Costume design in porn is a topic rarely discussed in college classrooms. And yet, in the middle of a lecture about the elegant dress of women of the 1800s, I was surprised to see, next to the hoop skirts and petticoats, a garment only seen in a certain kind of film.

Films akin to that of a live Miley Cyrus performance or Amy Schumer’s GQ photoshoot. Films that you would want to see Zach Efron starring in. I’m talking about porn, people.

The 1800s garment in question – called drawers – was not intended for adult films, but as a base layer in the everyday dress of women. The knee-length undergarment often had lace trim and was left open at the crotch from the mid-thigh up.

Yes, women in the 1800s wore crotchless underwear. Sure, crotchless panties today are mostly reserved for hopefully-not-making-a-baby times, but in the 1800s they were worn out of modesty. In either situation, crotchless undergarments have been used to unfairly sexualize women’s bodies.

Apparel, Merchandising, Design and Textiles professor Dr. Linda Bradley said layers of petticoats and cage crinolines were needed to fill out skirts to fit the wide silhouette desired in the 1800s. Crinolines were prone to flipping up, exposing bare legs. The knee-length drawer was invented to maintain modesty. The crotch seam was left open, not stitched together, so that women could easily relieve themselves.

The “Dat Ankle” meme, actually isn’t too far off of modesty standards for the 1800s. Bare legs were rather scandalous, because we all know where the legs lead.

The drawers of the 1800s look similar to chaps, but the only cowboy wearing crotchless panties today would be in a sex-ghetti western.

In an entirely unscientific survey of the few people I consider myself close enough with to discuss underwear, data suggested that 10 out of 10 of my friends owned a pair of bikini briefs, 8 out of 10 owned a thong, 7 out of 10 owned “Granny Panties,” and 5 out of 10 owned actual boxers. No one owned a pair of crotchless panties. I doubt even porn stars wear them on their Sundays off. I assume porn stars take Sundays off.

Although it seems that, based on my data, most women don’t wear crotchless underwear, they are worn by women in settings where they’re being sexualized.

Women should be able to walk around in next to nothing without being sexualized. And women should be able to walk around in wetsuit-sleeping bag hybrids without scrutiny. How much skin a woman is showing should not label her as either a slut or a prude.

The next time you put on your underwear, the next time you think modern fashion is ridiculous, the next time you judge a girl for her short shorts or frumpy dress, think of your great-great-great-great grandmother. Think of her underwear.