By insisting girls as young as four wear 'modesty shorts', we are letting down our daughters – but also underselling our sons
![](https://static.independent.co.uk/2021/04/23/17/GettyImages-1306869717.jpg?quality=75&width=1200&auto=webp)
In the same week that the prime suspect in the Sarah Everard murder pleads guilty to rape and kidnapping, it is both enraging and depressing that we are still debating the role of girls in their own harm
![](https://i0.wp.com/theinquisitivemom.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Its-Not-About-the-Shorts-Navigating-the-Cultural-War-Over-Girls-Bodies-1.jpg?resize=735%2C1332)
It's Not About the Shorts: Navigating the Cultural War Over Girls
![](http://walkinghighcotton.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/05130715/modesty-for-girls-5-e1406120044221.jpg)
Modesty Guidelines for Our Daughter » Walking in High Cotton
![](http://faithgateway.com/cdn/shop/articles/modesty-for-girls.jpg?v=1657024559)
Modesty for Girls: Where to Draw the Line – FaithGateway Store
![](https://i2.wp.com/theinquisitivemom.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Its-Not-About-the-Shorts-Getting-Dressed-Should-Not-Be-This-Complicated-1.jpg?resize=735%2C1332)
It's Not About the Shorts: Navigating the Cultural War Over Girls
![](https://cdns-images.dzcdn.net/images/talk/7fa3fb9c215d2dbe7c6464d5e4b19e39/264x264.jpg)
Live Like the World is Dying podcast - 18/11/2022
![](https://assets.isu.pub/document-structure/231003182514-3248531d179ae1d3fe153661a24f37fa/v1/77da65b93fd19744bb945a2aecb9b4e8.jpeg)
WORTH: Special Climate Issue 2023 by Worth Media - Issuu
![](https://www.gutenberg.org/files/50089/50089-h/images/0009.jpg)
The Paper Cap, by Amelia E. Barr
![](https://static.independent.co.uk/2021/04/23/17/GettyImages-1306869717.jpg?width=1200&height=1200&fit=crop)
By insisting girls as young as four wear 'modesty shorts', we are
![](https://oll-resources.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/oll3/store/titles/1835/lf1236-05_figure_001.jpg)
lf1236-05_figure_001.jpg