"The Bible speaks against women wearing men’s attire. What about those wearing a pair of trousers as national attire? And what about the females in the Forces?"
Deut. 22:5--The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God.
The definition of a man’s garment and a woman’s garment must be defined according to the Bible in order to be legitimate. Different societies at different times considered certain attire as a woman’s garment and in other places and times it was considered a man’s garment. The clearest example is the kilt worn by the Scottish Highlanders. The history of the kilt stretches back to ancient times. Although the kilt is an item of traditional Scottish highland dress, the nationalism of that tradition is relatively recent. It was only with the Romantic Revival of the 19th century that the kilt became irreversibly associated with Highlanders, and was subsequently adopted by Lowlanders and the Scottish Diaspora.
Other modern Celts such as the Irish, Cornish, Welsh, and Manx have also adopted tartan kilts in recent times, although to a lesser degree. Similar clothing had long been abandoned by related cultures such as the Gauls, and Scandinavians. The word kilt comes from the Scot's word kilt meaning to tuck up the clothes around the body. The Scot's word derives from the Old Norse kjilt, which means, "pleated" from Viking settlers who wore a similar, non-tartan pleated garment. However, a kilt is a skirt. Many societies consider a skirt purely a woman’s garment. So, society’s definition cannot be used to determine what a man or woman’s garment is. The word of God must have the final say.
History of Trousers
Nomadic Eurasian horsemen/women such as the Iranian Scythians, along with Achaemenid Persians were among the first to wear trousers, later introduced to modern Europe via either the Hungarians or Ottoman Turks. In ancient China, trousers were only worn by cavalry. According to tradition, they were first introduced by King Wu of Zhao in 375 BC, who copied the custom from non-Chinese horsemen on his northern border. Braccae is the Latin term for trousers and in this context is today used to refer to a style of pants, made from wool and apparently invented by the ancient Celts. Braccae were typically made with a drawstring, and tended to reach from just above the knee at the shortest, to the ankles at the longest, with lengths generally increasing in Celtic tribes living further north. When the Romans first encountered the Braccae, they thought them to be effeminate (Roman men typically wore tunics, which were one-piece outfits terminating at or above the knee: skirt-like). Therefore, the Roman Soldier's society considered trousers to be woman’s clothes at first and the knee-length tunic to be masculine. However, Braccae eventually became popular among Roman legionaries stationed in cooler climates to the north of Italy.
Trousers were introduced into Western European culture at several points in history, but gained their current predominance only in the 16th century. Sailors may have played a role in the dissemination of trousers as a fashion around the world. In the 17th and 18th centuries, sailors wore baggy trousers known as a galligaskin. Sailors were also the first to wear jeans -- trousers made of denim. These became more popular in the late 19th century in the American West, because of their ruggedness and durability.
Women's trousers: although trousers for women did not become fashion items until the later 20th century, women began wearing men's trousers (suitably altered) for outdoor work a hundred years earlier. The Wigan pit brow girls scandalized Victorian society by wearing trousers for their dangerous work in the coalmines. They wore skirts over their trousers, rolled up to the waist to keep them out of the way. Women working the ranches of the 19th century American West also wore trousers for riding and in the early 20th century aviatrixes and other working women often wore trousers.
Actresses Marlene Dietrich and Katharine Hepburn were often photographed in trousers from the 1930s making trousers acceptable to women in Western society. During World War II, women working in factories and doing other forms of "men's work" on war service wore trousers when the work demanded it, and in the post-war era, trousers became acceptable casual wear for gardening, the beach, and other leisure pursuits. In the 1960s, André Courrèges introduced long trousers for women as a fashion item, leading to the era of the pantsuit and designer jeans and the gradual eroding of the prohibitions against girls and women wearing trousers in schools, the workplace, and finer restaurants.
Everyday Dress in Ancient Biblical Times
The tunic was the main item of clothing worn in ancient Israel. It was a long, one-piece garment that came down to the knees or to the ankles. In its simplest form, it was a rectangular piece of cloth with a hole cut in the center for the neck. It was fastened at the waist with a belt. The tunic was usually made of wool. Both men and women wore tunics, although the women’s tunics were sometimes made of finer material (linen from Egypt) and decorative touches such as designs around the neckline were sewn with colored thread. Richer people might have had several tunics of varying colors however, most people would only own one or two. A cloak or mantle was worn or draped over the shoulder outside the tunic. Clothing worn for festivals and special occasions were designed much like everyday clothes but usually were made of linen rather than wool, more colorful, and decorated with fancy embroidery. The women would wear fancy jewels, necklaces, anklets, and bracelets when wearing these festive clothes.
