Outrage following the adoption of a tougher dress rule for women in the state House by Missouri lawmakers.
By Debora Roles
Women are still not allowed to wear what they want at work, in 2023. Isn’t it tiring getting told how to dress, more often than not by men?
From the Norwegian handball team being fined for wearing shorts at the Olympics rather than the required bikini bottoms, to women in the Missouri state house being told arms mustn’t be on show.
We are now in 2023 women are still fighting for their rights in a working environment. As if the abortion laws across the world and gender pay gap wasn’t enough of an office challenge.
In January 2023, the Republicans controlling Missouri State House tightened the dress code that of course – only affects women. I also regret to inform you that it was a woman named Ann Kelley, who instigated this dress code review.
Ann Kelley the Republicans state senator, fought to force women legislators to wear blazers. It was then compromised that cardigans were ‘okay’ to wear too. Democrats were outraged and called the measures ‘ridiculous’.
On top of that, it’s important to note the Missouri House is made up of 116 men and only 43 women.
It leads you to question how uncomfortable it must have been for the women in that room – surrounded by the majority, which is men, staring at your current work attire and making their own decision on whether it is appropriate or not.
This caused people online to voice their thoughts of the new rule, on social media.
Shannon Watts, founder of Moms Demand Action tweeted
She also added ‘If you’re unable to control yourself, you should seek help.’
It leads us to wonder what your arms being out have anything to do with affecting someone at work.
Some women do their best pieces of work sitting at home in their pajamas. Yet in the office it’s all about showing too much skin and distracting others surrounding you.
In a study of 2,000 office workers, conducted by Totaljobs, the average woman spends over five months of her life thinking about what to wear to work. These figures show that women are having to put up with unwanted opinions and comments while deciding what to wear to work.
The women who received unwanted comments, 16% had been taken aside at work and told they were wearing revealing clothing and shockingly, one in ten women say they have been sent home to change due to the result of the outfit they arrived at work in.
Naturally, this doesn’t make most women feel wonderful. Inevitably, this would make women feel “embarrassed,” “angry,” and “singled out” as you are being criticised for your appearance.
Ironically, in the survey conducted by Totaljobs, 88% of men don’t feel the need to worry about their work dress codes.
Having to wake up every day and not knowing whether your boss approves of your top showing a bit of your arm and then having to accept the fact you might get sent home is delirious.
If dress code was as important as they make it seem, why don’t they have actual work uniforms – which they provide for. While women are spending extra money on getting a blazer which just adds on top to the living crisis we are all in.
No one should have to deal with that. Especially us ,women.
