Why do you think women dress provocatively?

[dthdhdghadh]

I once asked this in another take/question (the topic was street harassment, if desired I'll post the link) but I got a rather disappointing answer.
The response I got is that was that she dresses provocatively because it makes her feel good. On the question as to why it made her feel good I got no response.

I have a couple hypotheses as to why, though I'd ask that you'd give me your reasons.
1. They feel good because they get a lot of male attention
and/or other girls are jealous of the male attention they get
2. They feel good because they can dangle something in front of men but then denying them to get it (which I guess makes you feel empowered and that's certainly a nice feeling)
3. It feels good because social pressure/values, the media and similar factors have propagated that dressing provocatively is good/empowering/whatever and conforming or being convinced of making good/empowering/whatever choices feels good.
4. Some combination of these, please comment.
5. Other, please comment.

Actually, please comment anyway.

1.)

2.)

3.)

4.)

5.)

[Anonymous]

You can't trust most women's answers on this. They are usually willing to lie to cover anything that may be seen as negative. Or they aren't honest with themselves because it may require them to actually step up to offer something more than just looks.
Not all women are like this. Many are.
Obvouslly they wear provocative clothing so that they get more attention. Any woman who tells you that she wears a super tight top that she has to adjust 200 times a day because it is comfortable is full of it. You've heard women say things like: "I just wanted to run to the store, but didn't want to get dressed up, so I just went in my sweatpants. I hope nobody saw me." Well if comfort was the goal than they would wear sweatpants and stuff like that all the time. Most women crave attention. Dressing provocatively is one way to get it. Ever notice how many women flirt with guys when they have a guy at home anyway? If they didn't care about attention they would not do this. But they do.
An example. I worked in landscaping for a couple of years and one year the boss hired a girl. She would often wear revealing clothing. We gave her extra attention for it. Then one guy suggested we just ignore her craving for attention. Don't look at her. Just work. Well she went to greater and greater lengths to get our attention. It was hilarious. Within a short period she was practically naked and doing things like bending over right in front of us, or adjusting her tits while you talk to her! Lol. That's just one example. I have noticed this many times in many ways. If you get into a habit of watching women from afar, eventually you start to notice all the little things they do to be sure they keep getting the attention they want.
Lesson to guys: don't look much. Don't compliment much. Soon that girl with the low cut top will be practically naked trying to get your attention. Use their desire to manipulate your desires against them.

[dthdhdghadh]

Awesome, I'll keep that in mind.

[david1992]

Might be for some of those reasons. Might be insecurity, maybe beacuse it's fashionable or of course to tease and get male attentnion. Or somethimes I think it could be a means of getting something, for example manipulating a man into buying her a drink. But in a few words when a girl dresses provocatively she seeks attention! I mean, nobody wears a miniskirt and a halter top and spike heels because it's comfortable, when there are clothes much more comfortable than that. Anyway girls shouldn't complain when they dress provocatively and they receive cat calls and such.

[udolipixie]

Why do you think women dress provocatively?
5.) Other

I think for many gals they feel good because of social pressure/media conditioning them that this is what is attractive looks like. However I think most gals just look in the mirror and like what they see though often I find what they like is influenced by current fashion and trends. Then there's the seeming factor that most of gal's fashion is probably provocative to a substantial group of guys no matter what.

1. They feel good because they get a lot of male attention and/or other girls are jealous of the male attention they get
I find most gals do not want a lot of random male attention hence the labels of street harassment or tactics like wearing unplugged headphones, wearing a wedding ring, or taking a different route. Most gals it seems do not find attention from male strangers enjoyable as it's often crude and upon rejection can turn unpleasant be it verbal or physical. It seems like when gals want random male attention they seek it out online which offers some sense of security and when they want male attention they seek it out from (un) attached guys in their social circle/environment who they know or know of.

2. They feel good because they can dangle something in front of men but then denying them to get it (which I guess makes you feel empowered and that's certainly a nice feeling)
I find most gals do not feel empowered this way as they likely do not consider themselves things to be dangled and don't see it as a matter of denying a guy. For some reason it seems mainly guys think gals rejections as 'denying' them as they think of it as some power play with the gal 'unjustly' daring to have say in on who she dates/f*cks. Most gals it seems do not enjoy rejecting guys or get power from it rather they seem aware of the potential threat of what a rejected guy can do.

