Former White House speechwriter and author Joshua Charles recently suggested that one practical way for a man to evaluate a potential wife is to ask her to dress more modestly in public.

The idea is that by refusing she may signal a deeper rejection of Christ’s authority and, by extension, a rejection of the husband’s leadership in marriage, according to Charles. He recommends moving on. The internet, mostly women, did not like this advice, calling it controlling or outdated. Still, there is a cautious case for agreeing with Charles’ underlying concern.

One of the easiest ways for a man to see if a woman is worth pursuing: ask her to dress modestly in public (since most don’t these days).If she says no, she rejects the authority of Christ, and would thus reject your authority as a husband.Move on.— Joshua Charles🇻🇦 (@JoshuaTCharles) July 30, 2026

One of the easiest ways for a man to see if a woman is worth pursuing: ask her to dress modestly in public (since most don’t these days).If she says no, she rejects the authority of Christ, and would thus reject your authority as a husband.Move on.

In a culture where revealing clothing has become the default for many young women,........

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