I love game days at the University of Alabama as much as the next person. But why is it that moms across America will step one foot on campus and then catch on fire when they see a college student wearing a mini skirt to a football game. Why is it that college women are mercilessly criticized for what they decide to wear?
This isn't a new problem, but the fact that it's still relevant is just sad.
What compels grown women, mothers even, to run to plague Facebook with their blunt and disrespectful rants on college women's outfits?
First of all, tearing other people down by criticizing their appearance is completely unnecessary, especially if you take the time to publish it on social media. Because at that point it's not some offhanded comment that slipped out in conversation, you would have to pre-meditate and type out each word that went into it. If you post something like that, for something as petty as clothes, you are promoting hate along with your own insecurities.
Everything that I've said up until now is just human decency, so it shouldn't shock you. But the things I am about to say might.
Believe it or not, we as college woman do not dress for you. We don't leave skin showing so guys will stare, honestly, it's really creepy. We are especially not ashamed when we walk out the front door of our apartments looking fabulous. Most of all, we will not change just because you consider us problematic.
"She needs to cover up."
I'm sorry, but cover up what? It's not like women are allowed to legally walk the streets with our private parts exposed. If she is comfortable in her skin and her clothes make her feel good then who are you to tell her any different? Trust me, it's hard for us, no matter what shape or size you are, to look in the mirror and say "I love my body right now."
"She is sexualizing her body."
I shouldn't have to tell any woman in 2017 how twisted this perspective is. The clothes a woman wears is not a "Yes" or "No" symbol for "Is she trying to have sex with me?"
Anything that follows the phrase "She looks like a _____" that is not "beautiful woman" should just be kept to yourself.
"Why is she wearing that to a football game."
The tradition of college women dressing up for UA game days has been around for a huge chunk of the college's history. I don't know why it started but it's an established thing now. I know I speak for many of us when I say it's really nice to put on a carefully planned outfit with a full face of makeup — after a whole school week of oversized shirts and sports bras. It's just not realistic to go all out every day and still make it to class. Just give us props for standing the whole game in these wedges.
I am not calling anyone out, mostly because hateful commentary like this has happened too many times to count. All I ask is that you take a second to consider the stranger under the clothes. That is someone's daughter, someone's sister, and she is loved for exactly who she is.
She is not ashamed of how she looks, so why would you be?