What Does God Define as Women or Men’s Garment?
The LORD describes the nation of Israel as His wife. He wrote in Ezekiel 16:10-14 how His wife was dressed. These scriptures give a clue into what God believes are women’s apparel. According to these scriptures, women's clothes are highly decorative with embroidery and patterns, i.e., flowers, frills, and ruffles, etc. Special shoes made from fine materials and lots of jewelry. In addition, Proverbs 31 defines the virtuous women: verse 22 says her clothes are tapestry work (colorful designs), purple (colorful), and silk (soft materials). Other than that, the Bible does not give much more evidence of women’s apparel. The basic question becomes, where do you divide the line between men and women’s clothing. You know for sure a man would be an abomination if he wore a pink dress with bright yellow flowers and high heel shoes with a necklace, purse, and scarf.
The LORD is teaching a woman should look and dress femininely and a man should look and dress masculine. A person knows deep down in their heart what the difference is; otherwise, there would not be any questions in a person’s mind. The devil enjoys twisting and perverting the truth of God’s creation. The devil gets a twisted joy out of effeminizing men and making women look masculine. The devil does that because he enjoys abominable things and seeing God grossed out. The LORD does not like cross-dressing and God is the One people are to please.
However, the Bible teaches a simpler lesson on men and women’s dress codes. The Bible teaches how a Christian should dress. I Peter 3:1-7…Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning…but let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible…. The Bible teaches a Christian should not dress in order to bring overt attention to themselves or their flesh. Tammy Faye Baker of the infamous PTL (paint-the-lady) scandals is an example, on one extreme, of not how to dress (the Bakers are not Christians but false prophets). Why do people wear tight clothes or revealing clothes? In order to attract the opposite sex mostly in a lusty way. If a person attracts another person in this manner, one will find the relationship will end after the fleshly attraction ends. God’s dress code is one of moderation. Do not wear clothes that reveal (tight-fitting) or bear (uncover) the sensual parts of the body, nor clothes that make a man look effeminate or clothes that make a women look manly. Why does a person not want to dress the way God wants them to? Because they do not want to please God but want to please themselves, society, or others.
As far as women wearing pants, especially in the military that is a question the person has to ask themselves. Why? Are you wearing pants so men can see your figure and are attracted to you? Is that the kind of man you want? Is that the kind of action God is pleased with? However, most combat uniforms are bulky enough that the wearer cannot be identified as male or female. There are jobs that women can do in the military and there are jobs that women should not do in the military. There are also women’s military uniforms designed to be quite appropriate for women and not for men. If a woman is doing a male’s job then she is required to wear men’s clothes. The question to ask is, is that what God wants, or is that what a woman and present-day society want? Are you in the position God wants you to be in and wearing the clothes God is pleased with?
The final answer comes from a person’s heart and personal relationship with God. Are you born again? Are you wanting to get closer to God? Are you dressing to please God or to attract attention to yourself for any myriad of reasons: to attract the opposite sex, to fill the opposite sexes job position and thus wearing the required opposite sexes clothing, or to be funny (male comedians wearing women’s clothes is still an abomination to God), or because the devil has twisted the minds of society to the point that men are fulfilling the roles of women and vice versa. The most important question to ask is if God is pleased with what you are wearing? And to have God let you know what He wants you to wear.
The Bible does not, per se, spell out a list of acceptable or not acceptable clothes in a ready-to-read list like a catalogue. There is a reason for that. God wants to test you and check out your heart and motives. Is it natural for women to want to look, act, and dress like a man and vice versa? Where does God draw the line on acceptable clothing? Most pants for women are designed to fit tight in order to attract the opposite sex or are designed just like one of the guys. The Lord wants women to appear different than men. God has not created a unisex society. That is what the devil wants. Read and study the Bible and then pray and settle it in your heart with God. Should you please God or man?