neighbour to our bodily comforts”.29 In this context, I think it appropriate to add a word about breast-feeding. This maternal gesture, which is a vital and intimate moment between mother and babe, should be avoided in public, or if in a particular situation cannot be avoided, should be done as discreetly as possible with appropriate veiling of breast and babe. The reason is simply that it is not proper for a woman to bare her breasts in the presence of others, especially men, other than her husband. Heels, Cosmetics and Other Adornments The question of high heels requires a more nuanced answer. The reason many women wear heels is to appear more elegant. The problem is that this elegance comes at a price, for in most cases, high heels force a woman to walk with the chest protruding forward, the backside protruding backwards and an exaggerated sway of the hips – all of which increase the curves of the feminine physique that have a very strong sexual appeal to men, thus attracting their gaze to those parts of the body.30 There are numerous studies that have confirmed this, and it is evidenced by the way high heels are marketed in advertising and fashion campaigns. Another disconcerting confirmation comes from certain developments in the field of plastic surgery, which was originally made to correct deformities and defects, and which has in recent years seen an exponential increase in procedures which are aimed at the enlargement precisely of both these focal points, the curves of the female body.31 The fact that high heels result in a similar effect is a sad reality, that every Christian woman needs to be aware of, lest she unintentionally appeal to this base male instinct through her dress or comportment. To conclude then, if wearing heels is not in itself necessarily immodest, the effects produced by them, depending on the rest of the ensemble, can certainly be immodest. You also asked about using makeup. As long as you do so “soberly and moderately and not excessively, shamelessly, and immodestly”32, it is acceptable. Some women seem to put so much time and energy into making themselves so strikingly beautiful that the head of every man on the street will turn and gawk when they pass. That is vain and sinful. Use a little makeup, especially if you have some facial faults, but without losing too much time in front of the mirror.33 As for styling your hair, of course. You do not have to let it flow freely. Regarding your question about a woman dressing to please her husband, it is true that St Thomas says as much. However, this obviously means within the 67
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