There’s one aspect to this thread about Tznius that hasn’t been mentioned that I feel needs to be said: The mitzvah of Tznius isn’t all about women needing to be “covered up” to protect the men from michshol and hirhur, though it may be part of it. A broader view of it is that women are by their very essense “pnimius”. (See Rav Shimshon Pincus’s sefarim on this (and many others) that talk about the woman being compared to the moon, and the man to a sun. The man is the giver, more external etc., the woman is internal and the receiever. This is true in many aspects of their relationship.)
The mitzvah of tznius defines a woman and is her very essense. That’s why even if a girl is in a place where their are no men (eg, a girls camp or school), or even on a deserted island, she would still need to maintain her tznius. Its for HER.
For people to take the concept of tznius and say that its function is only to protect the men is reducing it into something very shallow.
Tznius allows for us to focus on her inside, which is her neshoma instead of on her guf. “A girl should be attractive, but not attracting.” See Gila Manolson’s excellent book on tznius called Outside/Inside. It is a must read for any girl or woman who wants a deeper understanding of what tznius means, or for any man who thinks that tznius is put on women to protect His thoughts.
Also, I hate to break it to you guys but a woman who has issues with the tznius dress code is NOT going to be very moved by being told that she is “causing men to have bad thoughts”. But if you explain to her that by calling attention to her body she is basically saying, “that’s all I am , a body! Not a mind, not a neshomah” she may just realize she is reducing herself, and choose to show some more self-respect.
If a woman would apply for a job as an attorney or CPA looking like a bimbo (excuse the word), the interviewer would say,”what are you trying to do by calling attention to your body when applying for a job that requires brains? That makes no sense!”
One final anecdote: In “Holy Woman” by Sara Y. Rigler she relates a story about the Tzaddik, the husband of the “Holy Woman”, Chaya Sara Kramer. He was once fundraising abroad, and stayed in the home of a wealthy man who had a cleaning lady that wasn’t properly dressed. The attendant motioned to Rabbi Kramer that he should strongly protest this.
Rabbi Kramer (who by the way was a Satmar Chassid) answered, “Kukt Men Nisht!” (You don’t have to look!)
I am certainly not advocating that we turn a blind eye to a growing problem that our community has, but the job of men is simply not to look! (and of course, each man should make sure he isn’t pressuring his wife to dress improperly, which is sometimes the case.)
I find an interEsteing phenomenon in these coffee rooms: the men seem very eager to blame the women and comment on the “women’s issues”, but you dont have it in the reverse! I agree with the poster who said that the Choshuva women in every community should address the issue for the women, and not the men. (with the exception of the Gedolim, who give us much chizuk) Wouldn’t it be funny if women started lecturing men on coming to shul on time, not doing bitul Torah or not shaving with a shaver?! Pretty disconcerting to think about, huh?