[Starsite]

I like your opinions 👍

[dthdhdghadh]

It's commonly known that dressing provocatively gives women lots of random attention. And knowing that, they do it anyway even though they don't like it. I find that rather irrational.
It was not the implication for them to be things, but I would find it difficult to reject that denying someone is empowering. You want something from me, but I won't let you have it (unless)... how does that not give you power?

[udolipixie]

@Asker
I don't find it irrational when it seems like most gals get attention regardless of what they wear. Thus the perspective may be 'I'm going to get attention regardless so I'm not going to do a major change and change how I dress because of dudes but I'll do a slight change like wear a ring to diffuse the unwanted male attention'.

Likely you find it difficult to accept denying someone is not empowering as you seem to see it as a power play and that the gals are in the position to 'deny' you what you want. Plus you're not looking at the possible consequences for gals when the guy does not accept the rejection.

It does not give gals 'power' as guys also have the 'power' to accept/reject who they want.

[dthdhdghadh]

Regardless... I think not, pretty sure that's what burkas are all about. Though without going to such extremes, it would be easy enough to dress down in order to evade such male attention, but you wouldn't want to anyway. Is a ring helpful? If I understand this correctly, you are projecting to be owned (in a manner of speaking) by another man, and that would keep men away? Yes, I can see that working.

I actually know from own experience that holding something (or yourself in this case) over someone gives you power.
Not accept the rejection? What are you implying? Rape?
Not sure I understand that last phrase. Are you saying that both have that power? Of course they do. All I was saying is that having the power to deny someone that wants you... is power.

[udolipixie]

@Asker
Egh likely your own experience would be differenf if those you reject were bigger/stronger than you and members of a group most responsible for your group's harm/death.

I'm implying that gals don't know how random strangers will take rejection especially if they like it seems many guys see it as some power play. She can be yelled at, groped, sexually assaulted, raped, sexually harassed, stalked, hit, kicked, stabbed, etc. There's tons of news at least in the US about gals getting injured for rejected a guy and it's not even on 'ghetto' streets. Topics on street harassment will show that often times gals get verbal/physical/sexual abuse in response to rejecting a guy.

Meh denying someone that wants you who can be dangerous upon denial isn't really power to me.

If the gals don't think of it as power then they're most likely incapable of dressing up just to feel empowered by dangling something in front of men but then denying them to get it.

[udolipixie]

@Asker
I find rings help depending on the environment. I wear one to diffuse attention but it seems for moany guys "I'm too gorgeous not to risk it", "I look too young to be married", or they already know about the gal tactic of wearing a fake ring so they approach anyway.

I find headphones/rings to be the most helpful as with headphones you can pretend not to hear them and with rings I find most guys respect guys not gals. So while they will pester/bother a gal even after saying no they'll respect a guy's 'claim' to her. In my opinion a guy's word/presence holds far more value to guys than gal's Unless the gal is agreeing to be f*cked).

[LauraMarx]

ah pixie it is good to see u n your usual incredible answers :')

[udolipixie]

@LauraMax
lmfao. Thanks.

[dthdhdghadh]

Very well put. I guess I'm projecting too much of my own experience as I come from a rather more... benevolent background where such things don't happen. Or at least I haven't heard any such stories. I'm kinda saddened that your go to reaction would be that of abuse, I can imagine some men being that way though.

[udolipixie]

@Asker
More likely you haven't heard such stories. I find most guy's perception is if they don't hear gals lamenting about it 24/7 then it's some rare freak occurrence. Most gals I imagine don't share these stories with guys due to victim-blaming/shaming (duh you were dressed provocatively), the male defensiveness (instead of listening/supporting guys go 'not all men do X'), or guys will brush it off with at least she's getting attention/oh so bad guys think you're attractive.

