AIBU to think that short skirts and cleavage are totally inappropriate professional dress?

[Shamwari22]

Following the recent shenanigans about Angela Rayner crossing and uncrossing her legs while wearing a mini-skirt to throw Boris Johnson off his stride ... And further back, I was cringing at Theresa May standing outside No 10 as she took office as PM, flashing her cleavage. I really think if women wish to be taken seriously in politics and the professions, that they should not flash the flesh. In parliament, men are expected to wear jacket and tie, so why should women not have similar professional dress guidelines?

Good examples for me are the BBC's Laura Kuenssberg and Emma Vardy wearing very structured suits and coats that do not distract at all from what they are saying.

I worked in politics in Westminster in my 20's. Took a great deal of care over my attire having suffered previous sexual abuse. Even on the hottest days, I wouldn't remove my jacket for fear of colleagues realising I had breasts. I needn't have worried, at a work function, the chief exec took it upon himself to unbutton my jacket in front of a room full of people for a closer inspection of what he had been hitherto denied. I resigned shortly afterwards, death by a thousand papercuts - this is just one incident of many in the workplace. I am highly educated, very bright and pretty tough, yet by my late 20's I was utterly worn down by this shit and have been what's called economically inactive for many years now. People tend to be surprised that I haven't got a shit hot career, honestly, I can't even be arsed explaining I've made a happy life pottering about, but yes, if I do think about it, it all makes me so, so angry.so yes OP, yabvu and very ignorant

I have had a man wearing short shorts (this was the 90s) stand in front of me (I was seated) and explain that women wearing short skirts were 'asking for it'. I was looking him full in the eye, so to speak. I've never recovered from my utter confusion at his ironic stupidity.

See also: shirtless men as soon as the sun comes out.

Just to be the voice of optimism, I really do all of these things at work (except straining shirt buttons, i prefer loose clothing) and have never sensed I wasn't meeting expectations. TV anchors probably, but I think women can do the things you've listed in ordinary workplaces.

I've literally never gone to the toilet to check my appearance since I was a teenager (unless I've had a cry at work and need to check for red eyes). Is it common?? Whenever I go to the Ladies at work, women in there are doing usual toilet things rather than checking their eyebrows...!

By my reckoning, clothing is designed to cover up our “reproductive” regions. For both men and women. I can’t think of a single fashion statement that proudly displays cock and balls or vaginas in everyday life.

What is the harm re cleavage? Or legs. They’re not offensive weapons!

weirdly, I’ve now got a mental image derived from a thread on here some time ago. Where some guy came on to offer advice to women re computers - and a response along the lines of “thank god, I’ve just been bashing my boobs on the keyboard and hoping for the best”.

🙄

I dunno.
But there is definitely such as thing as a too short a skirt at work, depending on the workplace.
A teacher at school rocked up one summer morning in a VERY short miniskirt, well up to her upper thighs. The head of her department had a word.
She never wore it again at school.

Women can wear whatever the fuck we want. If you can’t cope with a seeing bit of cleavage or a knee then you have bigger problems.

Don't be so ridiculous.

Teresa May was always professionally dressed as far as I can remember. I can't imagine anyone less sexy.

And anyway women can dress however they wish. If an mp's electorate is happy with how she presents herself and votes her in, it is nobody else's concern.

I'm not an mp but I work in a professional environment as head of department. In summer I wear short skirts and flats because they are cool, comfortable and practical.

I do my job effectively. What the people around me think is of no relevance whatsoever. They should be focussing on their own work.

Most places of employment have a dress code.

However, Theresa May 'flashing her boobs' is quite ridiculous. She is not glamour model. She is wearing a perfectly acceptable selection of suits, designed for the female figure.

I think you need help to figure out why the exposure of a small amount of skin bother you so much.

Well women don't get the top jobs as much as men, women don't earn as much as men. So perhaps dressing more like men would help.
It annoys me that men can wear no makeup and a boring shirt and trousers ( probably the same style day in day out) but the women (I'm thinking of tv presenters here) have to look made up and in figure hugging dresses. When will we have women looking as natural as the men.

Saying women can wear what they want - well they wouldn't be allowed to wear what they want as a tv presenter (because there would be an outcry if they dressed in trousers and T-shirt - non figure hugging) or even as a admin person as society dictates they look attractive rather than natural.

Women are there own worst enemies - buying into societies 'rules'.

I'm glad I'm not the only one who doesn't remember Theresa May flashing cleavage.

Being easily distracted is down to the person being distracted. They need to look at the face of the person talking & concentrate on the nose, eyes and mouth

if we all start making adjustments for these people that are easily distracted, where will it end?

best they learn to deal with their shortcomings

Advanced Search shows neither journalist nor, presumably, troll.

Just another woman (presumably) wanting to put other women down based on their appearance.

@KangFang and the HT then told the rest of the staff that the teacher had been told? Or the member of staff themselves told you? What a dreadful and unprofessional thing to do. What did the head say when you called them out on their spiteful gossiping to the rest of the staff?

Or women could wear what they want

I gave up wearing a poorly-fitted trouser suit and attempting to dress like a man many years ago when I realised I was actually quite competent at my job and could rely on my knowledge to convey my professionalism. Suits don't suit my body shape, and I'm sick of pretending to be something I'm not.

I have large breasts. I'm not going to flash them, but I'm also not going to bind them and squeeze into an uncomfortable item of clothing to protect someone else's sensibilities. The PM doesn't appear to even brush his hair and yet that's apparently OK.

When Boris starts making an effort, maybe I'll consider it.

I don't care.
Personally I think it high time we dropped all the 'professional' dress bollocks and people start wearing what they're comfortable to work in.
Just with the caveat that genitals and breasts and full moon bums are covered.

What are you even talking about?!

I don’t like her brand of politics but always thought Theresa May was dressed impeccably.

I agree.

This is getting utterly bizarre. There was the weirdest thread the other day on here with various niche views queuing up to deny the misogyny towards Angela Rayner. And someone has now started a thread describing Theresa May as “displaying” her cleavage.

What the fuck is going on?

I opened the thread expecting to agree with you, but Theresa May flashing her cleavage?! I think you might have some issues OP. Can you post a photo? I genuinely can't remember or imagine this. Say what you will about May, and I've said plenty, but she was always well dressed.

Yes, confusing - posts insisting a woman's right to wear what she wants - then others criticising TM for showing cleavage. Ridiculous.

Maybe the conflcting views represent society moving from women need to behave/dress nicely, to women can do what they want - a bit like slowly turning a huge ship.

Good god I can’t believe anyone still thinks like this. It’s so shameful.

raynor was not wearing a mini skirt for gods sake and may hardly had her tits hanging out.

check your mysogynistic views. Women can wear what they want, when they want. The way you’re describing it you’d think they would both give Julia roberts in pretty woman a run for her money, both women were dressed in a proffessional manner,

we don’t need to cover ourselves and hide all evidence we are women. The fact you think we do is appalling.

It’s as if all the Tory supporters / bots / fake accounts have been told to launch a campaign to discredit / distract / deflect.

See also dailymail content this week.

at least these days people are wiser to the attempted social media manipulation (well most people - daily mail readers maybe not!!)