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Answer:
There are three issues with respect to tzeni'us (modesty):
1. The exposure of areas absolutely deemed erotic
2. An objective standard that isn't subject to societal norm
3. The societal standard
To apply this model to real life: Nudity, such as bathing, of the
first sort, as might be short shorts or bikinis. According to the
Aruch haShulchan, this is banned at least by age 3 for girls and 9 for
boys. The disparaty in age has to do with the difference in age
required for rape to be a realistic problem. This is true for all
people of the opposite gender, and according to this text, fathers
included. Some authorities are more lenient, ruling that fathers are
an exception to the three and up rule, and no prohibition starts at an
age where the child is too young to learn about such things, just as
in any other home.
A better known case of the second category would be going sleeveless.
Another that the Aruch haShulchan discusses is the Talmud's
pronouncement that a woman's hair (which is understood to mean a
married woman's hair) is erotic. This is an objective standard; it
holds even in societies that aren't shocked by these things. However,
it is also not blatantly erotic in the normal sense of the word.
Married Orthodox women by and large cover their hair (or at least know
they're supposed to). When one starts observing these depends on the
child; i.e., when they're educable in such matters (as in any
mitzvah). They ought to learn before reaching b'nai mitzvah age, but
the number of years before is going to on the child. This includes
sleeves that go past the elbow and skirts that go past the knee even
when sitting down.
However, when it comes to distraction for prayer, we go by what
distracts -- which is going to be societally determined. So, the Aruch
haShulchan rules that one may say Shema in the presence of a woman
whose hair is uncovered. Societal standards, in other words, things
that aren't blatantly erotic, aren't spelled out by halachah, but are
considered "not done", wouldn't apply between a father and daughter
until she is married. The word "wouldn't" is used because once we live
in a world where Calvin Klein can put up billboards of women in their
underwear and bikinis are acceptable, this category is empty. There is
nothing beyond the core of the body that will shock most people today
even when seen in someone other than one's daughter. However, if you
still haven't lost the art of blushing... your married daugher
shouldn't wear in front of you something that would make you blush if
worn by someone else -- even if the area exposed isn't spelled out by
halachah.
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Last Update March 27 2014 @ 02:11 PM
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