There's even sites filled with street harassment stories and sites to help gals navigate cities with the areas of less street harassment. (Hollaback)

[dthdhdghadh]

Well, if it really bothers you so much... why not stop? Your portrayal seems to be that dressing up makes you feel good, but getting male attention feels bad, at this point I'd suggest you find some middleground, where you dress in a way you get some good feelings of dressing well, but not too much male attention.
I mean, that's what I'd do.

[udolipixie]

@Asker
It doesn't bother me much less so much. I actually use it as a source of amusement by humiliating the guys as creeps/perverts.

I already answered the 'why not stop' as it seems for most gals no matter how they dress they're going to get male attention. Whether it's a whole lot, a lot, much, many, some, etc it's still (unwanted) (unpleasant) attention.

The middleground you're suggesting seems to be a major overhaul/restriction on a gal's life while a ring/headphones are minor changes that can come off/on.

[dthdhdghadh]

So, it's empowering then.

[udolipixie]

How did you get it's empowering to have to make changes to your life in order to diffuse (unwanted) (unpleasant) male attention? o. O

[udolipixie]

Or are you talking how I use the unwanted attention as a source of amusement?

That's not empowering. That's me making the best out of the bad situation. The unwanted unpleasant random male attention is going to happen regardless of what I want as I can't control what guys do so I might as well get some fun from it.

[dthdhdghadh]

Humiliating other is empowering in the sense that putting others down puts you up (relatively).

[udolipixie]

@Asker
It may be empowering for you. It's not empowering for me as I'm not putting them down to put me up.

I'm putting them down to amuse myself as a way to 'get back' at them for their unwanted unpleasant attention that I can not control. It's evening the field not empowering for me.

It's odd to me how you seemingly use your own view of empowerment rather than actually listen to what gals state.

[dthdhdghadh]

You're right, I looked it up. It's emotional abuse. So you think someone giving you unwanted attention warrants emotional abuse?

[udolipixie]

I'm unsure what you looked up since you don't know what I do.

Emotional abuse is "a form of abuse characterized by a person subjecting or exposing another to behavior that may result in psychological trauma, including anxiety, chronic depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder"

So do tell me exactly what do I do that may result in psychological trauma like PTSD, chronic depression, and anxiety?

You do know what guys do- a barrage of unwanted unpleasant attention I can't control that hinders my life. If anyone is being 'emotionally abused' it's me.

[udolipixie]

Though to answer your question I think a guy giving me unwanted uninvited unpleasant attention warrants anything I want.

He's the one intruding on my time and space so he willingly chose to also open himself up to whatever reaction I have to that intrusion.

It's akin to how you don't put your hands on someone because you don't know how they'll react.

[dthdhdghadh]

This sums it up nicely, I know it's long, but just bear with it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-N9daqANcw

[udolipixie]

I didn't watch it as it's a video from karen straughan a MRA channel quite known in my opinion to post false propaganda, have a huge male bias, irrational blaming feminism mentality,. I read the description to get the gist of it being about a so-called 'double standard' where guys can't objectify gals but gals can objectify guys.

Which is bs to me as a gal is sexually objectifying the gal is seemingly generally shamed ala slut, whore. While when a guy is sexually objectifying a gal it is seemingly generally seen as natural the gal is blamed for it ala 'well you wore X'.

[udolipixie]

Considering the video link I can guess why despite 'asking' gals you're seemingly not listening to them and instead telling them what they are doing as you already have your own answer to your question and just want gals to 'admit' it.

Based on the new extreme misogynistic MRA insight in my opinion I'm done with this convo. You can keep posting but I won't be reading/responsing.

[dthdhdghadh]

I find a comprehensible model of why they do it more palatable. Her argument on dressage make sense to me, at least more sense to me that some tautological assertion.

[existing_not_living]

1. They feel good because they get a lot of male attention and/or other girls are jealous of the male attention they get.

> I would definitely say that some females are like this, but not all. Some do like to dress more modestly.

2. They feel good because they can dangle something in front of men but then denying them to get it (which I guess makes you feel empowered and that's certainly a nice feeling).

> Well, if you are looking to get revenge on someone, then that's the perfect way to go about it, right? ;)

3. It feels good because social pressure/values, the media and similar factors have propagated that dressing provocatively is good/empowering/whatever and conforming or being convinced of making good/empowering/whatever choices feels good.

