Why is it ok to disrespect someone you presume to be a s**t?

Question

This is inspired by a couple of other questions.

From my experience the term s**t is rather ambiguous. What goes for one culture/person doesn't go for another.

In fundamentalist muslim cultures a woman dressed like this http://www.mystiqueasia.net/products/2006/MOHAGANI%20KAMEEZ%20WITH%20BOOTCUT%20PANTS-2208-f.jpg

would be considered quite scandalous and would probably be stoned to death.

http://djemir.com/pictures/Girls-BlondesNightclub02.jpg

Girls like this wouldn't look odd in L.A. but in bible belt America they'd be the talk of the town.

In African countries this is the dress of many women. (Nudity! View at your own risk) http://www.drakensberg-tourism.com/image-files/zulu-women.jpg

So really what is the need or reasoning behind labeling people based off of their clothing? I can understand not respecting someone because of their attitude or anything like that but to immediately disrespect someone based off dress baffles me.

Answer 1

Different cultures.. You know in the Sahara there is a culture(forgot the name -) where the men cover there faces almost 24/7 while the women don't.

     But clothing is all about cultural norms. Same for behavior to a degree.

    The world is a diverse place with diverse beliefs.

Answer 2

It isn't, just as you've exemplified, there are different standards for unethical clothing for different people.  Someones outward appearance shouldn't demonstrate the sexuality of the person, rather their tastes, their comfort zone.  Bottom line is, get to know a person before you make such a strong judgement.

Answer 3

Dress implies attitude. It's one of the first criteria by which someone is judged (just stating a fact). Different cultures have different standards for behavior. If someone is perceived to be a s**t (based on appearance or behavior), they have behaved in a way that society deems is beneath respect.

Answer 4

First off, I show respect to everyone unless they do something to provoke disrespect. It's in the attitude, you're right.

Second, clothing sends messages. Whether we like it or not, we get a "idea" where someone is coming from by their mode of dress, which like you said, differs in different cultures.

So, we make judgments about people according to OUR view of what is or is not correct. What may be just provocative in one location might be considered scandalous somewhere else.

Answer 5

In most cultures, there are ramifications for women who don't behave just as they should.  The punishments vary, from some Native American cultures who cut off the nose of an unfaithful wife, to stoning, to just smearing the name of a woman who is free with her sexuality.  I refused to ever let it bother me, and I behaved as I wished.  At times, it was hurtful to hear that people said derogatory things about me, but I brushed it off.  It is unfair, and it sucks.  And all this newfound "freedom" that young girls seem to have today (A.K.A. giving b.j.'s in the middle school bathroom) is just another way of controlling women.  "Either you behave prim and proper, or you give me what I want, B*tch!"  One day, we'll reach a happy medium.  In the meantime, we CAN have it both ways, and the key is DISCRETION.  Do what you want when you want, but have some decorum about it, and keep it to yourself.  That's what I did, and for the most part, avoided being labeled.

Answer 6

Everybody has different beliefs. While it makes people look ignorant at times, but they have a right to their beliefs.

Answer 7

hmmm I get you, people think some people are homeless simply because they don't dress in expensive clothes ex: Ugly Betty   she isn't "ugly" at all but they sure do call her ugly. Another example The Devils Wears Prada  I liked the way Anne Hathaway looked in the beginning of the movie but that's just me.

Answer 8

Some people like to be bullies...they get their rocks off hurting other people.

Answer 9

It's hard not to look at cleavage.

A typical feminist complaint is that people stare at their assets.

If I don't want men staring at my chest I don't reveal it and they don't.

No one has to respect anyone if they don't want to.

Answer 10

That's the joy of living in a free society! these options are available to you.

Answer 11

Why is it okay to disrespect someone you presume of being a creep, sleazy, poor, ugly, homeless, a violent criminal etc?

Face it, everyone treats others based on some preconceived notion assumed on the basis of that person's appearance. Appearing "S****y" is just one of many labels people use.

Answer 12

Even if someone IS a s**t, doesn't mean they shouldn't be respected.

Answer 13

"People may not like the attitude of someone, but for that person that attitude is not being disrespectful, so the person deserves respect."

I personally think that respect is earned not granted. Tolerance should be granted but if someone pushes your tolerance you can disrespect them. But yea not before they push your tolerance

Answer 14

Personally, I don't think it's okay to disrespect someone in general. Even more, I don't think it's okay to judge someone for any reason, let alone on something as trivial as appearance. Regardless the issue, I would not presume to judge another, whether I agree or disagree with them.

Answer 15

Before you can judge a person you need to take a longer and closer look at them.

A man dresses in plain clothes and drives an old car. Who would know he is the richest man in town?

"You can't judge a book by its cover."

Answer 16

It's wrong to disrespect anyone lol.

Disrespectful men and women will always exist.

People may not like the attitude of someone, but for that person that attitude is not being disrespectful, so the person deserves respect.

No one should be disrespected :p...

Some women DO wear skirts to be teased and stuff, but others don't.

For the ones who want teasing, this is not disrespectful, for the others it is.

That's why the fuss is here :P, not everyone who dresses like this is searching for that, so people should be more careful.

Answer 17

It's the person in the clothing, not the clothes. Insecure women often dress to accentuate sexuality. We teach others how to treat us. While your conclusion might be generally true, it's not across the board.

Answer 18

Th most ignorant and shallow-minded people are the most judgemental. It just so happens there are LOADS of people like this all over the world.

Answer 19

It's not okay.

She's not a s**t because she's not a label.

She's a PERSON.

And she deserves to be treated like one.

Answer 20

Great Qn! couldn't help but answer. The reasoning behind labeling people based on their clothing is the social norms and regulations. Each society has its own beliefs, norms, rules and regulations. However the male female relationship is viewed the same everywhere. In most of the higher species including humans, male is the one who chases and woman is the one who choses. And unlike other species, humans are the only ones who are known to use sexuality to return the favor. The fact that prostitution is the oldest profession known to man proves this. So in a regular society which is controlled by rules, a male is allowed access to sexuality only when the female allows him. And as I said, females are considered alluring and the males, chasers. So a female expressing her sexuality is viewed in different ways, (ranging from alluring a male who is interested in her to be her partner, to gaining favors and repaying with s*x) by different societies around the world. Normally, in western societies where women are allowed and expected to liberally express their sexuality, she is not marked as a s|ut, as society considers a woman respectable after she had a spontaneous one night stand with a stranger. However in a fundamentalist Muslim culture this would be considered scandalous, and therefore a woman who would wear revealing dress and expressing her sexuality as she would in a western society is n a way acting against their social rules and norms as they expect a woman to express her sexuality only to her mate. The actor Richard Gere apologized to people in India for smooching an Indian actress Shilpa Shetty in front of the public while he was in India for an Anti Aids campaign. Why? bcoz smooching a woman whom you met just hours ago in public is considered indecent there unlike in L.A.

So a woman who is coming from a society where she is free as well as expected to express her sexuality more liberally, she might have a feeling that she is decently, beautifully and sensually dressed, while wearing a body hugging salwar and kameez, where as the society will view her as one who is bent on breaking the social rules. So that exactly is the point you are missing.

So, "do as romans do when you are in Rome."