The Modesty Survey Is Closed
The Modesty Survey is now officially closed. Over 1,750 Christian guys (ages 12-50+) submitted nearly 160,000 answers to the 150-question survey—including over 25,000 text responses.
More important than the numbers, the message is strong and clear. If you love modesty you will love the results of this survey. And, if you are concerned that the responses will tend towards legalism or slip towards lawlessness, we believe you will be pleased with the balanced tone of the message being sent.
The Survey Team now embarks on the mammoth task of processing the gathered data. We hope to release the survey results within the first few weeks of February. Keep checking this blog for updates on the release date.
To The Guys Who Participated
If you only completed part of the survey, don’t worry! All of your answers were processed as you submitted them. And we know we speak for thousands of women who are thankful for any time you invested in this discussion.
If you only just found out about the survey, we’re sorry you were unable to participate. Please continue visiting TheRebelution.com for continued discussion of the important issues facing our generation.
If you a Christian guy, whether you participated in The Modesty Survey or not, your greatest contribution to this effort is yet to come—and it will only take a minute or two of your time. Keep checking back over the next few days for details.
Additional Modesty Resources
- The Soul of Modesty: C.J. Mahaney’s heart-focused, grace-filled, gospel-centered audio message on the topic of modesty. Made specially available for free download by Sovereign Grace Ministries.
- The Responsibility of Modesty (Part 1): Excerpted from the not-yet-released survey results, a 20-year-old Christian man shares a powerful summation of men’s responsibility in this area.
- The Responsibility of Modesty (Part 2): Excerpted from the not-yet-released survey results, a 22-year-old Christian man shares an insightful analogy explaining the responsibility of women to protect their brothers in Christ.
- The Purpose of Clothing: John Piper explains both the negative and positive messages God communicated by clothing Adam and Eve after they fell into sin.
January 29th, 2007 at 6:59 am
Thanks to everyone who made this survey a success! Praise God!
January 29th, 2007 at 7:28 am
Yeeehaawww!! Can’t wait to see the answers. I believe they will be enlightening, challenging, and encouraging in different ways.
January 29th, 2007 at 7:57 am
I know there are many people in my church waiting for the answers to be released!
January 29th, 2007 at 8:57 am
I’m so glad this happened! I didn’t get to finish it (only had the free response ones left), but I was amazed at how great the rest of it was. I can’t wait until we can see the results!
January 29th, 2007 at 9:04 am
I can’t wait for the results!
January 29th, 2007 at 9:16 am
Thank you too all of the team that put this together!
And thank you to all of the guys who took the survey.
I honestly can’t wait for the results!
This is very exciting for me to see.
Beth
January 29th, 2007 at 11:20 am
I’d like to say thank you to all of the guys who participated in this survey. Hopefully us girls will do our part now and take these thing to heart! Also, thank you to everyone who put this together. Though modesty is an issue of the heart and a hard set of rules cannot be set out, I think it will be a challenge and encouragement to Christian girls who want to honor God in the way that they dress.
January 29th, 2007 at 12:11 pm
I’m very eager to see the results of this survey! My dad is great about telling me if he thinks something is modest or not, but I’m interested in finding out what the majority of guys think.
Thank you to everyone who worked to get this survey put together, and thank you to all the guys who took time to share their opinions.
January 29th, 2007 at 1:03 pm
Totally cool-can’t wait to see it.
Thank you all that helped!
-MJ
January 29th, 2007 at 1:25 pm
Thank you so much to the survey team! Also, thank you guys for answering the questions! It is greatly appreciated!!!
January 29th, 2007 at 1:37 pm
Thanks so much for helping start a dialog between guys and girls on this subject. Modesty is often pursued without the help of the opposite sex, and I’m glad you are taking steps away from that.
January 29th, 2007 at 2:15 pm
Finally! This has been a monumental task, and I would like to say Thank you to Alex, Brett and all the other people whom I do not know for putting this all together! Keep striving for God, and I can’t wait to see the results!
January 29th, 2007 at 2:24 pm
Wow! I am really excited for this! I will be praying for you guys as you put this together.
thanks for making this happen!
God Bless you!
Elizabeth
January 29th, 2007 at 2:48 pm
Praise the Lord!!! What a blessing to see so many guys participate! When do you expect ( roughly ) to have the survey ready for us girls to see?
I can’t wait! Again, God’s sooo good!
Praising his name,
Prudence
January 29th, 2007 at 3:03 pm
Yes! I had been wondering when it was going to end. Thanks for putting this together.
