To think this is really uncalled for

[GraysAnalogy]

I recently ran a training session with some colleagues, people invited to attend included professionals of the field, students, and clients. At the end of each session we give out feedback sheets, people fill them in and we read them to see how we can improve. We get a lot of positive feedback, some minor niggles but that's all in the name of the game.

However I've read through the last ones and one comment has really got my back up: 'I'm not sure why the woman speaker had makeup and heels on'. The person who wrote this was a woman too (feedback is anon but there's check boxes for gender, age etc for funding purposes)

I just don't see how this is relevant. I wore small heels (think office) and light makeup because I don't like it much anyway. It's sort of upset me really because instead of feeding back about the learning opportunity, they decided to pick on my appearance.

AIBU here, or is it something you yourself see as an issue?

[LIZS]

Depends what the session was about and whether the delegates were told it was less formal. If that was your usual work attire I wouldn't take it personally.

[sugarman]

Very sexist and random feedback.

You don't need to justify wearing heels or make up - to her or us.

[TwinkieTwinkle]

Well that's a bit loopy...

[JustCallMeDory]

Well, the person who wrote that is clearly an idiot. It's a silly comment to make.

Focus on the comments where someone had something worthwhile to say.

[skylark2]

What were you training them in?

If it was some sort of vigorous physical activity, then wearing heels and makeup would be odd.

If it was office-based work, sounds pretty normal to me.

[MrsItsNoworNotatAll]

Just some silly bint being well....a silly bint really. A stupid comment and not remotely helpful.

Forget about it. Not worth you worrying about. I'm sure you looked fine x

[Nomama]

Oh dear! You met a real life MNer who thinks women should not be enslaved to society's ideas of femininity and should be told so, at every opportunity!

That's neo-feminism for you!

[GraysAnalogy]

skylark nothing vigorous, ortho and new techniques. Just talking through really.

Thanks for your replies, I now feel validated better.

I was a bit sad about it, now I'm more annoyed.

[MrsRayOfSunshine]

Heels and a touch of make up as office wear? Outrageous!

On a serious note, I wouldn't pay attention to that, maybe a touch of jealously from this women? Who know, but don't let it get to you

[BeeRayKay]

Ugh how pointless. Even it was phsyical activity, make up is still okay.

Heals also. You can always remove them.

I was on training the other week, wore flats, still removed them. Lol.

[GraysAnalogy]

perhaps she'd have preferred my biker boots...

[PeterParkerSays]

I can only think this was meant in the context of either a) the other speakers deliberately dressing down, so not looking "business like" or b) her being a client in a setting where staff wouldn't usually wear business dress. Did male presenters wear a tie, for example?

What other scores did she give you? - did she feel this impacted on what she got out of the session because she felt she was being talked at by an expert, for example, rather than being trained by someone who understood her?

It's an odd thing to write, but I wouldn't dismiss it out of hand without knowing more about the situation and how the session came about, mainly because you say it involved colleagues, students and clients; I would presume that it was a client who wrote this.

[HedgehogsDontBite]

By 'ortho' do you mean they were bone/joint professionals? If so that may explain the at wearing heels. Doesn't explain the makeup issue though.

[TheListingAttic]

Shame you have no channel to reply OP: "Because ever since she grew into a big girl, she's been allowed to pick whatever the hell she wanted to wear. That's why!"

[BathtimeFunkster]

It is absolutely uncalled for to write something like that.

It's not remotely useful feedback.

I'm sorry this happened and I hope it hasn't knocked your confidence

[squoosh]

Unless you were giving a seminar on outdoor survival skills I fail to see why this person would have thought heels and makeup were out of place.

[PeppermintInfusion]

I've conducted training and had some random comments along these lines before (both with attendees I have known beforehand and never met before). I don't know, maybe it's like trolling, they like to do it because they see it as an opportunity to get away with it.

[Cornettoninja]

I agree with it's just some silly bint taking the opportunity to put in black and white the kind of irrelevant crap she probably spouts all day.

Don't give it anymore thought - if that's all she was concentrating on it's her loss. Unprofessional twit

[BathtimeFunkster]

Neo-feminism?

Yes, feminsists are well known for singling women out for personal remarks about their appearance.

[BathtimeFunkster]

Maybe it was a seminar on passing as a man?

[YoullLikeItNotaLot]

Yes it was uncalled for. The only time it'd be irrelevant if what you were wearing hindered your presentation.

Having said that, I left some feedback which was negative for an in-house course. The person delivering it tackled me about it but I'd been very factual. Thing is, other people on the course actually shared my opinion but left positive feedback - what's the point in that?

[scratchandsniff]

Silly cow must be pondering the issue a lot as she must come across plenty of females everyday who shock horror wear 'heels and makeup'!

What a stupid comment to make.

[TendonQueen]

People write all sorts of crap on feedback sheets. I have seen comments about not liking the biscuits provided, plus that the event didn't give someone time to get home and make their husband's dinner (it was shorter than the normal working day too). Ignore it

Also, neo-feminism? I think someone's getting confused.

[SantasLittleMonkeyButler]

Look at the bright side.

Your presentation must have been pretty damn good if all she could criticise you on was your appearance.