Dress Codes in the Workplace

Professional is subjective. What one perceives to be professional will be different than someone else. Professional dress does have discriminatory ties and patriarchal roots. Power dressing is the term for it. It gives the implication that you have the ability by appearance for a certain job.Cited source, “Where does the power come from in power dressing? It comes from two areas. First, dressing to appear more like a cis white male. Power dressing isn’t empowering for women, particularly minorities, because it reinforces social hierarchies that value white maleness above all else.Second, it treats women as sex objects. High heels, tight skirts and makeup are used to sexualise masculine blazers. Power here is a sensual power – having a power over men in terms of sexuality. Yet, this objectification of the female body through professional fashion overshadows any other kind of social connection, and the power of being taken seriously, as something more than a passive sex object to totter around the office in high heels.” Dress codes for schools are also discriminatory as well, especially for females. From x amount of inches in straps to inches above the knee. Dress does not hinder the ability to learn. It’s a control aspect. It’s discriminatory and sexist. Dress codes are disgusting in some ways and they are old protocols. I’m a high school teacher/college professor. I had to power dress for both of my jobs for a bunch of white old men and women years ago. I had to be someone I wasn’t because having 2 Master degrees and several academic backgrounds wasn’t enough. I couldn’t dress in what I do now. I couldn’t wear leggings, riding boots, hey dude shoes, plaid shirts or tank tops. My makeup had to be conservative. Today, it is not. Today I wear what I want and the makeup I do is freeing. I can do wing liner without being thought as a promiscuous being. I’m sure everyone has heard the term “Dress for success.” What does term mean? It means that image is superior. Image is what defines you. Not your credentials, not your personality, not your morals or character. It is what you physically present in the manner of dress. Yes, places do need to have hygiene rules. You do want to be hygienic in any place you work at or attend. It’s shocking how many adults do not have adequate hygiene practice, especially if they weren’t taught that growing up. I would love to see dress codes banned from many places. I don’t care what you wear. I care about what is in your mind.

Aside from safety (including safety from hate speech, safety from covid etc.) and covering your genitals and anus for public health reasons, yes I believe dress codes are discriminatory, classist and sexist.I understand workplaces having a ‘brand’, and religions having traditional/ceremonial type dress, but I think all should be optional.I’ve been watching a lot of history docs and dress codes are/were quite literally used to tell peoples’ race and financial statuses apart. I think it’s pretty disgusting a woman can get judged as “unprofessional” if she isn’t wearing two layers on her arms. Seriously, what does that even mean?

Alright, so I’ll share my experience with dress codes in an office environment, and why I think they’re ridiculous. The worst I ever dealt with was at an internship for a state funded program. Before it even started the school went over clothing in detail. I went to a career college, and there were regular lectures on “professional” appearance. We were lectured about the jacket issue that’s part of my post, we were lectured about the necessity of always covering all tattoos, we were lectured about women specifically, “showing off too much skin”. All of this built off of what I was taught in high school, which was explicitly sexist, and about not distracting the boys. Yes, that was explicitly said. Once I started what was allowed/not allowed was a topic of constant discussion. I wore a black pencil skirt, blazer, and button up for the interview. I was immediately told I looked nice, but that it was “too much” for that office. While working, there a big debate not involving myself broke out over if nice shorts and sandals were professional enough during a heatwave. Then I was personally lectured repeatedly for not wearing jeans on Friday, as I was told my black slacks we’re making the others look bad in comparison. After saying I only owned old ripped jeans I wasn’t comfortable in outside the house, I was told to still wear them, or just buy new ones. All of this nitpicking my appearance left a terrible taste in my mouth. It was a giant source of stress, and waste of time and money for a job that wasn’t even paying me! In retrospect I genuinely believe it was based in power/control dynamics, classism, and sexism. I didn’t personally experience racism in relation to dress codes as a white woman, but I’m 100% sure that can be an aspect as well. I’ve come to think of this mindset as “toxic professionalism”. Focusing on arbitrary details of how workers present themselves, instead of doing literally anything else that actually helps clients. That was well over a decade ago though. I’m a bit surprised to still see stories like this still popping up. At this point in my life I just want people to be competent. I don’t care if someone is tattooed head to toe and wearing a bikini to work. Just be good at the job, show a basic level of politeness, be hygienic, and I’m happy. I genuinely don’t care any further. That includes government officials. I don’t believe this is anything except a political stunt.

It seems like just another political stunts ro show the "morals and values" a group want to force on everyone when there isn't an issue anyways. The overwhelming majority of politicians and elected female legislative women wear normal business professional outfits. Wearing a professional blouse that has sleeves that stop mid bicep or elbow is fine and requiring blazers is abused. We should be more worried about the laws, bills, and actual legislation our elected officials are passing and enacting than if a female rep has on a single layer yet very appropriate business professional dress. Just more political grandstanding and wastes of time. Look at the photos from their meetings...no body is inappropriate so this is finding a solution to a problem that doesn't exist. Just dumb and a waste of time in my opinion to shove values and make a word hoke about equality if you listen to some of the interviews. I can 100% guarantee there are more important things they could be discussing amd working on...but ya women's blazers vs not is the hot button we need to focus on🙄

I think in general dress codes are discriminatory unless it’s like requiring scrubs for nurses for example. I do think how you dress can impact how perceive you and I think it’s important for politicians to dress in a way that indicates they are professional and respectful of their work. This is obviously subjective, but I know I feel different based on how I’m dressed. If I stay in my pajamas all day, I’m going to be in a “lazy” weekend kind of state. But if I get up, get dressed, and do my hair, that’s more of a ready to work kind of feeling. Now I don’t think whether your arms are covered or not is necessary. I think professional dress can be a nice dress shirt or polo with pants or skirt. I do think them debating this is a waste of time though. Dress codes are often just power moves.

I don’t give a 💩 about how our Congresspeople dress. This circus brought up by Rep. Kelley is a complete waste of time and resources. Anything else to worry about? Maybe the impeding recession? Oh wait, that’s the Republican strategy isn’t it, drag us into a recession then blame democrats because why not?

I think there are some workplaces that more strict dress codes should be enacted and enforced, like in this case of people working in government. I don’t think it should only apply to women though. If women have to have 2 layers, so should the men. I have pretty small boobs and have seen men with bigger boobs than I have (which I’m guessing women’s boobs were the reasoning behind a second layer). I think overly strict dress codes in regular office settings are typically ridiculous though. I definitely expect my elected officials to look and dress more professionally than a typical office employee though.

Does it specifically say women need to wear the extra layers with arms and such covered? Or everyone? As long as their rules include everyone, I don't really care.

Would the new requirement put them on the same level as the men? Professional wear for men is generally some sort of suit, which would meet the two layer rule (shirt/jacket) without it needing to be in writing. If that's the case, then I don't see the big deal about it.