#tzinut

But it’s almost a fetish with some fundies. They’re not being modest because it genuinely empowers them. They’re doing it because it makes them feel superior, special, “exotic” for lack of a better word.

If I, as a Jewish individual, want to dress modestly or cover my hair (which is totally normal in my culture and is actually having a renaissance of sorts right now with unmarried people) someone is going to ask me why I’m giving into the patriarchy or allowing myself to be oppressed.

In Judaism, פיקוח נפש (Pikuach Nefesh) describes the principle in Jewish law that the preservation of human life overrides virtually any other religious consideration. When the life of a specific person is in danger, almost any mitzvah lo ta'aseh (command to not do an action) of the Torah becomes inapplicable.

So I always find this fascinating. I live in a Jewish settlement (yishuv) in Israel, and the majority of people in the part I live in are modern orthodox. For those of you who don’t know, modern orthodox are religious, but not black coats and top-hat religious. The men cover their heads with a kippa, but otherwise dress how anyone else would. The women tend to wear skirts or dresses, and if they’re married cover their head with a scarf of some sort, but overall dress in colorful and pretty clothes. But there are still the laws of modesty you’ll find in religious circles. A man will shake my fiancé’s hand, but not mine. Not because he thinks I’m second class or below a man, but because he respects me and my boundaries, and knows that my body is for me and my husband. I’m used to the laws of ‘tzinut’ (modesty). I worked in two ultra-orthodox special needs schools in England over a period of 4 years, and I knew the rules. Don’t shake hands, don’t touch a man in any way, don’t be in a room alone with a man unless the door is open, yada yada. For work we had to cover collar bones, elbows and knees, and I enjoyed it. Men spoke to me and looked at me differently. You commanded respect. Here it’s the same, I still go out in pants a couple of days a week, but due to 'social norms’ I usually end up putting on a dress and it’s a GREAT EXCUSE to look cute every day.