Punishments, Peer Pressure Impact Girls' Clothing Decisions

A study from Brock University in Canada found that peer group pressure keeps girls from dressing too sexy.

Dr. Rebecca Raby conducted focus group interviews with girls ages 13 to 21 years old.

• The girls told Dr. Raby that they were afraid to dress too provocatively because they would be called names like "slut," "whore," or "skank."
• They also said that school dress codes were unfairly enforced.
• For example, girls with larger breasts were more likely to face consequences if they dressed in a provocative way.
• School authorities were more likely to reprimand girls with alternative fashion styles than the "cheerleader" types.

"Girls still have to negotiate a really difficult place, and that's that they are expected to look attractive and they are expected to wear popular fashions, and yet if they err just a little bit one way or another -- just a little bit too much cleavage or too much skin in one place or another -- then they risk being called a slut," Dr. Raby said.