But my casual overview of history leads me to almost the opposite conclusion. It seems to me that in most cultures, the more clothing a person wears, the more important that person tends to be in society. Women of rank were outfitted with long garments -queens of ancient Egypt, medieval France, and Victorian England all wore gowns that fell to their feet. My knowledge of anthropology is admittedly limited, but I believe this was the case in almost every culture until the advent of more effective and available birth control, when the situation changed to what we have now. Even in the debased symbolism of our modern culture we can find remnants of the association between clothing and human dignity.
Judges still wear robes, as do priests, bishops and popes.
On ceremonial occasions, professors and graduates wear them as well. We're meant to be much more than sex objects. Dressing immodestly is insensitive to men. In today's gender wars, Catholics can work for change by cultivating good relationships between men and women, of friendships built on trust and mutual respect. I've had the pleasure of meeting many fine Catholic young men who bend over backwards to understand and accommodate a woman's sensitivities and special genius.