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When I graduated high school, I thought I didn’t have to worry about my skirt being “too short” or if my shoulders were showing. I used to believe that being an adult would come with the freedom to choose what I wear, but I’ve since learned that I was wrong. Dress codes are still enforced on adult women, and the public is concerned about what they wear – even if they are in government office.
Missouri’s state legislature passed a strict dress code for its female lawmakers last month, requiring them to wear jackets, coats or cardigans to cover their arms and shoulders. I couldn’t believe my eyes at the blatant sexism and discrimination embedded in the new policy. We should focus on whether legislators and elected officials of all genders are doing their jobs, rather than what the women are wearing.
Missouri state representative and Republican Ann Kelly took time out of session last month to introduce legislation that would require women to cover their arms under the guise of “encouraging professionalism.” But a woman’s dress does not suddenly become “professional” by covering her arms – it suggests to the public that a woman’s dress determines her worth and dignity, not just her individuality.
When I was in high school, fashion was a form of self-expression that made me feel confident. One day I wore a striped shirt with a leather blazer, heeled boots and a plaid skirt. But my confidence was shattered when managers told me that my dress was inappropriate because my dress had a half-inch-long slit. They gave me a prisoner and told me to wear a skirt under the skirt. This punishment kept me in the classroom, and it was clear that my school valued my clothes more than my studies. Although I dressed more professionally than most of my classmates, my entire outfit was considered inappropriate because of the half inch of fabric, just as female legislators in Missouri did not dress “professionally” without a jacket or jacket. to accompany their dress.
But scrutinizing what women politicians wear does not stop at the state level. In last week’s State of the Union address, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Green, R-GA, called President Biden a “liar!” they shouted. From her seat. But despite her horrible act, people took to social media to make fun of her white coat. Comparison Bring her to Cruella de Vil. People should be more interested in the evil Green created in the Union Territory than what she’s wearing. Making women in politics look both ways diminishes their voices, disconnects their power and potential from the real issues at play.
However, even if a woman dresses “professionally” and doesn’t wear anything that might draw attention to them, they will still be under scrutiny. In a now-deleted tweet, Washington Examiner writer Eddie Scarry called out Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortz, D-N, saying, “… that jacket and coat don’t look like a struggling girl. Women in politics are criticized for daring to appear professional if they have grown up in the working class. It reminds me of the same treatment I received when I went to school when my peers were surprised to find out that I was from a low-income background just because I dressed nice.
The obsession with what women wear is prevalent in all walks of life, but it is especially disappointing to see it in politics. There should be high respect for the legislators of our country. Our elected officials aren’t celebrities walking the red carpet at the Grammys — they’re making the laws that govern our society. At a time when elites want to restrict public dress codes for women, it sends a message to the nation that women’s clothing is a priority over their actions and voices. Perhaps most importantly, it teaches the young girls they watch at home to give up their individuality if they want to be respected.
When I graduated high school, I tried to leave my small town’s dress codes, fashion critiques, and assumptions behind appearance. Their ubiquity – even in government – is a hard pill to swallow. The parallels between my own experience and the experiences of women in politics are painful. Our country’s women leaders and legislators deserve respect for the position, power and influence they hold, but fashion choices can be removed from their actions and used to make assumptions and conclusions about them.
For me, fashion is as important as breathing. Limiting my freedom to express myself is like taking away what makes me me. Fashion gives me confidence and helps me feel comfortable in my own skin. For me, it’s not just about fashion, but the essence of who I am. If we keep scrutinizing women for fashion, why would they want to be themselves?
Women, even female legislators, should be able to wear whatever they want and not fear losing the respect of society. The issues that female politicians face are the same issues that women everywhere face, and if these biases are excused on a national level, change will not be possible. How do high schools abandon sexist dress codes as the state government gets stricter? We as a society need to give women agency instead of directly or indirectly protecting what they wear.
Andrea Mendoza-Melcor, a freshman majoring in journalism and mass communication, is an opinion writer.
This article appeared in the February 16, 2023, issue of Hatchet.
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