I'm writing a story about how Cannes Film Festival has made headlines for enforcing a stricter dress code this year — no nudity or long dress trains — which mostly impacts women. For part of the story, I'll need to assess how those rules might be gendered, how they're concerned with "decency" and why a dress code like that might exist in the first place. For another part of the story, I'm comparing those rules to the leniency that events attached to the festival have, allowing people who have been accused of crimes like Kevin Spacey, Shia Labeouf and Ezra Miller to accept awards and walk red carpets. How does this play into "decency"? Why might this be allowed at a festival? I would most like to hear from academics who can speak to why dress codes exist and why "Me Too" and cancel culture haven't succeeded from keeping people accused of hurting others out of events. How can both these things coexist at one festival?

Dress codes at events like Cannes psychologically signal order and status. 'Decency' in this context is often a curated, visible image. When these codes appear gendered, they can reflect societal power imbalances, where certain appearances are more rigorously policed to uphold a specific public facade. From a psychiatric viewpoint, clear rules can reduce social ambiguity, but their selective application often tells a deeper story about control and image management. The presence of individuals facing serious accusations, despite societal movements like 'Me Too,' highlights a complex tension. The influence, celebrity, or financial value these figures bring can lead event organizers to rationalize their inclusion—a form of institutional cognitive dissonance. 'Cancel culture,' while impactful, isn't a formalized system; its application is inconsistent and often swayed by power. This reveals a key insight: policing visible 'decency' through dress is far simpler than navigating the nuanced complexities of behavioral 'decency,' especially when status and significant interests are involved. This paradox - stringent aesthetic rules alongside moral flexibility towards certain individuals - often coexists through societal compartmentalization. High-profile events are, in part, performances. Strict, visible decorum (like dress codes) helps maintain the 'show.' This focus on manageable, external standards can inadvertently distract from, or allow for more ambiguous handling of, complex ethical judgments about personal conduct, which are frequently swayed by influence, perceived benefits, and pragmatic considerations.