"Royalty or not, it’s always a bad idea to police women’s bodies and wardrobes."
In this op-ed, writer Mekita Rivas unpacks the sexist reaction to Meghan Markle's thigh-high slit dress and explains why it's never OK to shame women for their clothing.
Now that she’s expecting her first child with Prince Harry, Meghan Markle is in the spotlight like never before. Currently, the parents-to-be are currently embarking on a tour of several countries belonging to the British Commonwealth. Their first stop? Australia, where it just so happens to be springtime, a season that typically calls for breezy dresses and sleeveless tops. So, it makes sense that Meghan chose to wear a maxi dress with thin straps and a thigh slit from Reformation during an appearance.
Shaming women for their clothing is unfortunately nothing new, and the Duchess of Sussex has definitely received a lot of heat for breaking archaic royal fashion protocols in the past. She’s worn wedges despite the fact that the Queen reportedly dislikes the shoe style. She’s also gone bare-legged when the rules state that she’s supposed to wear stockings with dresses and skirts.