We live in a society that connects dress with identity. If you dress like this… then you must be that…
Our society focuses so much on the way that people dress that people turn into the clothes that they are wearing. If you are wear a short skirt, you’re called a slut. If you are wearing a long skirt, you’re named a prude. If you wear revealing clothing, you are “asking for it”.
Governments, schools, people and other institutions worldwide are attempting to regulate dress in some form. They also all use dress to judge people of all shapes, sizes, religions, ethnicities and classes.
“She doesn’t dress like she has a lot of money”
“He’s rich but you couldn’t tell by the way her dresses. He must be very humble”
“She dresses like a boy, so she must be a lesbian”
“He dresses very well, so he must be gay”
Just a few things I’ve heard people say while growing up that I never really quite understood. How can you judge someone and make such a concrete and definite statement over something that can change in an instant, like dress. People can dress the part they want to play. I can wear really nice and expensive clothes, but that does not mean I’m in any way rich. I can wear a hijab, but that does not mean I am Muslim. I am wear revealing clothing, but that does not make me a whore or a prostitute or a slut.
I guess I have a major problem with this because my entire life I have been judged over anything I wear, and honestly its getting old. People should wear what they want, when they want, and not have to feel as though an unwanted identity is being thrown at them.
I wear what I want to wear because it makes me feel good about myself. I do not wear clothes to get attention from certain people or to be judged by others. Society needs to understand this.
Unruly Bodies 
The way that society decides things about you based on how you dress is rather ridiculous. Someone may decide to dress one way because it is how they feel most comfortable, but usually people will make a large amount of assumptions about them from how they have chosen to dress themselves. How we dress is no one’s business but our own.
It really pisses me off when people think they can judge someone by what they’re wearing or how they adorn themselves. I remember when I was younger I felt bad for staring at someone (I think they may have been Goth) and my mother told me it was okay because, “they look like that because they WANT you to look at them.” No. This is not okay. If you don’t know a person then don’t say what they “want.” I have colored hair, but I hate it when people stare at me. I’m not doing any of this for them. I do it for myself.
I feel like the most distressing thing about people judging others on how they dress and look is the fact that people are taught to do that at such young ages. If it’s not from the media it’s from our parents and family teaching us or doing it in front of us. After a while kids follow because they aren’t told it’s a terrible thing to do, then they become judgmental adults. It’s a big issue that needs to be addressed because how people dress expresses their individuality and personality.Why would we be judgmental of people who are showing their authentic selves?