Why shorter dress for women but not for men?

[Seshadri Sridharan]

Sexual issues: solution

Long, long back, amongst those primitive human beings of 25,000 years ago, when their sex glands were active, women used to come closer to men, and when the glands were inactive then they did not desire to go close. Similar activities we see also in animals.

Nowadays, the clothing for women is designed in such a way that a significant portion of the body is exposed and the overall sizing is made in a very scanty manner. The mini-dresses & mini-skirts etc are made to show the secret parts of the body. Materialists impose the overt and subliminal message that small sizing is a symbol of style and prestige. Women do get indoctrinated into such notions and run after buying and wearing such scanty dresses. As a result men get attracted towards women and may even attack them to fulfill their sexual desires. In today’s society we have to understand how materialists increase the rate of sexual violence against women happen.

Why shorter dress for women but not for men?

In our Ananda Marga system, according to Baba, when women are out and about in society then they should dress in a respectable manner. 

Ananda Marga Caryacarya states, “While going out of their house, women should wear simple and decent clothes and cover their bodies properly.” (1)

Unfortunately, in today’s materialistic society women are encouraged to roam the streets with their secret parts uncovered. Even in formal professional attire, women’s fashion is designed to highlight their curves and bare skin. Whereas men cannot enter a professional environment with maximum skin showing - they would be sent home or even lose their job. But a similar standard does not apply for women. Women should understand that these type of rules are set by men to make women vulnerable and seen as sexual objects. No matter how many men are arrested by police for sexual violence, as long as such rules exists sexual sexual crimes will keep happening. Because merely accosting the perpetrators will not solve the problem. Instead proper education and social norms should be imparted, and the mind should be trained appropriately on what is right and what is wrong.

Short dress: recipe for inducing sexual violence

Sex vrittis (instincts) are higher in men than women. Influenced by fashion or becoming tools of the male-dominated society and diverted from human dharma, women wear short scanty dresses to show more of the body and highlight and even expose their private parts etc. By seeing this, men get attracted towards women, their sex glands become more active, and they cannot control themselves. Not only that, women and men get together these days, but they go to dance parties, drink alcohol, meet at private places, etc. As a result, sex violence is rampant, women are harmed and violated, and the men are found guilty and subjected to punishment. But such types of punishment is not the permanent solution, as the root cause is not being treated. The real solution is teaching and training men how to control the mind. Unfortunately up till now, since the root cause is not treated, violence happens time and again.

Women viewed as objects for enjoyment

Again, in today’s materialistic society, women are viewed as sexual objects. That is how the society is portraying women and that is how scanty dresses are designed, and rules are created. Viewing women as sex objects is not a high ideal of a human being. No matter how strong is the punishment given, the number of men involved in sex violence will not decrease. And punishment is not the only ideal solution for transforming a human being. For example, in the United States severe punishment rules are in place for anyone who is involved in sex violence. Names are included in sex registry when they are found to be involved in sex violence. And it is a very serious, life-altering offense. Even though such rules are in place, sexual violence in the US is on the rise.

Dress code for women and men

Ananda Marga philosophy guides us that both men and women should dress properly. Neither males nor females should be involved in indecent exposure. Nor should men and women should not spend time in idle gossiping, and baseless talks. Men should have men friends, and women should have women friends. 

Ananda Marga Caryacarya states, “They [men and women] should not engage in gossip as its results are not beneficial. It should be remembered that a woman’s friend is a woman and a man’s friend is a man.” (2)

But today’s school system and social environment, the concept of boyfriend and girlfriend are visible in all levels of schooling, even in primary schools. Socially, for children, having a close relationship with the opposite sex, i.e. having a boyfriend or girlfriend, is a matter of prestige. Side by side, without looking into the root of the problem, people complain that sexual violence against women is rampant. What they fail to realise is that the current social milieu is a breeding ground for sexual crimes. Sadly, all the ingredients are present for women to be sexually violated and harmed. 

Solution: Controlling sensory organs

People should be taught (a) about their vrttis (instincts), (b) why the glands and organs get allured towards sensuality, (c) how to control those tendencies, and (d) how to channelize them in a proper direction. Curriculum should be developed in classes, and people can be educated in how to control vrittis (instincts).

