From Burkinis to Dress Codes: Why Are We Still Fixated On What Women Wear?

This past week, a photo of French police officers forcing a woman to change her burkini swimwear went viral. Here in the United States, school administrators are busy telling girls to change how they dress so they are not a “distraction” to their male peers. And across the globe, women who have been sexually assaulted are still judged based on what they wore.

For too long, women’s clothing has been a target of social, political, and religious debates, instead of a means of self expression. Women and girls deserve the right to control their own bodies and how they present them.

That’s why this week, we encourage you to read this article and discuss around your dinner table why we are still fixated on what women wear. Together, we’ll ensure that women and girls have agency in their own skin and ownership over their own bodies.

Onwards,

Jennifer Siebel Newsom & The Representation Project Team


 

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Representation Around the Web

“Black women are now the most educated group in America, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. A higher percentage of black women—9.7% to be exact—are enrolled in college than any other racial or gender group, including white men, white women, and Asian women. It’s the first time in American history that black women are leading the way in education. And it’s kind of incredible for a multitude of reasons, including the fact that education reduces poverty, promotes gender equality, and helps to lessen the spread of various health issues.”– Upworthy

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Wisdom from Gloria Steinem on Women Equality Day
Image via The Mask You Live In Instagram