> I wouldn't be surprised if some people did this. The media is a very powerful thing and influences a lot of things that people do.

Overall though, women might dress provocatively because it makes them feel good. Sometimes if I dress a little "skanky" (LoL, I don't feel like saying the P word again and I put skanky in quotations because I don't actually dress skanky - just a disclaimer) I do it to make me feel good about my body. Sometimes I'm feeling sexy (LoL, as sexy as I can be since I don't really see myself as sexy, HaHa), so I dress in a way that just makes me feel good about my body that day.

[existing_not_living]

I don't do if for the guys... well, most of the time, haha. ;)

[dthdhdghadh]

My theory to self worth is that it derives from what other people think about you. Or at least at some initial/primitive stage. Normative behavior does come from culture, if you were the only human in the world, what would be the point of morals that basically rule cooperation and cohabitation. So I feel as if the points you add could be filed under 1.)

[existing_not_living]

Ahh, I see.
I saw this was what you put as provocative.
> High heels - I don't wear them, but my sister does. It's to make herself look taller, haha and because she loves shoes.
> Short Skirts - They are so cute! I love them. I just wear them because they make me look adorable. At the least the short skirts that I wear.
> Stockings - I hate those she-beasts. Ugh. But, I wear them more just to keep my legs warm.
> Red Lipstick - My sister just likes to wear it cause it's nice looking. Not for guys.
All in all, this is just fashion for most. Not really to show off to the guys.

[dthdhdghadh]

Not high heels on their own, it's when you stack several of these things together that it becomes provocative. I can see how it is related to some ideal of beauty and that each of these items could do their (maybe small) part to increase that.
I once saw an interesting documentary about how beauty, or markers of beauty vary greatly between different cultures. You may be familiar with some African and Asian tribes that use neckrings to prolong their neck. For evolutionary reasons (mostly not fighting) women have longer necks than males, so long necks are seen as feminine, and masculine members find feminine traits (usually) attractive. Cultural evolution has come with all sort of ways to further stimulate or trim (Arab) sexual identifiers.
High heels heels, is about posture (they make you push your butt out further) and give longer legs, which probably stems from media portrayal of supermodel who are mostly long legged.

[dthdhdghadh]

Short skirts reveal legs, something that was completely taboo in Victorian age. How it works is that is revealing, without actually revealing more than the legs, but the slight chance that you might see under the skirt, it's also easier accessible.
Stockings do not really reveal the legs... but their shape, which is pretty sexy to most men.
Red lips... would naturally occur when a woman (or a man for that matter), has increased blood circulation in the lips, usually as a sign of sexual arousal.

What I'm saying is that pretty much everything about women's ideal of beauty is meant to be sexually arousing to men so I find it hard to overlook the correlation between wanting to be pretty and male attention... maybe even particularly sexual attention.

[aamy811]

Sometimes dressing provocatively makes me feel good. Sometimes I'll walk around y house in my underwear an I can't help but to feel HOT!!! Not because some guy is looking at me, but because I'm being daring. I once had some cleavage and I felt good because I was like "haha look at me, I'm daring and sexy", then one guy cat called me an I started to think "maybe I am dress to showy, never mind let me button my top up". Cat calling honestly just makes me feel worse about myself. It happened when I was younger (like 13) by some older guy and it made me feel like a slut. So now every time is happens I just feel awful about myself.
But I do like to feel daring sometimes, like a risk taker. I don't do it most of the time, but when I do it's because I want a pick me up, or I just want to feel... feel different! And I don't necessarily need attention to feel sexy or daring. Just wearing scythe underwear, that no one will see, makes me feel cool and sexy. Sometime it's the little things like some lacy panties or big things like short skirts or plunging necklines

[dthdhdghadh]

So... what would your ideal reaction be? Adoring silently? Anyway, thank you for your answer.
It's true, a lot of this is based on just you knowing... but is maybe part of it (a hopefully unfulfilled) phantasy of being discovered?

[aamy811]

I mean someone telling me my outfit is pretty does boost my confidence. I mean, who doesn't like being told they look nice. But I don't need it (some days I do, but most days I don't).
But I definetly don't want some guy walking by and saying "oh baby I see you! Trying I show off, how about you come over here and I show you something". I never ever want to hear that

[dthdhdghadh]

Would you be in higher need of it after you were rejected for example?

