|
I
noticed on your website you
answered a question from a woman
who asked whether a firm of
accountants was within its rights
to insist that a female employee
wore a skirt suit to work. You
advised the woman in question
that such a stipulation is "almost
certainly illegal". Unfortunately
I have learnt that there is
no nation or state *anywhere
in the world* that affords women
the right to cover their legs
- except for the lucky residents
of California.
I'm a British solicitor (= legal
executive or junior attorney
in the States) who last year
was threatened with dismissal
for wearing a smart black tailored
trouser (=pant) suit to a client
meeting. My employer insists
on above- the-knee business
skirts and no tights (bare legs
are the norm in the North-East
of England) - even in the depths
of winter. In the hope of defending
my right to modesty and comfort
I considered taking the matter
to Court to establish a legal
precedent and researched the
case history in my country and
overseas. I discoverd that in
the absence of specific legislation
to the contrary (and this exists
only in California) all developed
Western nations permit employers
to specify any dress code they
choose for women, provided there
is an equally specific code
for men.
Why should I have to put up
with the pain of waxing, the
discomfort of being frozen all
winter, the humiliation of men
staring at my legs and the restriction
of always having to sit with
my legs crossed and consider
who's coming up the stairs behind
me? Do I really need to do all
these things to be considered
"professional"? If so, I'll
do them gladly, because I'm
good at what I do, and want
to get on. Or are they thing
which prevent me from being
taken seriously, that label
me as "just a girl"?
|
