You don't have to look very long or very hard to see that modest clothing is the exception in our culture.

Modern culture has made modesty something to be avoided. Walk through any school, mall or clothing store and you'll generally see more skin than clothing. Although there is a need for modest clothing for both sexes, it's the girl's clothing (or lack there of) that seems to be the greatest problem.

Males are visually stimulated when it comes to the fairer sex. It takes very little skin for a young man (or an adult man) to be physically and mentally affected by what is seen. I know this from personal experience and from discussions with many other men.

The clothing industry is responsible for creating and pushing immodest clothing on our young girls. It's difficult to find much else on store shelves. Television, movies, and concerts are a few of the tools used to promote immodest fashions. What is a conservative parent to do? How do we protect our girls and boys from this trap?

1. Teach your children that it's OK to dress modestly. With a bit of work you can find clothing that looks nice but still covers the body in a flattering way.
2. Be selective where you shop. Don't let the stores dictate what you purchase or what your children wear. If a store only carries immodest clothing don't shop there any longer. Furthermore, speak with the manager or owner and express your concerns. You can boycott a store and recommend to family and friends to do the same. In a sluggish economy your voice can carry a lot of weight.
3. Shop online where you can be more selective. There are thousands of clothing stores online and a little research can really pay off.
4. Probably the most important thing you can do is to stand your ground. Insist on modest clothing for your children and teach them why it is important. You will help your daughters to not draw unwanted attention and your sons will be able to look at a girl without losing all their sensibilities.

The world wants the hearts, minds and bodies of our children. Protecting them from temptations to conform will help them make better decisions as the mature. Girls need to understand that immodest clothing causes problems for young men. As they become young women modest clothing is even more essential. Male eyes may enjoy seeing scantily clothed women but it's not necessarily good for the man or the woman.

Again, teach your children at an early age to dress modestly and they hopefully will carry those values into adult life, especially if they understand the reasons behind the lessons. Don't be afraid to raise you voice to retailers that insist on only carrying immodest clothing. They need to be held accountable.