Should a woman be treated differently if...

[Mr Greene]

 The fact is that when people dress provocatively, they generally want to be treated as a sex object to some extent. We're sexual beings. When my wife wears lingerie, she wants to be treated as a sex object, and I happily oblige - yet neither one of us feels as if she's being treated as a lesser human being. 

Unless someone has some serious issues, it's not wrong to treat them in the way that they want to be treated. Lots of good relationships started out as superficial attractions. If my daughter dressed to draw such attention, I would hope that she would then try to weed out those who were solely sexually motivated, but it wouldn't be wrong for the men to have sexual interest.

I think you are utterly wrong here, I would guess your daughter is very young (if you have one) as you seem to have no idea of how a teenage girl dresses and behaves or the motivations that influence what she chooses to wear.
A 12 year old in hot-pants and crop-top is not out to be treated as a sex object.

[John V]

I think you are utterly wrong here, I would guess your daughter is very young (if you have one)

I have 3, ages 18, 16, and 14. I was referring to the 18-yo as I just wouldn't let the minors go out in such attire.

[Aoi Magi]

I think you are utterly wrong here, I would guess your daughter is very young (if you have one)

I have 3, ages 18, 16, and 14. I was referring to the 18-yo as I just wouldn't let the minors go out in such attire.

Trying to stand out, go with the trend, or simply seeking attention are the main reasons people dress certain way. Being treated as a sex object is the last thing on their mind generally. Environment, situation, relation and a lot of other factors determine when people are actually looking for sex, not just their attire.

[John V]

Trying to stand out, go with the trend, or simply seeking attention are the main reasons people dress certain way.

Yep, people are frequently making a statement and seeking attention with their dress.

[Angrboda]

Whether people are dressed in accord with the expectations of the particular context and role the person is inhabiting tends to be a stronger incentive to view a woman as a sex object. If I go to a fancy dinner ball dressed in hot pants and a tank top, that seems to advertise my sexuality more than if I wear the same outfit to the beach. I think it is the disparity between the context and the dress which makes it an issue of sexual objectification. Children in particular are expected not to advertise themselves as sexual, so their dress comes under greater scrutiny for conforming to the expectation of the role. A child wearing a bikini top at the beach seems okay. The same child wearing a bikini top at school, not so much.

[Mr Greene]

Is the frequency of encounters with women wearing less clothing, a factor?
Is it that most men, particularly those from religious backgrounds simply don't encounter such women often enough to know how to respond?

[Excited Penguin]

Whether people are dressed in accord with the expectations of the particular context and role the person is inhabiting tends to be a stronger incentive to view a woman as a sex object.  If I go to a fancy dinner ball dressed in hot pants and a tank top, that seems to advertise my sexuality more than if I wear the same outfit to the beach.  I think it is the disparity between the context and the dress which makes it an issue of sexual objectification.  Children in particular are expected not to advertise themselves as sexual, so their dress comes under greater scrutiny for conforming to the expectation of the role.  A child wearing a bikini top at the beach seems okay.  The same child wearing a bikini top at school, not so much.

I don't care how she's dressed. I won't treat any woman like a sexual object until she makes it clear to me that she wants me to do it.

[vorlon13]

I wouldn't even go that far . . .