I don't like the way my parents don't want me wearing clothes they think are "short".
My father implies that to have males not look at me sexually, I should wear clothes that don't show "too much" skin.
For example once when I wore a dress they didn't agree with, my father said "I know how boys think, they stare and stuff" to support his argument that I should wear longer clothes so I don't have to go through anything like that.
Basically, once in a while I wear something they don't agree with and it ends badly for me because I hate how they think, irrespective of whether I give in and wear something else instead or not, both outcomes make me cry.
I have not discussed these discussions I keep having with myself with anyone else, until now! What I would like to ask you is, what should my opinion be about this?
Some options I think about are:
1. Wear whatever I want when I am 18 and wear clothes they agree with until then (my mother used to say this sometimes, these days it seems like she doesn't mind what I wear, but I know my father does)
2. Ignore their feelings about this from now on and wear whatever I think is fine for a situation
3. "Respect their opinion" and "not make elders uncomfortable" and wear "good" clothes whenever I am with my parents (and with any people who think like that, which is most adults in my immediate and extended family) for the rest of my life
I am aware of the arguments that doing this to girls and women promotes rape culture, and I agree, but whenever I want to bring this up in this permanent debate with my dad, it just doesn't seem to apply and he's saying something else entirely and I can't find a place to add that to what I am saying.
Thank you so much, Scarleteen, for helping all of us!!