The verse is meant to be taken, as with all things in literature, in context, to be applied to how to conduct a ministry. This passage is to say that if your ministry is in a place that sexualizes women culturally and that is a distraction for your congregation, do not sexualize women in a way that would distract them from your message. It is applicable to people other than Timothy, but the letter alleges to be written for Timothy in Ephesus originally.