did that. Plus some really great other resources and recs (I love some Piper, Mahaney, and McCulley).

joyfulbride424

This is really interesting! Thanks for sharing!

BrideToBeBecauseHeLovesMe

[QUOTE]That was very interesting. <strong>Some of the questions were pretty funny they were asking and I was glad to see that 97% of guys thought they were modest, because I was like "never thought of that before."</strong> There were a couple things I've just always had questions about, and that was good to see since it can obviously be awkward to just ask. I'm glad they did make a big deal about it first being a heart issue, though.
Posted by AnnaW11[/QUOTE]

Me too!!  Some I was like, how in the world.....oh good they disagree lol.  Some I could definitely see though.  I do love wearing high heels (though I don't very often) and I do it just because I love them, not to draw attention or make me taller.  :P  I just like them!!

jenn.daniel

I haven't finished reading b/c I have to clean before my FMIL comes over soon, but I'm looking forward to reading the rest.

I'm sorry, but I'm not giving up my 2-piece bathing suit!  I do make sure I have ones that are full coverage and aren't just tied on.  I don't want any accidents!  Unfortunately I've seen ladies at the beach wearing shorts that show more than my than my bathing suit bottoms! 

thereisbeauty_22209556

   Someone I'm friends with one facebook posted this link last summer, and I must have spent an entire day reading everything that was on there...while it was somewhat informative to read the different viewpoints (Although not really anything that I haven't already heard throughout my home schooled childhood, lol.), I have to confess that I basically just read it for comedic value.  Once I came to this comment about painted nails: "I'm fine with a basic light color, but the stripes and designs seem immodest in a way. It seems like they are really trying to draw too much attention to themselves sometimes.", I had trouble taking it seriously anymore.  I've always thought that I do a pretty good job of dressing well, but modestly, and FI agrees and complements me on it often.  It still provided for some interesting conversation between FI and I though, as well as my brother and I, but most of that just ended in laughing at the comments anyway.  Still, I can't wait for this year's survey results!  :P

kellya01

I have found that my FI among other guys I know are very visually oriented... so anything we can do to keep them from stumbling is good, as long as it isn't taken TOO far.  I agree with what Stacy London said on an episode of What Not To Wear - she was working with a young lady who is a priest in a church (Episcopalian I think) and said to her that she can be appropriately covered while still appearing feminine and having flattering clothes on her body without taking away from the message she's trying to portray.  I can't remember when that episode aired, but it really stuck with me. 

There is a book that I have called "Every Woman's Battle" - I think it's by Shannon Etheridge if I'm not mistaken ... anyway, it covered this topic in some detail and it might be something worth checking into if you want information about "dressing attractively vs. dressing to attract" and from a Biblical perspective.  :-) 

DramaGeek

Huh.  Some of them are real eye openers for me.  I adjust my bra straps all the time.  I never thought of it being immodest, it's just a comfort thing.  I'll have to be more aware of that.  I also find it interesting that about half the guys agree that tank tops are generally immodest.  I disagree, but when I think of tank tops I think of the thick straps that easily cover bra straps, so perhaps they were thinking of the spaghetti strap ones, since they say sleeveless is ok.  It also made me sad that they said skirts/dresses/etc over leggings are a stumbling block.  I love that look in the winter.  I don't wear super short anything (trust me, no one wants to see that, even with leggings!) but I feel more comfortable even in knee length skirts/dresses with leggings or opaque tights, so I do that often.

Pertinent to this board, I found it interesting that 60% agree that strapless and spaghetti strap dresses are immodest, since the majority of wedding dresses are strapless.  It would be interesting to do a poll on here to see who is wearing or wore an immodest wearing dress ;-)

aggiebug

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/cultural-wedding-boards_christian-weddings_interesting-modesty-survey?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Cultural%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:464687ae-7bc1-4360-9aea-999e11f1e1adDiscussion:c30a0de3-e6fc-42d0-85b9-9202f5b0947fPost:8dec09f3-4354-4ca5-892d-b45f328f610d">Re: Interesting Modesty Survey</a>:
[QUOTE]Huh.  Some of them are real eye openers for me.  <strong>I adjust my bra straps all the time.</strong>  I never thought of it being immodest, it's just a comfort thing.  I'll have to be more aware of that.  I also find it interesting that about half the guys agree that tank tops are generally immodest.  I disagree, but when I think of tank tops I think of the thick straps that easily cover bra straps, so perhaps they were thinking of the spaghetti strap ones, since they say sleeveless is ok.  It also made me sad that they said skirts/dresses/etc over leggings are a stumbling block.  I love that look in the winter.  I don't wear super short anything (trust me, no one wants to see that, even with leggings!) but I feel more comfortable even in knee length skirts/dresses with leggings or opaque tights, so I do that often. Pertinent to this board, I found it interesting that 60% agree that strapless and spaghetti strap dresses are immodest, since the majority of wedding dresses are strapless.  It would be interesting to do a poll on here to see who is wearing or wore an immodest wearing dress ;-)
Posted by DramaGeek[/QUOTE]

