Why I Don’t Wear Shorts in Jordan

By: Patrick Fogerty

October 9, 2012

When you go to a new part of the world, there are certain differences that sneak up on you. They are not the new language or the distinct architecture, but rather, more subtle variances that you don’t notice when you first arrive at your destination. For me in the Middle East, it is “Why are my legs always so hot?” The answer is, of course, because I’m wearing pants.

It is 95 degrees without a cloud in the sky, and I am wandering through the streets of Amman in a pair of jeans. In America, I would be dressed in a pair of shorts and a tank-top in weather like this, but in Jordan, my jeans and t-shirt are the standard fare of all the men I see. The women are even more covered, often wearing long jackets over their clothes. And it’s not just some people who follow this unofficial dress code; it’s everyone.

In America, we similarly have cultural norms. Certain things are permitted and others are frowned upon; to have everyone following the same moral code, though, is virtually unheard of. There are always the rebellious teens who dress a little too risqué or act outside of what is deemed culturally acceptable. However, during the five months I have been in the Middle East, between the West Bank and Jordan, I have not witnessed this phenomenon in the culture here. Even the most defiant of students will still ensure that they cover all the necessary parts of their body. The reason for this difference between America and Jordan, I assert, is the spillover of religion into the mainstream culture of each country, and specifically the methods of enforcing morality.

It is clear that the religion that has had the most pervasive influence over the culture of America is Christianity. While we ensure separation of church and state, there are nevertheless some aspects of this religion that have affected the behavior of Americans. In my opinion, one of these factors is the internal enforcement of morality in Christianity. The main force that is supposed to keep followers on the “righteous path” is the personal guilt associated with immoral behavior. So if a Christian person blasphemes, they should feel regret for their action internally.

This also has a flip side: If someone does not believe in the canons of Christianity, they have no reason to follow the norms prescribed by it, because they will not feel guilty for following the moral guidelines of a religion to which they do not subscribe.

Islam, the vastly dominant religion in Jordan and the rest of the Middle East (with the exception of Israel), differs from Christianity in that it has an externally enforced moral code. Instead of expecting guilt to keep followers in line, Islam relies on the community to ensure that everyone is within the moral code. To prevent men’s sexual desires outside of marriage, the women cover themselves.

To make sure this happens, community members will directly inform someone that it is necessary to follow this norm, something that would not happen in America (instead you would hear someone whisper, “She should be ashamed of herself”). Some of the American girls who are on this program with me have had the experience of people on the street telling them to cover themselves more.

In short, it’s clear from my experiences in Amman so far that the way that cultural norms are enforced differ, a divergence that I ascribe to the different dominant religions in America and Jordan. Which is a better system is open for debate—likely each has its own strengths and weaknesses. What I do know, is that my calves will continue to not see the light of day for the next two and a half months. But it’s a small price to pay for the opportunity to experience such a rich and captivating culture and a beautiful country.

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