Ryan : )
January 29th, 2007 at 3:07 pm
I’m so excited! I just want to say thank you to all the guys and girls who poured into this amazing project! Blessings!
January 29th, 2007 at 3:34 pm
Praise God!!!! I am looking forward to seeing the results. God bless everyone who put effort into this: the girls who asked the questions, the guys who answered them, and all the behind-the-scenes people putting this together!
January 29th, 2007 at 4:01 pm
Hey thanks you guys for putting this together and now gathering the data ect so that we can read it and learn from it. And also a HUGE thank you to all the Men who took this survey and candidly gave us your answers.
January 29th, 2007 at 5:31 pm
Just wanted to let you know (the survey team) that, as God brings you to mind, I will be praying for you all as you organize these answers. Thank you once again!
January 29th, 2007 at 5:45 pm
While reading your blog and articles, I’ve been impressed with your ability to maintain grace and love in your presentation of truths and hard things. Some may not “get it” (what you’re trying to do), but those of an open mind will appreciate the chance to hear other thoughts and opinions, in order to grow in their wisdom and experience. I especially appreciate your struggle to balance your survey and your results by stating that : “. . . if you are concerned that the responses will tend towards legalism or slip towards lawlessness, we believe you will be pleased with the balanced tone of the message being sent.” I pray God’s message will be seen through your work on this topic.
January 29th, 2007 at 8:48 pm
Wow! Alot of wows!
Looking forward to the results!
January 29th, 2007 at 9:48 pm
Wow! I am so excited, and can’t wait until it’s released. Thanks so much for all the hard work. Those numbers are astounding! Good job, guys!
January 30th, 2007 at 5:02 am
Yay! I can’t wait until it’s released! Thank you, guys, for answering all those questions. Thanks for all the hard work y’all have put into it, also.
January 30th, 2007 at 7:14 am
I am so excited for this!
When about will the answers be published??
January 30th, 2007 at 10:34 am
[...] January 31st, 2007 The Modesty Survey is now closed. You can click here if you want more info. Posted by teenfg Filed in Messages [...]
January 30th, 2007 at 10:37 am
[...] January 31st, 2007 The Modesty Survey is now closed. You can click here if you want more info. Posted by teenfg Filed in Information, Quick Posts, Messages, Activities, Rules, Hot Posts [...]
January 30th, 2007 at 11:47 am
Yay! I can’t wait to see the results. Thank you to everyone who worked on this. I know I speak for a lot of girls when I say that we are all very excited about this. I have wondered about many of the things that were on the survey and I can’t wait to see what you guys had to say about them.
January 30th, 2007 at 12:36 pm
Just thought I’d say that I love all the enthusiasm! It’s great having brothers and sisters in Christ who get excited about stuff like this with me!!
January 30th, 2007 at 1:36 pm
Thank-you for taking on this “mammoth task”!
I agree with Stephanie Amber, that it is great to have brothers and sisters in Christ who get excited about this stuff too!
Can’t wait!
January 30th, 2007 at 2:29 pm
I’m impressed by the numbers. I’m only *one* out of all the guys who voted and I still go WOW!
Now maybe someone can make a similar survey for the guys, so we can know what behaviors and dress are more acceptable. Or, if we already have a good idea (
), that we can point others who don’t to it.
And thanks to all the sisters in Christ who asked the questions, and have been so upbeat about this survey!
January 30th, 2007 at 2:49 pm
Thank you so much for all of the effort that you’ve already put into this project, and all of the work you will continue to put into it. The only thing that keeps me from being impatient and wanting the results now is knowing that everyone working on processing the information is going to do a great job and it will turn out beautiful
January 31st, 2007 at 2:40 am
Wonderful! I can’t wait for the results.
January 31st, 2007 at 10:04 am
Wow! God is really great! I know that you guys couldn’t have possibly done this without His strength, and I know that without His strength I and my fellow Christian sisters will fail in our attempts to glorify Him through the way we dress- I continue to really solely on HIS strength!!! Rebelution team: thanks for all your hard work! I had a couple guy friends say that it took them over an hour to finish the survey! GUYS! THANKYOU FOR PUTTING IN SO MUCH TIME TO GIVE A WELL THOUGHT ANSWER!!! GOD BLESS YOU!!! : )
*waits in anticipation*
p.s.- Just a thought. Just that fact that so many guys participated proves how important this really is!!!
