Every few months, a familiar debate resurfaces in India.
A college issues a dress code. A woman is judged, harassed, or blamed.
Social media erupts. And once again, the focus shifts to what she was wearing.
Crop tops, shorts, sleeveless dresses, they become the accused.
But the real question remains conveniently ignored:
Are clothes really the problem, or is it the mindset we refuse to confront?
The Illusion of Control Through Clothing
Society has long believed that controlling women’s clothing is a way to maintain “order,” “culture,” or “decency.” The logic is flawed but persistent:
If women dress a certain way, men will behave.
This belief silently excuses bad behaviour and shifts responsibility away from the perpetrator. It suggests that men lack self-control and women must compensate for it, a deeply regressive idea.
Clothes do not create character.
They do not signal consent.
They do not invite harm.
Mindsets do.
Why Crop Tops Trigger Discomfort
A crop top is not radical. It’s a piece of fabric that reveals the midriff, something Indian society has seen for centuries in sarees, ghagras, and traditional attire.
So why the outrage now?
Because modern clothing represents choice.
A woman choosing what to wear, without seeking validation or permission, unsettles a system that is used to policing her body. The discomfort is not about skin, it is about autonomy.
The Hypocrisy of ‘Culture’
Culture is often used as a weapon to shame women.
Ironically, Indian history and art are filled with depictions of women whose clothing would not pass today’s moral scrutiny. Temple sculptures, classical paintings, and traditional attire celebrate the female form without shame.
Yet, a modern woman in a crop top is told she is “westernised,” “characterless,” or “asking for attention.”
This selective interpretation of culture exposes the truth:
Culture is not being protected. Control is.
Victim-Blaming Disguised as Concern
“How will you stay safe dressed like that?”
“Why provoke unnecessary attention?”
“Think about society.”
These statements are often framed as concern, but they carry a dangerous message that a woman is responsible for preventing violence against herself.
This mindset doesn’t prevent crime.
It normalises it.
When society teaches men to respect boundaries instead of monitoring women’s wardrobes, safety improves. Until then, dress codes remain a distraction, not a solution.
What the Real Conversation Should Be
Instead of debating crop tops, we should be asking:
- Why is women’s clothing discussed more than men’s behaviour?
- Why is discipline imposed on girls instead of accountability on offenders?
- Why are educational spaces more focused on “decency” than dignity?
A progressive society is not one where women dress conservatively,
it is one where women dress freely.
Clothing as Expression, Not Explanation
For some women, a crop top is comfort.
For others, it is confidence.
For many, it is simply a normal choice.
None of these require justification.
Fashion is not a moral compass.
Clothes are not a character certificate.
The Real Problem We Must Address
Crop tops are not breaking society.
Short dresses are not destroying culture.
Women’s freedom is not the threat.
The problem is a mindset that fears women who choose.
Until we shift that mindset from control to consent, from judgement to respect, no dress code will make society safer.
Because safety is not stitched into clothes.
It is woven into values.
SheLit believes:
A woman’s body is not a battleground for morality.
Her clothes are her choice.
And freedom needs no apology.