[aamy811]

It depends if it was somehow I didn't care about then id just brush it off, but if it's something I cared about then my confidence would e a little low. So a compliment would be nice. But still wearing some sexy underwear boosts my confidence enough

[Izzy2102]

I think it boils down to because men like it.

I mean obviously some clothes are just more comfortable than others, but if you dress in a skin tight short dress and heels every day it's because you hope to attract men.
And ya of course feeling attractive feels good. You don't even have to get attention, just thinking you are attractive works. So I think none of your options are quite correct

And then obviously you have 11 year old girls dressing like hooker, just because it's in style. That's another point I love long dresses but I hardly ever wear them because they're not in style and I don't want to stand out as a weirdo

[dthdhdghadh]

As I mentioned in response to similar opinions. It might be that these ideas are already internalized. If you know Pavlovs experiments at some point just the sound of the bell would trigger the salivating of the mouth.

[pr3ttybr0wn]

I like dressing sexy sometimes. I feel sexy and hot. I even dress sexy at home and I feel sexy. I don't mind male attention but I don't crave it from most men. I really only prefer male attention from guys I'm attracted to, not just any random guy. Like I won't get mad If an unattractive guy looks but he shouldn't think his attention is welcomed and that I dressed sexy just for him. Some guys have the false delusion that ur looking sexy just for them. I had to hurt one guys feelings by letting him know that I wasn't thinking of him when I got dressed in the morning. Lol some guys seriously think that.

[dthdhdghadh]

Interesting, though may I suggest that you may have internalized the feelings you get from dressing provocatively in public (where such things as attention, ideals of beauty and so forth come into play again) in a way that they hold true even though you're alone?

[pr3ttybr0wn]

I guess. I don't see it as a bad thing though

[dthdhdghadh]

Me neither, I'm not trying to judge, I'm trying to understand.

[Anonymous]

Male attention makes you feel desired. Makes you feel sexy. If you are getting attention instead of other women it makes you feel superior.

It makes you feel powerful when men ogle you. When you know they are looking at you. When you know they want you.

I am woman. Want me!

[dthdhdghadh]

I can totally see that. It's not as if men are immune to it either. Studies even show that brothers for example will try different attention niches, if one is a good boy and gets positive attention (praise etc), the other will often become a bad boy and get at least a scolding. In the end, any attention is better than no attention. As our personalities mature we are no longer as dependent on it, but I think it still plays a part.

[Opinion Owner]

I see what you're saying but I think it's much more simple than that. We want to be thought of as pretty and sexy and sexier than other women.

[Bellibooo]

The first one is probably true for some, not all, since some girls cover up to avoid make attention.
I would personally choose nr 3, but number 2 might be right in some cases as well.

[dthdhdghadh]

Yes, I completely neglected that some girls dress down. It's always a nice surprise when you get to know her better.

[ButterSauce]

It feels good to get up and take care of yourself. Take a shower, fix the hair, makeup if you want and then getting dressed is the fun part. Dressing provocatively goes a few ways. Yes they want attention however there are just some really sexy girlie girls out there that do it because thats who they are. They are sexy by nature. I have heard of some girle girls denying that they notice any attention they receive, but i know they are lying. Either way, natural or not, they loke the attention.

[watashiwahanadesu]

They probably just want to feel sexy or they just want to dress that way. There doesn't need to be a explanation behind everything someone does other than she wants to.

[dthdhdghadh]

Indeed, there doesn't have to be but I'm a very curious monkey and I always think that asking and knowing is better than guessing and assuming.

[itsallover]

Most of them do it for Option 1. A lot of women's self-esteem lies in attention from other men and envy from other women on their appearance.

[dthdhdghadh]

I don't really understand the downvote here, I guess she would have liked you to be more self assertive, which is not easy if you're walking against a storm of different opinions. Oh god, am I being patronizing now. Sorry, wasn't meant that way.

[itsallover]

No it's fine, I did voice my opinion quite bluntly but I didn't think I was rude about it. She probably just disagrees with me, which is fine.

