Catholic mom says women should stop wearing leggings, 'difficult for young guys to ignore'

The Catholic mother of four sons has spurred national discourse over the decision by women who choose to wear leggings.

In an open letter to the editor of The Observer -a student-run paper for Notre Dame and Saint Mary's- the mother calls leggings "exposing," and "naked."

Identifying herself as Maryann White, the mom recounts being at church with her family when she noticed a group of young women wearing "snug-fitting leggings" that "looked as though the leggings had been painted on them."

While the mom goes on to state women should not be objectified, be viewed as people first, and noting the human body is a beautiful thing, it's her comments about what it does to men which has stirred debate.

In the letter, White says the fashion makes it "difficult for young guys to ignore them" and asks for women to think of the mothers of sons and to instead choose jeans next time.

The letter spurred a protest in which students at Notre Dame wore leggings in what was dubbed "Leggings Pride Day." Organizers summarized much of their side of the debate in an event post for the protest.

"While well-intentioned, White's viewpoint perpetuates a narrative central to to rape culture in implying that womxn (sic) and girls are responsible for the actions and reactions of others," organizers stated.

Organizers went on to say "In response, we ask White and others offended by leggings to consider the harmful effects of telling people that they bear responsibility for others’ moral choices because of the way they are dressed. This logic undergirds cultural attitudes about cis-men's inability to control their behavior while rehearsing age-old sexist tropes that characterize women as unchaste temptresses."