January 31st, 2007 at 11:44 am
Can I join with everyone else in saying that I am very excited for this survey! Thnak you so much for putting this together. Can’t wait to see it!
January 31st, 2007 at 12:45 pm
Thanks (again) for taking the time to make the survey! I cannot wait the see the results!
-Britta Shae H.
January 31st, 2007 at 8:05 pm
Off the topic, but my family finally got to see Facing the Giants this evening!!! Wow! What a great movie! So good, I think I will go watch it again! Bye!
PS Still looking forward to the survey results!
January 31st, 2007 at 9:18 pm
I just want to add to all of the “WOW!”’s and “Thank you!”’s. I can’t wait to see the results…I also have a few people at church waiting for the results.
So, WOW and Thank you [the survey team] so much! For putting this survey together, taking the survey, and now having to take on the “mammoth task” of organizing the survey. And thank you guys, for taking the survey and helping us sisters, help you brothers.
I also had a friend or two say that it took them more than an hour to finish the survey. So, Thank you so much for putting so much time into the survey!
February 1st, 2007 at 7:12 am
Thank you guys for all the time you put into this! Can’t wait to see the results!
May God bless you all!
February 1st, 2007 at 9:10 am
Though I wasn’t able to complete it in its entirety, I’m really looking forward to the results!
~Caleb
February 1st, 2007 at 12:26 pm
I had a question for Brett and Alex. I haven’t had a chance to read all your posts (I’ve read a lot of them, though), but I have read all the titles of them. I was wondering if you might write a entry (or two) on repentance. I might have missed it if you’ve already written one on this, but if not, I would love for you all to write a post on this topic. I have really enjoyed (and will continue to enjoy) this blog! I visit it quite often and I know quite a few people who also visit it. It is a wonderful web site!
Keep up the excellent work!
February 1st, 2007 at 1:36 pm
Just a quick comment to the Christian girls out there.
MTV once had a show titled guys and sex. they had two very “hot” guys who’s goal was to have a different girl every night. Which they often did given there charm and all.
But as the host started to as them about marriage. First of all they kinda blew it off saying “doesn’t everyone at some time or another.” but then as the topic was broached further they froze right up. Finally after a long awkward silence on spoke up…”Someday…but not any of these girls. I want my wife to be pure.”
February 1st, 2007 at 3:02 pm
That is an impressive number. One that is quite encouraging, knowing that so many care about modesty. It will be interesting to see the results of the survey.
Paige
February 1st, 2007 at 3:26 pm
This was the most ridiculous survey I’ve seen. Can’t men demonstrate more self discipline themselves rather than trying to restrict what a woman wears. The woman on the link to the survey with the veil covering her face reminds me of Islam and the restriction posed on women there. Is this where the Christian right heading? God help us!
February 1st, 2007 at 4:52 pm
Jodi,
The intent of the survey is not to try to restrict what women wear. We girls are trying to get a better idea of what tempts men to lust after us. They are our brothers in Christ, and it’s natural that we should want to help them in their struggle. Once we have the information about dress, we can consider it when making our clothing choices. We shouldn’t take their word as absolute law for several reasons–not the least of which being that not all Christian men took the survey–but if we’re trying to help them, their input is important. You can even choose to ignore what they say if you want; it’s just something to consider.
I don’t think the connection with Islam is intentional. A veil has been a symbol of modesty for a long time–a lot of women used to wear hats with veils. Also, the Islamic veil is opaque, which the veil in the picture (and on hats) is not.
February 1st, 2007 at 5:43 pm
February 2nd, 2007 at 10:42 am
MTV once had a show titled guys and sex. they had two very “hot” guys who’s goal was to have a different girl every night. Which they often did given there charm and all. But as the host started to as them about marriage. First of all they kinda blew it off saying “doesn’t everyone at some time or another.” but then as the topic was broached further they froze right up. Finally after a long awkward silence on spoke up…”Someday…but not any of these girls. I want my wife to be pure.”
Well, as luck would have it, I’m not interested in marrying a guy who lives by a ludicrous, transparent, sexist double standard anyway. Nor am I interested in dressing to please anybody who thinks that this “story” is instructive or enlightening or, frankly, anything but laughable and repulsive (and indicative of why we ought to be working to undermine this kind of patriarchal hypocrisy at its roots, not advising girls on how to cover up their bodies).
February 2nd, 2007 at 8:43 pm
Joanne, I think you’ve missed the entire point of that story at least in relation to the women reading this blog. Many women dress modestly and notice that men buzz around women dressed immodestly. The point is that even those bozos don’t respect those women, and they’re not the sort of man whose attention you want anyway.
