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SCMP Reporter

Do young girls who 'over-expose' themselves in skimpy clothing ask for trouble and make themselves targets for sexual assault?    This question always creates a storm of controversy and triggers vigorous discussion between the sexes.

   Some regard agreement with such a view as 'nonsense' or 'outdated' with no statistics or scientific evidence backing up any correlation between the intention of sexual attackers with victims' physical looks.

  While the others believe provocatively dressed women are more vulnerable to sexual assault.

    Six students from Ho Lap College gave their opinions on the subject to Young Post.

  To start with, they tried to explain what they believed were the reasons for wearing sexy clothing.

  Sixth-former Hui Ka-fung, 17, said it was to enhance women's attractiveness or to improve their femininity.

  However, Ka-fung believed that wearing clothes was for protecting bodies, not exposing them.

  'If this is not the case, it will express a special meaning or convey seductive appeal to others,' he added.

  Karen Lee Hoi-lin, 17, thinks dressing in such a way is an 'act' to show off their confidence in front of the others.

  Whatever the purpose, Karen said: 'Those wearing sexy clothing should take extra steps and bear the responsibility for protecting themselves.'   Salina Choi Yan-yin, 17, thinks that girls wear miniskirts or sexy clothing to keep up with fashions.

  She questioned the validity of the claim that provocatively dressed women were more vulnerable to sexual attack.

  'If they [men] have no intention of attacking, I hardly think mini-skirts would drive them to take action,' she said.

     Hwe Siu-kei, 18, on the other hand, said he believed that wearing sexy clothing, including mini-skirts, created a big danger for girls.

  'We are human beings and we can't control or know the thinking of others.

   'So, wearing skimpy clothing will give a wrong signal or act as a seductive appeal to those with suspect desires.

  'It will lure them to take certain action as well,' he said.

  Au Yeung Yu-leung, 17, agrees that girls wearing mini-skirts risk sexual assault.

  He said: 'Their purposes can be divided into two groups. One group wants to catch people's attention or show off their perfect shapes, while the other group wants to follow the latest fashion trend.'   Yu-leung said he was not a conservative person but believed that if girls wore sexy clothes or mini-skirts with a respectable demeanour or observed normal decorums it would not be a problem.

  'When they wear it for a special occasion I don't think it should make them uncomfortable or be asking for great trouble,' he added.

   Koko Mok Ka-man, 17, also thinks that whether girls wearing sexy clothing or mini-skirts risked sexual assault depended entirely on their behaviour while wearing them.

  'It's not a problem of how many clothes you put on your body, rather it hinges on what your verbal or non-verbal behaviour conveys. If you send out certain messages, it will make you get into trouble,' she said.

  All the students said it was hard to conclude that girls who wore mini-skirts or dressed up in sexy clothing are at risk of sexual assault.

   Also they were faced with the dilemma of evaluating the purpose of wearing such clothing, given that people living in a free society do enjoy the right to do whatever they like so long as they do not interfere with the freedom of others.

  However they all came to the same conclusion: when girls opt to wear mini-skirts or sexy clothing they should take extra steps to protect themselves.



Are girls at risk in sexy gear?