Here is a picture of the ladies' Wimbledon Champion for 1904 (Dorothea Chambers):
In 1905, May Sutton took the title; she became the first American and first non-British woman to win the Wimbledon singles. Here is a picture of her ... look at this and then read the scandal associated with it below:
She won the title while shocking the British audience by rolling up her sleeves to bare her elbows and wearing a skirt that showed her ankles.
Hmmm. Most of the professing christian women I know bare a lot more than their elbows and ankles.
I'll leave out the picture of what women wear today while playing tennis. We don't need to go there. But sadly, it is the same way I see many professing christians dressing.
16 READER COMMENTS:
Hello.
Their clothes may have been more modest then. But women play a better, more consistent, more accurate game of tennis dressed as they do today.
It is about tennis, not about sex, unless you put sex into the equation.
Have you ever played tennis? You need to be able to move. I think God is pleased to see women strengthening and exercising the body He gave them, protecting it from ill health through vigorous exercise.
Men who have impure thoughts will have them about the 1900s women and the 2010 women.
Jamie, are you a professing christian?
I don't care that women can move better when playing tennis if they dress in their underwear. Worse yet, God is not pleased to see women parading around in the underwear.
If it's exercise you are after, go for a good walk or hike, or play tag with your (or some) children - all of which can be done in modest clothing.
"Worse yet, God is not pleased to see women parading around in the underwear."
I myself would never presume to say what God likes or doesn't like. Unless there is Scripture about tennis outfits, I don't think you can say either.
Do you have a meek and quiet spirit when you presume to know what God wants?
God's word is very clear on this subject; one does not have to presume.
Joanne, are you saying that you believe it is wrong for us as woman to show our ankles or elbows? Based on what scriptures?
This post is not about ankles and elbows. If you seriously want an answer to your ankle and elbow question, please ask your husband &/or the Lord.
My husband thinks it's great that women are excelling in tennis, and he thinks that they should dress in a way that allows them to play as expertly as they can. He says they are being good stewards of their body by exercising like that (they're getting in far better shape than they would by playing a game of tag!).
He has no problem with modern tennis dress, and doesn't feel defrauded by it at all. I feel the same way about male tennis players, who also show a great deal of skin.
I hope another perspective is helpful!
Good post. It is amazing what "Christian" women call modest. And there is a verse that talks about any part of the leg being bare as a disgrace. Haven't checked into the elbows thing. In TX I had sleeves TO the elbow because it was SO HOT. Up here 3/4 length is still too cold 11/12 of the year:):) And that is fine by me!
Praise the Lord. Thank you for the comment.
It was the hottest summer I can ever remember (we live in SW MO). We made it without having to show our elbows or ankles ;)
Yes, I agree, it is amazing what most call 'modest' today. It does not make sense. I told a brother about this post and he said it's only been within the last 100 years or so that women have not been covered properly. Suddenly in the last 100 years we have gotten so 'smart' as to see that we were doing it 'wrong' for the first 5,900 years. Goes right along with all the other things we have had 'wrong' for the past 5,900 years or so.
Do you really think women have covered their elbows and ankles for the last 5,900 years?
I'd suggest you begin a study of the history of women's dress. And avoid homeschooling on that subject, until you do.
The decent ones, yes.
I agree with Jamie that men who have impure thoughts will have them with 1900's and the 2010 women. They will also have them with women who dress 'in their underware' or those who dress in gunny sacks. You seem so big to judge those who don't live up to your standards when it comes to being a Christian. Everyone has their own way with the Lord and it seems that when it's not your way, they are not true Christians. Stop judging people and their ways and just enjoy the world!
Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
Right Jamie! Joanne may need a better understanding of history before she teaches her daughter about modest dress. Oh what error if she might teach her daughter to dress way too modestly and then God would really be displeased wouldn't He? Maybe you could help Joanne get a more well rounded historical view of Modesty. Maybe you could dig up some example of how lewd women dressed in the 1300's. You will probably find that mid-evil prostitutes dressed even more modestly than you do. Hey I have a suggestion for!!! You could write a terrific book for homeschoolers...
"Whorish Dress Throughout the Centuries"
Teaching your children the art of prostitution.
By Jamie
Hey Anonymous... Stop Judging Joanne and Just enjoy her article.
Are you saying that if we are friends with the world (enjoying what God has given us) that we are enemies with Him? That he will not love us unless we hate everything He has given us to enjoy? Sounds like it to me.
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