[Vinvei]

media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mf1r9wSfY21r80p9c.gif

Because they like to dress that way. They feel comfortable in such clothing, perhaps. Freedom! Gotta use it sometimes :)

[dthdhdghadh]

Then let's dig deeper: Why do they feel comfortable in such clothing? If it was freedom (of movement?) why not go naked?

[Vinvei]

It's all in the law. A lot of women like to dress in things that make them feel comfortable about themselves not because of other people but because they like the look of it.

[dthdhdghadh]

What is comfortable about looking good or wearing good looking clothes? Wouldn't it be more comfortable to wear comfortable clothes?

[Vinvei]

There's physical comfort and there's psychological comfort. I would feel physically comfortable in tracksuit bottoms but I'd still feel uncomfortable in them because they look disgusting.

[dthdhdghadh]

And psychological comfort trumps physical comfort. So once again, what about looking good is so comforting if it isn't male attention or any of the other suggestions I made?

[Vinvei]

Why do people like goth? Why do people like hipster style? It's a fashion statement; they like seeing the clothes on themselves and are not doing it for other people but for themselves.

[dthdhdghadh]

Friends, personal experiences, genetic preferences. Quite frankly, I believe everything in this universe happens for a reason, it's an endless chain of cause and effect.

[Anonymous]

Watch this:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=d-N9daqANcw

... your poll is empty?

[Opinion Owner]

Gah, figured it out. Voted D.

[AllThatSweetJazz]

Wow. All of my yes. I've been thinking about the same things for a while and I'm in total agreeance with this video. Twenty minutes of glorious YES.

[x] rekt [ ] not rekt

[dthdhdghadh]

Finally took the time to watch it. Yeah, it's pretty good.

[adele_m]

where is none of the above... when i wear something none of what you have mentioned is actually on my mind all i am thinking about what will make me look pretty i really don't care if it will attract or "provoke" someone

[dthdhdghadh]

Other.
I have surmised that being pretty makes you feel good for pretty much the same reasons, basically: either to conform to some ideal of beauty, for the male attention or the jealousy of other girls.

[adele_m]

why would i want male attention or female jealousy? makes no sense all i am thinking is this is the first thing in the closet i am tired i am gonna wear it or i like and like you said i feel good so i will wear it

[dthdhdghadh]

I may have worded it poorly.
I meant to say that I covered all that in the hypotheses I gave which omit the intermediary step of beauty.
Dressing well, in order to look good... but looking good for what reason? Or where does that image of looking good come from.

[adele_m]

look good for no reason? i just want to look good i like it fashion is like a hobby to us girls... why do you play ps4 or football or whatever that you do?

[dthdhdghadh]

Sorry, I just don't buy that. I mean, it would be an activity you would invest some time and money on and therefore there is something you'd get out.
As for football: you meet up with friends, competing is fun, you can improve your own skills, performing sports also releases endorphins.
As for PS4: basically, you apply some easy to learn skills, and when you "beat" something that will become increasingly difficult, it's learning and (immediate) validation in a curve that's designed to have low levels of frustration.

[adele_m]

ohhh really? and don't you pay for that ticket to go watch the football match and have some fun? don't you buy the ps4 and go every month to buy the newest cd? don't you spend money on it for fun? you don't need to believe but i dress for no man and for no attention and i am sure most of the girls do

[dthdhdghadh]

I don't watch football, well, except for the World Cup and even that usually only in the comfort of my own home or when they set up live transmission in public squares. At this point it becomes more about socializing though, sharing some common experience, which is (can be) important for group cohesiveness.
But yes, if I had more interest in it, I would pay for it. Though you may not be satisfied with the reason I provided why I could consider watching football (it was about playing football before) fun.
You know what I really like though? Learning new stuff. You may not believe how much of my time and money goes into procuring knowledge. Now there you'd have me on a tough spot, I would find it difficult to explain why I like knowing stuff. I'd say I find it empowering, knowledge is power after all, but more to the point, you feel like you achieved something, accomplished something. Maybe that's similar to dressing up, I don't know.

