> Modesty was developed across multiple societies as a way of equalizing physical attractiveness.
I would argue that this is forgetting how violent the world used to be. Most people were farmers, which meant most men were stronger than they are today. Meanwhile, women didn't have bras, tampons, or other hygiene products because they didn't exist yet. There was also no DNA testing if you were attacked, no cameras in the area to witness the car, or the attacker running. If you were attacked, say, in a farmer's field with nobody nearby, it was only your word against his. And if he was smart and masked, and you didn't know who it was... well, sucks to be you in every way. Good luck finding a husband. Remember there were also no government programs either - your social circle and (sometimes, depending on era) charity organizations were your only recourse. For those who didn't have a good social circle, all you need to do is crack open Oliver Twist or another Charles Dickens book.
So, if you were a woman, dressing immodestly was (not to be victim-blaming) asking for trouble (especially as that was a trait that only prostitutes in the era tended to do), as was being alone anywhere, or even just not being at home - and if trouble happened to you, seeking redress could be quite difficult if not completely impossible, in part due to the lack of things we have today. So, you probably didn't want to do that...
I would argue that this is forgetting how violent the world used to be. Most people were farmers, which meant most men were stronger than they are today. Meanwhile, women didn't have bras, tampons, or other hygiene products because they didn't exist yet. There was also no DNA testing if you were attacked, no cameras in the area to witness the car, or the attacker running. If you were attacked, say, in a farmer's field with nobody nearby, it was only your word against his. And if he was smart and masked, and you didn't know who it was... well, sucks to be you in every way. Good luck finding a husband. Remember there were also no government programs either - your social circle and (sometimes, depending on era) charity organizations were your only recourse. For those who didn't have a good social circle, all you need to do is crack open Oliver Twist or another Charles Dickens book.
So, if you were a woman, dressing immodestly was (not to be victim-blaming) asking for trouble (especially as that was a trait that only prostitutes in the era tended to do), as was being alone anywhere, or even just not being at home - and if trouble happened to you, seeking redress could be quite difficult if not completely impossible, in part due to the lack of things we have today. So, you probably didn't want to do that...