I think responsibilities are held here by both sexes. Men need to control themselves and women need to take responsibility for what they wear.

Power is an important underlying issue here. What is frequently overlooked in debates here is that the woman is not always benign in how she chooses to dress - my experience of female friends is that they dress provocatively because they love the feeling of power they hold over men by showing off. However, the vast majority of women don't flaunt that power, as the vast majority of men know how to control their physical power. The point is that any form of power wielded to excess builds resentment in those dis-empowered.

A thorough dispelling of the myth in society that women aren't as sexual as men and the removal of chivalric, outdated notions that the man has to make the first move in any given dating situation is also needed. While it feels nice to be able to pick and choose potential suitors the guy always has to make the move :-(

Dan, London,

Time the codpiece came back into fashion?

F Kimbal Johnson, Louth,Lincs, uk

I am a very beautiful women (I know that sound sbig headed but it is true) and I dress normally yet i still get groped by men when I am out in Britain. Always I threaten to call the police, and remind the men they will have been caught on CCTV, and while they pack it in they always swear at me. Should I only go out wearing a full face veil? Or should men be told that if they want to be allowed out in public they behave proprly. I live in Denmark and while there are rapes the level of sexual harresment just doe snot occur here unless one goes to a British bar. As a result women can sunbath topless and not get bothered by anyone but Danish women avoid the bars thta are known to be tourist traps because it means spending the night being groped. Of course the said gropes do not like it when the police turn up and they spend the day of the football match they have come to see in the cells (they are normally drunk gropers who get very agressive when women tell them to back off )

Astrid, denmark,

The problem has been defined as a female one it isn't. It is the continuation of the myth that male sexuality is uncontrolable. Until this is challenged it doesn't matter how women behave or dress they will still be made responsible for
male behaviour. This view is particularly prevalent in traditional
societies and yes traditional Muslim societies.
Not on mates. Your drives are your responsibility. We are all enjoined not to make judgements about people according to
what we see and assume. Women are people too however they dress.

Adam, Harrogate, UK

I would like to add that it is not just men who judge a woman's character by her clothes, other women do it too! I bet there is not a single one among us who can honestly deny having judged another woman, whether for her professionalism at work or her supposed promiscuity in a nightclub, by her clothes!

And though I could never believe that a rape could be the fault of the woman as it is such an aggressive, despicable act, but I certainly think women can protect themselves. My most annoying friend is a girl who wears skirts that barely cover her knickers in nightclubs and then starts fights when men try to grope her. Their behaviour is disgusting but she cannot dresses in that fashion knowing full well that she attracts attention, is she not provoking being objectified and treated like a piece of meat by continually displaying herself in that way?

Holly, Birmingham, UK

I think women should be allowed to carry guns like they can in the States. That way we can wear what we like.

Thalia, London,

Bleat! Bleat! Bleat! Just one more chapter in the never ending saga of women complaining the life isn't fair to them. Here's a little bit of reality! Life ain't fair - to anyone! It doesn't matter how often you parade the dogma of sexual quality and the social engineering intended to achieve it (I'll leave out the bit about how that social engineering is currently aimed at making women the Napolians of the Animal Farm scenario), equality of any sort is essentially unnaural. Simple fact - women ARE the weaker sex, at least physically, which is the factor that determines if you are likely to be a victim. The only thing that prevents the wholesale return to the politics of the caveman is the application of the law, itself a basically unnatural invention. True most men abide by it, but there will always be some who don't, and the number is rising as they feel victimised by the law. Women would be much safer if they understood that fact and acted in ways that mitigated the effects of it.

Bob Finbow, Haverhill, England

The whole subject is complicated by the "nature or nurture" question. Are men turned on by revealing clothing on women? Of course they are but then the question arises as to what is revealing? Male Muslims appear to believe they will not be capable of resisting being turned into raging sexual attackers by clothing that Western men have grown up to live with. Of course, nothing says that Western men can't enjoy the view and I think the chador or veil is a very attractive and sexy garment, anyway!

James Silverton, Potomac, USA

If i see a lady wearing skimpy clothes, i'd probably love the sight. But what if a rapist out on parole also sees her? Thats why dress modestly. Simple. Fact. Truth.

Faz, London,

I am surprised that the Professor misses out one of the single most important drivers of women's clothing in the present day - namely the fashion industry.

When she talks of what 'clothing has been about', she should acknowledge that nowadays it is a high margin, frequently purchased product which women feel the need to keep changing due to changes in fashion.

Haider, London, UK

Used to hide and conceal things from prying eyes. Often one can glimpse that underneath all that material the wearer is may have make up, demin, frilly socks, and the Satan of them all a pair of American branded trainers.

I saw two such young females in Tesco flicking though the latest issues of Hello and Bella magazines.

It just goes to show that what is happening on the outside does not always reflected what is going-on on the inside.

The burka is kinkiest dress code of them all! and makes a mess trying to eat Spaghetti Bolognese. Viva la Burka!

DSH, London, UK

It just goes to show men have not evolved at all , they lack self control & still see women as the weaker sex.

My question is , do people really believe Eve seduced Adam ?
I think not , all of history points to Adam being the seducer !

maggie Millington, brittany , france

"For women even more than men, clothes have always been about identity..."

This identity is impossed on women by the media. Womens identity are associated with their clothes. Clothes are specifically designed for certain functions. Different sports clothes, for sports events. Smart clothes for meetings/functions. Pyjamas for sleeping. Swimwear for swimming. Ski wear for skiing. Police clothes for policeman/women. Builders clothes for building. Zero clothes for poll-dancing/porno film making. Mini-skirts/fish-nets/high heels for re-light districts. Sheeps skin clothes for north pole adventures. veils/head coverings for Nuns/Muslim religious people...etc

Basically, what ever clothes women wear, tells males about their personality and identity. So when males see women on the streets with mini-skirts, they automatically link them with working girls, porno stars or poll-dancers. That is why they get the most attention. Men identify women from what they wear. It's natural.

Mohammed, London, UK

I think a role swap would help men reassess. For a month, for instance, men should wear only black and cover themselves completely. They should not be allowed out of the house unaccompanied. Women should try white and see if it is brighter and cooler. Then we could move away from shopping where the only comment possible might be: What a lovely shade of black.

Phil, Hong Kong,