[adele_m]

yep maybe it is the same you like that for a reason which is making you happy and the same goes for makeup and clothes

[XRabbitHeartX]

I dress to make myself happy. I don't dress with guys, media or anything else in mind other than my own happiness. Voted E.

[dthdhdghadh]

There is of course the conscious decision, though general psychology would hold against that most of our decisions are made subconsciously.

[XRabbitHeartX]

I just told you I dress to make myself happy and that's how I feel whether you like it or not.

[dthdhdghadh]

I like it, I just wanna find out why you like it.

[XRabbitHeartX]

I like what I like... I dress however I feel/

[dthdhdghadh]

Why wouldn't you wanna explore your own reasoning and motivation? I mean, beyond tautological assertions.

[XRabbitHeartX]

@Asker because I can't. Just like I can't explain why purple is my favorite color, why I like sweet over sour flavors, why I like guys with darker hair and why seafood isn't my cup of tea.. it's who I am.

[dthdhdghadh]

Some experience with purple must have left a good association, same goes for dark haired men. Maybe your father is dark haired. I for example had as a kid a terrible experience with seafood, my parents took me to a big fish market on a hot and moist day, and the stink was overwhelming, ever since then the smell of fish is just too much for me.
Sweet is something that appeals to us, because it's "safe" and rich in calories (which at a time when organisms fought for survival) was pretty practical (whereas bitter isn't really relevant when it comes to nutrition and only serves to improve food taste even further).
It's okay if you don't wanna explore things further, let alone if you don't do it for yourself and only for my curiosity.

[XRabbitHeartX]

@Asker

My dad is an awful person so no, his hair color has nothing to do with it. My favorite color has changed before. There's no magical meaning behind it, trust me. Never had a bad experience with seafood either. I simply just don't like it or have a desire to eat much of it. I love exploring things but I dislike people trying to insinuate things for example when I say I want to dress a certain way. Like it or not but it's possible to do things not with anyone else in mind other than yourself. As simple as that.

[dthdhdghadh]

Given all we know about psychology and how our brain works, it's probably not as simple as that.

[XRabbitHeartX]

Sigh okay okay @Asker

[Chris011]

A guy in one of my class made a comment about how he thinks girls who dress provocatively all probably have some sort of daddy issue or something and, boy.. did 'a lot' of the girls in my class feel offended hahah

It was fun watching the debate.

[dthdhdghadh]

In all fairness, it's probably similar for men. Our ways of getting attention aren't any subtler. There is some truth to it however, that children who were more neglected by their parents tend to be more attention seeking in their adult lives.

[Chris011]

Very true indeed.

[Izzex3]

Or because that's their style and they can dress however they want?
I'll go out in an outfit that I think its cute or no big deal & have others think I look like a prostitute.

[dthdhdghadh]

When I ask why I don't do it to deny you your rights. Anyway, dress for success, right?

[Anonymous]

Because they want to be objectified... but they also want to be able to complain about it.

[Viperkiss]

Lol so true. Eww he looked at me like I was a p*rn star, just because I was dressed like a p*rn star. What a creep!!

[Opinion Owner]

EXACTLY!

[dthdhdghadh]

Actually, my favorite is when they complain about him not texting immediately, and when he does, he's too clingy.

[Eugene]

Female self esteem and self confidence relies on attention from men. More attention = higher self confidence and higher self esteem.

[dthdhdghadh]

Sounds true enough.

[Zendrya]

5.) It feels good because they are dressed how they want...

[dthdhdghadh]

Why do they want to dress provocatively then?

[Zendrya]

Because they can? Why do I like to wear jeans and a tshirt? It is my personality. The same reason why anyone wears anything. I don't think there needs to be an underlying reason.

[dthdhdghadh]

Our art teacher once said that people dress in jeans because the cut and linings accentuate our butts (both for male and females) and that if you wanted to dress comfortably (most people responded because they're comfortable), you should wear track pants.
While there doesn't need to be an underlying reason, there probably is. But anyway, let's not delve to deep into that.

[Starsite]

Define or picture of what you consider provocative.

[dthdhdghadh]

High heels, short skirts, stockings, corsets, plunging necklines, red lipstick...

[Starsite]

For some women that's called fashion.