Guys adjust down there allllll the time, how is that ANY different? I did find the rest of it pretty interesting, just to be able to see kind of how a guys brain ticks.

And I added straps to my dress ;)

AshNoel8

I didn't get to read it- but I saw some of your comments. And I definitely cover up- up top and at the bottom- but, as a PP said- I LOVE leggings with dresses- it's pretty much all I wear on the weekends in the winter! And I love high heels too- again, just because I like them, not because of any other reasons. 

bourgehm

Thanks! Loved that site. Super interesting!

thereisbeauty_22209556

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/cultural-wedding-boards_christian-weddings_interesting-modesty-survey?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Cultural Wedding BoardsForum:464687ae-7bc1-4360-9aea-999e11f1e1adDiscussion:c30a0de3-e6fc-42d0-85b9-9202f5b0947fPost:27924370-4831-4716-ba05-4f998d5d00cc">Re: Interesting Modesty Survey</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Interesting Modesty Survey : Guys adjust down there allllll the time, how is that ANY different? I did find the rest of it pretty interesting, just to be able to see kind of how a guys brain ticks. And I added straps to my dress ;)
Posted by aggiebug[/QUOTE]

   EXACTLY.  Thank you.  There are many cases in which females do lead guys astray by the ways that they dress and act, but there are also times when it's the guys problem.  I'm sorry, but if you're a guy and you can't handle me swimming IN MY CLOTHES because you can still maybe see the straps or lines of my bathing suit underneath my clothes, get over yourself and maybe actually stop <strong><em>trying</em></strong> to see them.  And put a shirt on next time.

   But maybe it's just me.  Sorry.  :P  *steps off soap box*

drama1308

I found some of this interesting, I knew most of it before, but the biggest part was that most of the guys surveyed were 15-20 and almost half were homeschooled. I don't know if this makes a difference, but it got me thinking..

SaraAndrew2010

I also wonder if there was some bias in the way the questions were asked,  Did you notice the different phrasings:
"It can be a stumbling block when girls wear X"
"Wearing X is immodest"
"It is not immodest for a girl to wear X"

It seemed to me that the item in question was more likely to be rated as immodest if the question was phrased the first two ways. 

Particularly since the respondents were young, relatively sheltered men, I wonder if they often responded with what they thought the "right" answer would be.

jenn.daniel

I guess I'm REALLY not supposed to wear my t-shirt with words on the front under a half-zipped hoodie!  The reason I don't zip it all the way up is so people can see the words. :P

naomikb

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/cultural-wedding-boards_christian-weddings_interesting-modesty-survey?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Cultural Wedding BoardsForum:464687ae-7bc1-4360-9aea-999e11f1e1adDiscussion:c30a0de3-e6fc-42d0-85b9-9202f5b0947fPost:a8db3cf7-55d9-4a7b-8b60-ee69271b9176">Re: Interesting Modesty Survey</a>:
[QUOTE]I also wonder if there was some bias in the way the questions were asked,  Did you notice the different phrasings: "It can be a stumbling block when girls wear X" "Wearing X is immodest" "It is not immodest for a girl to wear X" It seemed to me that the item in question was more likely to be rated as immodest if the question was phrased the first two ways.  <strong>Particularly since the respondents were young, relatively sheltered men, I wonder if they often responded with what they thought the "right" answer would be.
</strong>Posted by SaraAndrew2010[/QUOTE]

Agreed.  I think the group of guys polled definitely affected the outcome, and I have a feeling a lot of guys think they're answering the way they're supposed to but aren't even exactly sure what a "stumbling block" is or what they are supposed to or not supposed to be "feeling".

But still, very very interesting.

MrsTucker2011

Pretty interesting read. The comments were interesting to read too.

Best comment I read for - "Slips should always be worn under skirts that become see-through in certain lighting."
21 yrs: "Had no idea these existed! Yes!"


ROFL