I’m not saying women who dress immodestly are unworthy of respect. But dressing like that attracts the wrong sort of man.
February 3rd, 2007 at 6:45 am
I watched “Facing the Giants” the other night and I loved it!! Though, the acting wasn’t very good.
I know this doesn’t have a thing to do with the survey, but to anyone who hasn’t seen it, you should watch it! Excellent movie. 
February 3rd, 2007 at 3:57 pm
Joanne. I’m sorry If I offended you, I posted this solely to illestrate that even in the secular world today most men desire pure women. But yes, I totally agree with what you said, I am NOT about to give my heart to some underserving living a double life guy.
Thank you both Joanne and Amy K for graciously pointing that out, I should have made note of that when I first posted.
February 4th, 2007 at 8:26 am
Anna,
what I don’t understand is why we even need to consider what men think about when we pick out our clothing choices. I mean you said in the same post to me we can see what tempts men and then consider it when picking out our clothing choices. Doesn’t taking that into consideration in a way restrict us? Don’t get me wrong, I’m not some slutty girl wanting to sleep around with any guy I meet. I just think I should be able to wear what I want when I want with out having to think about me making it difficult for some guy to remain pure. Men should be able to have self-control as well. BTW, I now what an Islamic veil looks like, but it was all too familar a reminder of the repression that women go through because of the “lusts of men.”
February 4th, 2007 at 9:02 pm
I DONT UNDERSTAND THIS SURVEY 1 BIT
February 5th, 2007 at 7:27 am
Jodi,
I think it depends on what you think, people have different views on this topic. It is true, men should have self-control, but just as girls get tempted, men get tempted as well. Us, as girls, want to help out our brothers in Christ as much as we can, what better way to do that then to dress modestly! Also you have to ask the question: why am I wearing what I am wearing? Am I trying to get glory and become popular, or am I trying to dress to give God the glory? God made you and he can take your life away, so this powerful God deserves all the glory! To dress modestly pleases God, and it helps men not to lust for you. Like I said before, people have different views on this, and this is just my view.
God bless!
Liz
February 5th, 2007 at 7:31 am
Jodi - I just wanted to point out a vital difference between Islam and Christianity where modesty is concerned. Islam blames the woman alone for the man’s lust - some people go so far as to kill rape victims for sullying the family honour, as if a veiled woman was in any way tempting a man! Christianity - more accurately, the Bible - is far more reasonable. It tells us not to look and lust and commit mental adultery, and it also tells us not to dress in such a manner as to provoke such thoughts. God adresses both men and women, and holds us both responsible. Men need to use self-control and avoid looking in the first place, and women need to cover up enough so that when a man looks at them he sees their face and character rather than just a collection of exposed private parts. I don’t think we girls can ever fully understand just how big a battle it is for a man to control is thoughts where women are concerned. And we should cut them a little slack. After all, many of them are really trying to control themselves, but many of us aren’t even willing to try to cover up a little for their sake. Who is being selfish here? Just a thought.
February 7th, 2007 at 3:41 pm
Valerie, I don’t think it’s a question of being selfish. To me it’s a question of rights. Please keep in mind that I don’t share the same religious views as you and I am just trying to understand your POV so I know we won’t be changing each other’s mind on this survey. You’re right about the difference between Islam and Christianity I just felt the picture “advertising” for the survey gave the impression of covering women up. I dress in a way that make me comfortable which to be honest is often t-shirt, jeans, and flip-flops. I think that what the bible fails to mention is that women have lustful feelings of their own as well yet the bible does not ask men to dress modestly. They can walk around with their shirts on with no thought given at all. I’m not saying I want to walk around topless, but it’s the inequality that bothers me. I don’t believe that God wrote the bible. I believe it was written by men written at a time when women were seen as inferior. In the time of when Jesus was around it was perfectly acceptable for men to have their concubines while women were supposed to remain chaste. That makes no sense. These poor concubines were then ostracized for being impure and not right in the eyes of God. Sorry for digressing. Now while we should cut them some slack as you say, they should cut us some slack as well. How about a hot day when it’s necessary to wear a tank top. Now while I may not have my breasts hanging out why should I need to worry if the fact that I have bare arms turn a man to lustful thoughts. I’m not dressing for what will make me “popular” (I’m 26 and that’s seems more of a high school issue to me), but I dress in what makes me feel good.