[dthdhdghadh]

Haha, good point. So 3 then?

[Starsite]

I guess, although I wouldn't word it as such. ;)

What is your pick?

[dthdhdghadh]

A little bit of everything, and probably some things more.

[Bandit74]

mainly here to see the results but I'd say 4 combination of the above.

[Watermelonoma]

personally, i think its to make themselves feel attractive, and to feel attractive, it helps if a lot of guys are looking your way/giving you attention

[AllThatSweetJazz]

If not A then E

E: I'm not sure women do dress provocatively. What does that mean? I don't know, am I supposed to feel provoked?

[dthdhdghadh]

Provoking: giving rise to a specified reaction or emotion.

[AllThatSweetJazz]

I think most people dress to get a specific reaction out of people. I assume you meant women who dress to provoke arousal?

[dthdhdghadh]

That's the common usage of the term.

[AllThatSweetJazz]

How often do you think girls dress provocatively? Either they are not doing it that often or they are just not that provocative.

[dthdhdghadh]

If you look at a history of fashion... it makes you wonder how they'll walk around 20 years from now.

My point isn't that I'm against it any way, I just want to explore why they do it, and why so many girls are in denial of it.

[AllThatSweetJazz]

People always try to look attractive to others, it's instinctual. We all do the same thing.

I wonder what we'll be wearing 20 years from now. Are guys still going to have the same boring limited clothing options? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[Prof_Don]

Nothing wrong with dressing good and making yourself feel good! ;-)

[dthdhdghadh]

Of course not, I just wish to explore the reasoning behind it... and more honesty.

[G_Stranger]

Everybody likes to feel sexy, that's no mystery.

[dthdhdghadh]

That's not the mystery. The mystery seems to be why. My wish is simply that people would be more honest with themselves.

[Anonymous]

A mixture of seeking attention and looking to be accepted by society since they think that's what men want based on the media.

[tenofthepeaks]

the world doesn't conform to your conservative morals, dope..

[dthdhdghadh]

What conservative morals?

[tenofthepeaks]

your own. but i'm not bothered either way..

[dthdhdghadh]

I was not criticizing dressing proactively (they have to compete with everything the media is putting out after all), all I want is to know why they do it. And why they are so intent on denying the truth.
It's more about letting them know that we know (or guess or assume or whatever) and it's okay.

[luxpurity]

I've been "harassed" in street clothes. NOW WHAT?

[dthdhdghadh]

And how did that make you feel?
I'm just reading a great book, The Schoppenhauer Cure, in it a character, Rebecca, during group therapy, brings up a memory of that when she enters restaurants/rooms now men would no longer turn around to look at her and how she felt that this took like part of her personality away. Anyway, a thought experiment: how would you feel if they started to ignore you? (this book was written by a man, how true would that be?)

[luxpurity]

That makes sense, a lot of people crave attention. When it happens to me I honestly don't care but I think it's because I'm just a careless person. Sometimes it's scary but a lot of the time I can't help but laugh.

[dthdhdghadh]

I see, would be interesting to have a followup on this when it actually happens.

[Virulent]

Because why not?

[dthdhdghadh]

Hahaha, yes, why not indeed. So long as they don't mind me looking anyway :D

[Miss_Rendezvous]

Note that everything we do isn't always for men.

[dthdhdghadh]

Our genetic makeup hasn't changed much in the last couple of centuries, so pretty much all our endeavors are geared towards reproduction.

[Miss_Rendezvous]

So my birding is to attract mates? I don't want to attract a senior citizen mate ahahaha

[dthdhdghadh]

Birding? If you meant preening, yeah, it's meant to attract attention.

[Miss_Rendezvous]

No... no. Ornithology. Bird watching. Birding. Not grooming.

[JSmuve]

A combination of 1 and 2.

[newhotmama2015]

Makes some women feel good about themselves

[dthdhdghadh]

Exactly, but what about it makes them feel good?

[KiaTate]

To feel sexy and confident.

[Anonymous]

... for themselves?

[dthdhdghadh]

What purpose does it serve for themselves?

[Opinion Owner]

It empowers them

[dthdhdghadh]

How?