How Much Does Dress Provoke Sex Offences?

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30146, 1 June 1963, Page 2

How Much Does Dress Provoke Sex Offences?

Is provocative dressing—too-short, too-tight skirts, “skinfitting” trews, brief bikinis popular with teen-age girls today—partly responsible for the increase in rape cases and illegitimate births in New Zealand?

Four women, leaders in community organisations, were asked this question yesterday, and they agreed that seductive clothes contributed in some measure to sex offences and promiscuity. All emphasied parents’ responsibility.

The women were Mrs J. P. Donnelly, president of the Catholic Women’s League of the Diocese of Christchurch; Mrs S. E. Woods, diocesan president of the Mothers’ Union; Miss M. E. Saunders, president of the Christchurch branch of the National Council of Women; and Mrs L. I. Cattell, secretary of the Christchurch branch of the Society for the Protection of Home and Family.

When the question was discussed at a recent diocesan ■conference of the Catholic Women's League, members came up with a practical suggestion to meet the situation

They decided to arrange a fashion parade of smart but modest clothes to show to girls who are at an age when rtheir dress sense begins to develop. They intend to ask the Catholic Education Council’s permission to show the parade in secondary schools.

Dignity Of Women

“We want girls to realise the importance of upholding the dignity of womanhood by wearing feminine dress and avoiding too-tight, seductive clo'hes," said Mrs Donnelly She calls for a closer relationship between mother and daughter. whereby the mother can give gentle guidance tn dressing, but always aware that a growing girl must keep her individuality in the choice of clothes “It all comes back to example in the home—the mother's influence on her daughters, the father’s on his sons in the matter of dressing and social behaviour." she said

Some girls, and some .mothers, did not seem to realise always just how provocative their short, tight Skirts could be. she said Girls. who looked so sweetly feminine in their debutante frocks, were sometimes unrecognisable a few weeks later doing the twist in skin-tight dresses above their knees. Mrs Donnelly said. • Behaviour The subtle influence of dress on behaviour was a point raised by Mrs Woods "Neither I. nor the organisation I represent, would want to appear to judge or censure young people on the matter of dressing and fashions.” she said “In fact I am very diffident about referring to the subject at all “Those of us who have teen-age daughters are acutely aware of the kind of pressures to which they •re subjected "Modern methods of commercial advertising and high pressure salesmanship backed up by mass communication' through radio, television, pop records, films and magazines batter at us from all sidesparticularly at the younger generation who have a good deal of leisure and spending money and few responsibilities ■» commitments.

chins This may lead to lapsing into very casual manners "We must admit that at least some of the modern teen-age fashions come from the street gangs of Europe and the United States and we are all too often tempted to adopt the behaviour of these gangs with their style of dress.” she said Pendulum’s Swing These fashions would probably pass, she said, and as has happened repeatedly through history, the pendulum could swing away from the present excesses But parents and those who influenced fashion changes should do all they could to encourage selection, discrimination and individual choice in their children They should emphasise that modesty in behaviour and in dressing was still the most lasting and genuinely attractive of feminine qualities said Mrs Woods The attitude of parents towards their children and the relationships developed in the home were vitally important aspects of this question said M : ss Saunders The better the home relationships the happier and more secure the child, she said The secure child could build its own protection from its environment Free Discussion "The companionship of the parents is a vital element in establishing freedom to discuss all topics,” she said “Parents must answer all questions, including those on dress and social behaviour, giving the child confidence to voice any problems without fear of rebuff ” Readiness to listen on the part of oarents at all stages

and at all ages was a real safeguard, Miss Saunders said. “I agree that it is the parents who need educating,” said Mrs Cattell. She was commenting on an announcement made at her society’s recent annual meeting that there were 300 illegitimate births in Christchurch in a year. A proportion of these would be rape cases. She listed very short, tight skirts and plunging necklines as contributing factors. Her work brings her in contact with many girls and women who seek financial aid from the Sevicke-Jones Trust, administered by the society to help unmarried mo'hers and deserted wdves with children. Mrs Cattell put in a good word for television as an influence in keeping teen-age girls and boys at home with their parents within a family circle.