 First edition cover | |
| Author | Wendy Shalit |
|---|---|
| Cover artist | Albrecht Dürer, Eve , 1507 |
| Publisher | Free Press |
Publication date | 1999 |
| Publication place | United States |
| Media type | Print (hardback and paperback) |
| Pages | 291 |
| ISBN | 0684863170 |
Return to Modesty: Discovering the Lost Virtue is a 1999 non-fiction debut book by Wendy Shalit. [1] [2] [3] [4]
Contents
Originally published in 1999, A Return to Modesty sparked a global conversation by thoughtfully challenging the hook-up culture and affirming modesty as a meaningful, natural instinct. In this updated edition, Wendy Shalit explores how modesty remains relevant amid today’s blurred public-private boundaries, offering both a personal and intellectual case for its revival.
In A Return to Modesty, Wendy Shalit demonstrates that modern culture’s emphasis on sexual explicitness has eroded the romantic allure and deeper meaning of sexuality, particularly for women. Shalit suggests that the loss of modesty in educational and social settings not only undermines traditional romance but also promotes a cultural norm that devalues sexual dignity and choice. [5]
Wendy Shalit’s A Return to Modesty argues that modern culture stigmatizes virginity and punishes sexual restraint, especially in women, leading to emotional distress and confusion. She attributes to feminists, media, and liberal attitudes for undermining modesty and encouraging a harmful, promiscuous lifestyle. [6]
