How Society Polices Women’s Clothing (No Matter What We Wear)

Panel 1

A woman wearing a crop top and shorts.

Text: “That’s too revealing, don’t you have any self respect?

 

Panel 2

A woman wearing a turtleneck and a floor-length skirt.

Text: “That’s too dowdy, don’t you have any self-esteem?”

 

Panel 3

A woman wearing a collared shirt, vest, tie, and slacks.

Text: “You look too masculine, wouldn’t you rather be pretty?”

 

Panel 4

A woman wearing a ruffled dress with bows, a large bow in her hair, and with big, styled hair.

Text: “That’s too feminine, don’t you want to be taken seriously?”

 

Panel 5

A woman wearing no makeup.

Text: “Wearing more makeup would make you seem more professional.”

 

Panel 6

A woman wearing heavy makeup.

Text: “You’re wearing too much makeup and it’s too bright – it looks unprofessional.”

 

Panel 7

A woman wearing a high-cut shirt.

Text: “You’d pass better and look nicer if you showed more cleavage.”

 

Panel 8

A woman wearing a low-cut shirt.

Text: “You’re showing too much cleavage and it’s distracting – cover up some more.”

 

Panel 9

A woman wearing a short, low-cut, tight, sleeveless dress.

Text: “You shouldn’t show off so much of your body.”

 

Panel 10

A woman wearing a horizontally striped shirt and cargo pants.

Text: “You should wear clothes that do more to flatter your shape.”

 

Panel 11

A woman wearing a fancy outfit and heels, walking with shopping bags.

Text: “You care too much about fashion, it makes you seem really vain and shallow.”

 

Panel 12

A woman wearing a tee shirt with her hair unstyled.

Text: “You don’t care enough about what’s in style – it makes you look shabby.”

 

Panel 13

A woman with short hair.

Text: “Your hair is too short – it makes you look like a lesbian.”

 

Panel 14

A woman with very long hair.

Text: “Your hair is too long, you look like some kind of prairie wife”

 

Panel 15

A woman with black lipstick, and spiky hair wearing a corset and very high heels.

Text: “I know you want to show off your personality, but isn’t that outfit a bit too much?”

 

Panel 16

A woman wearing a grey sweater, slacks, and loafers.

Text: “I know your clothes are practical but don’t you find that look a little boring?”

 

Panel 17

A woman wearing a tight-bodiced a-line dress with pumps, and pearls, and highly styled hair curtseying slightly (thereby showing a petticoat).

Text: “The implicit translation of all such criticisms is: “This (and only this) is what society finds attractive and acceptable, but isn’t it great how far we’ve come and how many choices you have?”