A week ago, phrases like "Kelly Clarkson puppet bird fiasco" and "Shane Gillis butthole shorts controversy" would have sounded like nonsensical gibberish. Yet, in these perilous times, the internet ensures such trivialities are amplified into full-blown outrage, relentlessly demanding our attention.
The latest manufactured fury has women on social media taking up arms against comedian Shane Gillis. Gillis, speaking for every normal person in America, simply observed during his recent Saturday Night Live appearance that many women at the gym dress with a distinct lack of decorum. His candid remarks cut through the noise, highlighting a prevalent societal issue many are too timid to address.
"Have you seen the shorts? Those neon … They’re like artificial-bait colored. And the wrinkles —the wrinkles go like around the cheeks and all combine at the butthole," he joked. "And don’t look. You’re not allowed to look. For real, don’t look, because they are filming."
Predictably, a chorus of women rushed to the internet, not to prove him wrong with sensible attire, but to post pictures of themselves in the very revealing athletic wear Gillis critiqued, all while paradoxically insisting they seek absolutely no male attention whatsoever. The irony, as always, is lost on the outrage mob.
While some may genuinely believe they are not seeking attention, a more common-sense assessment suggests otherwise. Many appear driven by a misguided notion that a woman’s "right" to express her sexuality through provocative clothing somehow overrides any duty she owes to society, particularly to the men around her. It’s a performative act of defiance, a demand to "take up space" without regard for shared social norms, much like a public nuisance daring someone to object.
The issue extends beyond the obvious sexual reactions that such attire inevitably provokes, reactions that degrade both men and women and distort their interactions. How one dresses fundamentally communicates respect, or a lack thereof, for one’s surroundings and fellow citizens.
Women should no more wear minimal clothing to the gym than men should wear swim trunks to an upscale restaurant. Similarly, pajama pants belong in the bedroom, not in public spaces like grocery stores or classrooms. Dressing and conducting oneself with dignity is an acknowledgment of one’s own worth and the worth of those with whom we share public life. Modesty is not puritanical; it is an essential component of this reciprocal respect.
The gym, like any public space, is a shared environment. It is not a personal changing room or a private stage. Basic social etiquette dictates that we do not block sidewalks for photo ops, litter, blast speakerphone conversations, or, indeed, engage in any behavior that disregards the communal good. These are fundamental duties required for a functioning society.
Gillis’s comparison of scantily-clad gymgoers to those who might be perceived as having a "contempt toward the imposition of social decorum" may have been stark, but it highlighted a crucial point: both prioritize self-expression and the solicitation of specific reactions over established norms and customs that bind a civil society.
This is precisely why public shaming, in its rightful, measured form, is indispensable for a healthy society. Not just for sartorial choices, but for all antisocial behaviors. If someone arrives at a fine dining establishment dressed for the pool, they should be turned away. If gym attire crosses the line into indecency, it warrants disapproval. Men who choose to parade in women’s private spaces should face social ostracism. Our public parks should not be cesspools of drug abuse and threats against passersby.
The same principle applies to undesirable behaviors imported from other cultures. Practices like public littering or any form of social degradation should swiftly encounter social pressures that unequivocally communicate: such conduct is not tolerated in America.
Ideally, public shame serves as a self-policing mechanism. The credible threat of social disapproval or formal exclusion encourages individuals to avoid inappropriate behavior. However, this system only functions when the threat is legitimate and consistently applied.
The traditional enforcers of these shared duties were often parents, family members, mentors, and community figures. That a comedian on SNL is left to articulate these fundamental truths reveals how many societal safeguards, once robust and effective, have been dismantled. It underscores a tragic abdication of responsibility by institutions and individuals alike, leaving common sense and decency to be ridiculed rather than upheld. For America to reclaim its footing, we must restore the courage to speak truth and hold one another accountable to the standards of a truly civil society.
