I recall a similar topic brought up often in the beta, and a player named Tasao gave a brilliant answer that I actually saved on my computer:
“The best selling point females typically have is their health. Because millenia-old monogamous customs are a barter system of females trading reproductive power in their primes in exchange for lifelong access to the production and labor potential of males. It’s a win-win for both sides. Males get to mate and produce offspring and females get food, shelter, and protection for themselves and their offspring.
There’s a popular saying that, “the sexiest thing a woman can wear is nothing, and the sexiest thing a man can wear is an expensive suit.”
Revealing clothing emphasizes what a woman is selling in the ancient tradition of marriage analogues: Their physical health.
Ornate and expensive armor emphasizes the selling point of male characters: That they’re competitive and successful.
Everyone knows about Burkas in Islam. They’re to conceal females from the lust of males. Fewer people know that men are not allowed to wear jewelry or flashy clothes, and neither gender is allowed to sing, dance, or even clap. Do you see the theme here?
Women aren’t allowed to publicly sell their marriage potential by revealing themselves, but neither are men. Men aren’t allowed to show off their wealth or success, which would tempt women. Though the rules are certainly less enforced in the case of males.
Anyhow, I mention this because from this perspective it seems that a lot of people are using a male-dominated worldview. It may be that females that condemn revealing clothing as objectifying are applying a double stand in favor of letting females off the hook as much as Islam lets males off, or more so. Or it may be that they’re characterizing the male-dominated worldview they’re likely aware of and disapprove of without realizing that emphasizing the female’s looks is placing themselves in the shoes of the male viewer.”
