Indecent exposure is defined as "the crime of exposing a private body part to others [..., ...] usually considered a misdemeanor. [...] If any contact is made between the offender and the victim, the crime may turn into sexual assault [, which] may be classified as a felony. An offender may also face harsher punishment if a minor is the victim of the indecent exposure".
Now, this is not to say that all public pajama-wearers are criminals who drop their pants deliberately, by all means. But accidents happen, and when worse comes to worse, who believes a public offender? Is this really the kind of situation we want to be faced with (at either end of the spectrum)? Is being too lazy to get dressed after rolling out of bed worth accidentally being arrested? But let's not get carried away with worst-case scenarios.
Williams pointed out that the ordinance is about restoring a sense of respect that has disappeared from society. Respecting others enough to do them the courtesy of wearing proper clothes, and maybe even conveying a sense of self-respect to the rest of the world?
A similar ban caused a huge outcry in the UK last year: The supermarket chain Tesco requests "that customers do not shop in their PJs or nightgowns". In-store security is authorized to deny unruly customers entry. From a food hygiene point of view, how can you argue with that? Would you want someone to touch your food who has been wearing and sleeping in their clothes for God knows how long?
However, customers were outraged. "I've worn my best ones today, just so I look tidy. I walked in with my trolley [shopping cart] and the security guard came over and told me to leave", one customer reported. Take a moment to think about that. She spent time carefully considering and choosing which pajama bottoms to wear to the grocery store, instead of just hopping into a pair of jeans? Or slacks? Or even sweat pants? So she picked her red-carpet pair of pajama bottoms to go to the store?
Says another customer: "This is just pathetic [...]. Do they have any idea how difficult it is to get three kids off to school when you are a single parent? You haven't even got time for a cup of tea never mind getting all dolled up." Yes, being a single parent is stressful. No, it is no excuse for letting yourself go and being a slob. It takes an estimated 15 seconds (time even mother-of-19 Michelle Duggar can find every day, by the way) to put on a pair of jeans or a skirt or a dress (which, on top of it, eliminates the question "What oversized sweater goes best with my teddybear pajamas?"). Be a role model! See?
So if you feel the need to wear your pajamas in public, think twice. And then change into a decent outfit. There's ways around looking like a slob. But if you must, maybe at least do it in style with a pajama-inspired shirt à la Ryan Gosling:
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