Final answer:
Historically and culturally, modesty rules predominantly target women, requiring them to dress modestly as dictated by societal or religious norms. For example, Saudi Arabia enforces Islamic principles of modesty, while France bans certain religious clothing to maintain secularism.
Step-by-step explanation:
Modesty rules frequently target women, and certain religious groups believe that morality is maintained through dressing modestly. In different parts of the world, these modesty rules can be very strict or can vary considerably. For example, in Saudi Arabia, the dress code conforming to Islamic principles of modesty is strictly enforced, where women typically wear the black abaya or similarly modest clothing, and men wear traditional dress. On the other hand, there can be legal restrictions against displaying religious clothing as seen in France, where wearing veils in public schools is banned to uphold the secular nature of the state.
In historical context, texts like those from Tertullian reflect the pressures on women to dress in accordance with societal expectations of modesty. These societal norms have often been enforced through social sanctions like criticism and disapproval. Such historical context shows a long-standing preoccupation with female dress and modesty across cultures and religions.