Journalist told to change clothes before attending execution

[SummerIsComingNowish]

news.sky.com/story/us-journalist-ordered-to-change-clothes-after-being-told-skirt-too-short-to-witness-execution-12661761

We mustn't get the men too excited now.....

Watch your toes!

Although pulling her skirt to her hips makes it sound like the skirt was just a belt around her waist which she tried to yank down 🤣

The report says it violated prison dress code. Does the dress code specify both male and female rules, ie are shorts not allowed for men?

I don't think having dress codes for certain institutions is a problem, whilst the skirt and sandals may have been suitable in other circumstances it doesn't mean it is in all. (And that's the same as men)

The whole thing is sickening. Some occasions have a dress code as a mark of respect - funerals, weddings, court etc. Thankfully we don’t have executions in this country, but I presume it’s in the same camp.

I actually think someone attending an execution should be appropriately dressed.
Something somber and plain.
Of course this is easy for men - a suit or shirt, tie, jacket (assuming the men aren't having a girl day). But it can't be too difficult for women to wear something suitable.
I've no idea if what she was wearing was particularly revealing but I'm not going to scream sexism on this one.

She said she had worn the same outfit to previous executions. It's how it's done that annoys me, humiliating her infront of others and having her put on other people's clothing.

When I saw the headline I was confused for a moment because I thought surely women aren't allowed to attend executions, let alone in a short skirt, in those sort of Middle East countries unless they're the ones being killed.

Also, it’s not difficult to find an appropriate length skirt or trousers when you’re 5ft 7ins.

What are the chances it was an appropriate length of skirt though, why are we just assuming a professional journalist turns up to work in a pelmet?

The execution of Joe Nathan James by lethal injection was held up for three hours due to the amount of time it took to establish an intravenous line.

The delay was described as a "highly unusual and very troubling" time-lapse by the head of the Death Penalty Information Centre, a non-profit organisation focused on issues surrounding capital punishment.

I'm pretty disgusted by this - journalists should not become the story. I want to see what she was wearing before I spare her any concern. She is there as a witness to another human being's judicial murder.

Reading her statement what she posted online, she was most likely in a very respectful and professional outfit. Media is making us believe she's turned up dressed like she's going a night out in ibiza

When we're talking about an execution I really don't think a witness's feelings are the main point.

No, it's that other backwards country, the USA

Weird that she's worn the same skirt to a previous execution....it's her execution outfit if you like. 🙄

I don’t think we are assuming the skirt was a pelmet. The fact she was asked to change in order to meet the dress code suggests it was too short. Her shoes were also an issue.

Maybe it was a stupid rule and her skirt was fine but it's just a dress code. Someone's execution for a murder but this is the main talking point? I'd just comply with the rule (stupid or not) and forget about it.

@SummerIsComingNowish

well your take & mine, from reading her statement are very different.

my opinion is that she's an attention seeking muppet, who should learn to dress appropriately.

the fact she's 5'7" (5'10" in heels) so a very tall, leggy woman...) is all just attention seeking. She's going to a PRISON for an execution. She doesn't need to be going in strappy heels & a very short skirt, it's just attention seeking.

"At 5'7", and 5'10" with my heels on, I am a tall and long-legged person."I tried to pull my skirt to my hips to make the skirt longer, but was told it was still not appropriate."

This doesn't sound respectful to me. I have long legs regular length skirts would not be suitable for an execution.
I agree with pp, the story should be about the execution especially the fact that the victims children did not support it.

The mind recoils at “But I’ve worn this skirt to loads of executions.”

perhaps it was because there was a family member who objected or simply that the governor of the prison was more sensitive to others feelings. I consider that the death penalty witnessing should be treated with the same sensitivity as a funeral - its not a wedding or party.
I do not believe in the death penalty, by the by, and I find it disgusting that anyone, including and especially the press, should witness these unless its legally required or they are family of the victim or the convict.

She has worn it to previous executions. Bit of a ghoul then.

Who the fuck goes to “witness an execution”?

Yes, agree.

The article is really tasteless.

Given that the death penalty exists, I think that on balance it's better that it should be witnessed and reported rather than carried out in secret - otherwise I doubt that we would never get to hear about botched executions. However I take a very dim view indeed of any journalist who makes themselves the focus of such a story.

Also, I'm not normally one for policing where people choose to post but why is this in 'Sex and Gender'?

This is insane. Imagine having to look at your wardrobe in the morning and pull out your 'go to' 'Execution Outfit'. I'm imagining a parody of a womens' magazine fashion spread with someone transitioning seamlessly from 'office wear' to 'execution wear' to 'evening wear' - all illustrated with the usual tropes - holding phone while pointing with pencil - smiling as you skip through the door being held open by an admiring male execution room guard - emerging from taxi having added something black and sparkly and a pair of heels.

A ridiculous, macabre, sick situation on many levels.

It may not be just the execution element. Lots of men's prisons ask that female visitors wear fairly conservative clothing. Women that I know who work or volunteer tend to go further than required, they wear pants generally, flat shoes, no jewelry, and so on. They almost go out of their way to look pretty gender neutral or even dumpy.

Possibly that's not "fair" but I think actually it is completely justified to recognize that a woman coming into that space has quite a different set of things to think about than a male.

Exections take place in the prison so the same rules likely apply, even though in some ways the same issues won't be involved in terms of dealing with prisoners. But even if whomever was in charge on the other occasions let it pass it doesn't mean se shouldn't be observing the dress code.