Stereotyping Shorts

In modern society, the way a woman dresses serves as an outward reflection of who they on the inside. Clothes have become a statement. While fashion, with its beautiful cuts, colors, and trends, can often be a form of self-expression, these same cuts and colors can also serve as the basis for harsh stereotyping among the American public. As shown in the photograph above, many onlookers judge women by the hemline of their skirts and shorts, placing them into generalized categories. If a girl’s shorts are too short she is automatically a “whore,” however if her skirt is too long, she is instantly pegged as “prudish,” judgements made without taking into account who the girl actually is. How are women ever supposed to dress appropriately according to their peers if a judgement can be made about any hem length. These generalizations made by the public over one simple hemline chain women to stereotypes, prohibiting them from dressing freely, grouping them into categories where they do not belong.