The dress code should be based on sentient expression where both males and females dress in a comfortable, modest manner according to the climate, where they are covered from the neck down to the feet. That can help in reducing sexual violence against women. Education along with a dress code are important aspects of the solution, along with the idea that men should interact with men and women should interact with women. If proper rules and regulations are not in place, sex violence will increase. Side by side there will be public protests against such sexual crimes but the solution will remain out of reach. 

Yes, attraction for the opposite sex is a natural phenomenon of this creation. If men and women will not interact then there will not be any newborns. But unnecessary mixing, treating females as sexual objects, and poor social values (i.e. loose talk, dance parties, alcohol drinking etc.) leads to sexual violence and that should be stopped.

And the permanent solution is guiding people how to redirect their vrttis (instincts) towards the more subtle realm, redefining the current materialistic relationship between men and women, and implementing stricter social codes etc. Social punishment, jail sentences, and the threat of imprisonment are not enough to curb or solve the problem.


In Him, 
Nira’ka’ra

Ananda Marga philosophy states, "You can help someone become good by making him understand [moral values], but no one becomes good through the application of force [punishment]...If the sinner is engaged in sinful acts or keeps moving ahead on a sinful path, you can prevent that person from doing so by the application of force [punishment]. But you cannot transform [make moralist] in this way." (3)

== Section 3: Important Teaching ==

How to preach universalism

Ananda Marga ideology states, “Human beings also know that Parama Puruśa is their source of impetus, is their Father, and that they are all His children. As His children, they have a brotherly relationship with all other jiivas, or unit beings. Due to this knowledge of brotherhood, the human is superior to all other beings. Parents are greatly pleased when they find that their children have been loved and helped by someone. Similarly, Parama Puruśa will be pleased when you serve His creation – not only human beings, but also plants, animals, and the rest of creation. That is, bhúta yajiṋa, pitr yajiṋa and nr yajiṋa are to be performed. Those who have this feeling are in the real sense of the term human beings. Just having the body of a human does not make a person a real human being, a rational being. Those in whom this feeling has arisen will be called followers of Bhágavata Dharma. They are doing the sádhaná of Bhágavata Dharma.” (1)

Ananda Marga ideology states, “All beings are made of the same consciousness. So although we may find ourselves at different stages of psychic elevation, a Bráhmańa and a Kśatriya, an Indian and an Englishman, a sweeper and a scavenger, a Zulu and a Maori, and even a tiny ant, are all linked by the bonds of fraternity. If we remember this fact, if we work for the well-being of all, then undeveloped human beings will be able to develop their spiritual potentiality when they come in contact with us. Even cows, dogs, tigers and bears who come in close contact with us will develop psychic wealth and gradually acquire spiritual treasures.” (2)

Ananda Marga ideology states, “He is the Supreme Progenitor, and everything in this Universe is His progeny. He is the Supreme Father, and others are His children. Then, when all are the children of the Supreme Father, the relationship between man and man is that of fraternal bond. You have got a universal tie of brotherhood because everything created has got the same father. The source is the same. When the spiritual aspirant knows this fact, he cannot get any kind of inferiority complex or superiority complex in his mind. He is not inferior to anyone, as he is one with his brothers and sister.” (3)

The editors wrote: “Our first step is to realize that the true goal of humanity, the ultimate goal of evolution, is not the amassing of more and more material wealth but the expansion of consciousness. Through proper education and practical techniques of mental expansion, humanity will come to realize that the hoarding of wealth and all the ills of corruption and scarcity it creates, are nothing but the misdirected longing of the human soul for infinite happiness – a longing which cannot be satisfied by money but only by internal bliss. Thus as human attention and activity is directed more and more toward subtler pursuits such as artistic endeavour and spiritual practice, the selfishness and greed which dominate people’s minds today will be replaced by a new feeling of love and brotherhood. As we expand our minds toward the Infinite and learn to share our mundane treasures, we will realize more and more that we are all indeed one humanity, that we are all the sons and daughters of one Infinite Intelligence Who is guiding us all to perfection. Instead of being based on competition and mutual hostility, society will be operated through mutual cooperation and love.” (4)