"C'est l'invention des vêtements, pas la nature, qui a rendu les "parties intimes" privées"
— Mokokoma Mokhonoana
Simplified Meaning:
People didn't always think certain body parts, like the areas we cover with underwear or swimsuits, were special or needed to be hidden. Long ago, before clothes were invented, nobody felt the need to hide these parts. It's actually the creation of clothes that made us start thinking of these parts as private. Think about a young child who runs around without worrying about being naked; they don't feel embarrassed until they're taught that some parts of their body should be covered. This change didn't come from nature, but from society's rules about wearing clothes. Knowing this can help us understand that our ideas of modesty are based on cultural norms and not something we are born with. For example, in some cultures, there are different norms about what body parts need to be covered compared to what we might be used to. Understanding this can help us be more open-minded about other people's customs and lessen judgments based on how someone dresses.