February 7th, 2007 at 3:45 pm
BTW thank you for allowing me to ask my questions, and give my opinions and tell me your thoughts and opinions as well.
February 10th, 2007 at 8:25 am
Jodi, please don’t judge all guys by the majority. There are those of us who have determined not to walk around without shirts on, and who are more concerned about being modest then encouraging others to be modest.
I think every Christian man will agree that it is his responsibility not to lust. Even if all the women who claim to follow Christ dressed modestly, there would still be those who do not dress modestly, who we have to learn to deal with. But I also know that for me it is much easier to relate to a young lady who is dressed modestly. And I appreciate all the women who do dress modestly.
February 10th, 2007 at 9:11 am
Jodi, I firmly believe that the Bible is perfectly compatible with feminism. Well, maybe not radical feminism, or lesbian feminism, but it’s perfect with the shocking notion that women are people too and should have the same rights men have. I doubt many here would agree with that, but I think that may be because many think feminism is about man-hating-remove-all-gender-distinctions. It’s not!
And, Valerie, the Bible does not once say “Do not provoke men with your dress.” It does say “be modest” but to do it for humility’s sake. Don’t dress for the sole purpose of getting any kind of attention (whether it be “she’s hot!” or “what a freak!”), and the reason you do this is because of an attitude of “I am not better than anyone else, so I do not deserve more attention than anyone else.” This is important to note because it doesn’t blame any attention the person gets on the person unless they truly were trying to get attention. I’m not trying to attack you (re-reading that, I see I may come across that way, sorry!), just pointing out that the Bible never tells women to make sure men don’t look at them in “that way” because of their dress.
“The point is that even those bozos don’t respect those women, and they’re not the sort of man whose attention you want anyway.”
They don’t respect ANY woman, immodest or not! It doesn’t matter what she wears. Our culture does not respect women. Our culture makes women out to be sex objects regardless of what she’s wearing! The woman’s body is only seen in terms of its sexuality; everything a woman wears is a statement about her sexuality (cover up? obviously a virgin type; don’t cover up? harlot/totally asking for it). This should not be so, and we as Christians should NEVER fall into this mindset, but I feel that many of us have.
I honestly do not think this survey really accomplishes anything (other than fascinating sociological study! heh). I like that Brett and Alex realize people can get caught up in this and miss the true point of modesty, become legalistic, etc. but even with that said, I don’t believe the survey truly helps women to be modest, nor does it truly help men with lust problems. Modesty is humility, and only God can tell you how to be humble! And a woman can be humble and serving God even if her clothes show more skin than is acceptable to some people. What if she overheats easily? Or maybe that’s her culture? And a man with lust problems must must must attack the mindset that leads to lust. Even if all women dressed modestly, men would still have that sinful mindset… we all need to change HOW we think just as much as WHAT we think. Again, only accomplished with God’s help. (I also hated the “This is a stumbling block” format of the questions, and that there were OLDER MEN who answered questions concerning TEENAGE GIRLS’ clothing, but those aren’t my primary objections.)
February 10th, 2007 at 1:27 pm
Thinking about that last comment I left, I just want to add that I understand the importance of calling people out on their sin (in love of course!) if they’re doing something wrong. If a fellow Christian is acting too proud, we should let them know that they should, like, seriously totally stop that. I don’t feel this survey does that though. So yeah.
I also want to say I admire the Harris brothers’ good intentions, even if I don’t agree with how they carried those good intentions out.
February 11th, 2007 at 4:16 pm
Mel,
Thanks for your post. I agree with many things in your post especially about being humble and how our culture portrays women as sex objects by both looking at women who dress modestly and calling them “prude” or looking at women who dress showing more skin and calling them “whores”. And while I don’t believe feminism and the bible mix well together (and I’m not a “man-hating” feminist, I”m an equal-rights feminist), I would love if you wouldn’t mind telling me some examples cause I’ve never looked at the Bible in that way. Thanks!
November 11th, 2007 at 7:30 pm
Thanks soooo much to every guy who contributed to the survey. I read through the entire thing, and the girls at our church might start a purity/modesty class now which would be awesome. Thanks again.
October 22nd, 2008 at 1:51 am
dcankl sprkwdo
October 24th, 2008 at 6:01 pm
awfyiv
May 1st, 2009 at 8:56 pm
[...] modestas - A Pesquisa foi lançada em 8 de janeiro e continuou aberta até 28 de janeiro. Novamente, a resposta foi esmagadora. Mais de 1.500 rapazes cristãos enviaram 160.000 respostas [...]