Q&A: Pants
Pants
Question
What is the Rabbi’s view on women wearing pants? In the Jerusalem area this is very common, while in the center girls prefer to wear a skirt above the knee as long as they don’t wear pants, and I found myself conflicted. How does one decide an issue like this? Is there any defined prohibition against pants if that is the accepted norm in the place where you are?
Answer
I do not think there is a problem with women wearing pants. It is clear that there is no defined prohibition here; rather, the issue is men’s attire and modesty. In societies where pants are not considered men’s attire, I do not see a prohibition from that standpoint. As for modesty, that depends on what kind of pants they are, but in my humble opinion the very fact of wearing pants is not problematic. It seems to me that a skirt above the knee is more problematic.