In an effort to teach his college-aged daughter modesty, Scott Mackintosh decided to wear short shorts to illustrate how inappropriate they can look. The photos have since gone viral.
The father of seven children, four of which are girls, says, “I’m a firm believer that the way we dress sends messages about us, and it influences the way we and others act.”
Mackintosh had chided his second youngest daughter about her clothing choices to no avail, and earlier this month he thought it was time for drastic measures.
He created his own version of Daisy Dukes and wore them during the family’s night out. He was met with laughter and stares as he entered a restaurant and a small amusement park. By the night’s end, his daughter was thoroughly embarrassed. But had she learned her lesson?
“I know the world has varying degrees of what is modest and what is not when it comes to clothing,” he says. “In our family we have pretty definite modesty guidelines: No mid-drift or low-cut shirts, no short shorts [or] short skirts, and we even go as far as saying no sleeveless shirts unless playing sports or on the beach.”
While Mackintosh says his daughter’s dress has improved, he is also sure his daughter knows that he cares about her.
“There was no ‘Dad, I get it’ or ‘Dad, you’re the best. Thanks for that awesome lesson,'” he says. “I don’t think my object lesson of ‘Modest is hottest’ made the statement I had intended. But no matter if social media gets the story mixed up and twisted, my daughter will always know that her dad loves her and cares about her enough to make a fool out of himself.”