Comments on: Wearing pants to work is a feminist act

By: Anona

Anona — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 03:53:31 +0000

Cynthia, if you haven’t already seen this site, I recommend searching around it and contacting the bloggers: http://feministlawprofessors.com/

By: CYNTHIA CURRY

CYNTHIA CURRY — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 15:02:59 +0000

I’m writing a book about California Supreme Court Chief Justice, Rose Elizabeth Bird (70′s and 80′s). I’m looking for quotes or comments about practicing law in the 70′s or early 80′s as well as specific quotes about Rose Bird. I found your article interesting and informative. I practiced law in Kern County California in the 80′s and saw a judge order a woman out of his courtroom for wearing a pantsuit. That woman now sits as a judge in Kern County.

Thanks. Cynthia Curry (916)712-9342

By: Deanna

Deanna — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 18:00:10 +0000

My employer not only forces women to wear skirts, but also makeup, i dont see how this is legal

By: T.I.

T.I. — Fri, 08 May 2009 14:50:54 +0000

Loretta, hope this helps….
T.I.

—

Dress Code Legal Issues
by Robin Thomas, Managing Editor at Personnel Policy Service, Inc.
http://en.allexperts.com/q/Wom.....skirts.htm

“…at least one state, California, prohibits employers from implementing a dress code that does not allow women to wear pants in the workplace. According to Section 12947.5 of the California Government Code, it is an unlawful employment practice for an employer to prohibit an employee from wearing pants because of the sex of the employee. The California law does make exceptions so employees in certain occupations can be required to wear uniforms.”

more details and links in
The right … to wear pants (summary page; full post from March 27, 2008)
California Labor & Employment Defense Blog

“…it always is a surprise to people to learn that that the California Government Code specifically addresses employees’ right to wear pants to work. Section 12947.5 states:

(a) It shall be an unlawful employment practice for an employer to refuse to permit an employee to wear pants on account of the sex of the employee.
(b) Nothing in this section shall prohibit an employer from requiring employees in a particular occupation to wear a uniform.

re. wearing pants in CA schools, see this summary of a related article from March 1997
Calif. District Agrees To Allow Women To Wear Slacks

By: Loretta

Loretta — Fri, 08 May 2009 07:46:16 +0000

I recently read an article that stated that California just passed a law making it legal for women to wear pants in the work place. I’m looking for documentation that can be found on the internet on that and would greatly appreciate help if anyone knows where I can find that information.

By: Zip

Zip — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 19:17:48 +0000

So if women want the right to wear pants, they can. What happens when men want to wear dresses and skirts?
That doesn’t even enter the minds of women. When it is very hot out I like to wear shorts outside, how far off can a skirt be to shorts? There is no such thing as formal shorts that I can wear to work. When it is hot and I am sweating I would like to wear something like shorts. Men don’t even have the choice!
Women have much more fashion freedom and should stop complaining if that freedom comes at a price.

By: pacific-cali

pacific-cali — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 23:42:04 +0000

Wow, this article brings up a lot of memories.
I remember being five & six years old in a school with a dress code that required the girls to wear skirts. We would try to wear shorts underneath so that our panties wouldn’t show when the boys invariably lifted our skirts. We were subjected to corporal punishment for this act of modesty. I don’t recall any boy ever being punished for their behavior though.

And I remember being in my first job – and women were required to wear skirts. I made sales calls to a company who always sat women on a comfy sofa while the men sat in chairs across from us. It was nearly a year before I was clued in to the fact that this seating arrangement was designed to provide the males with a clear view up our skirts.

I refuse to wear skirts now. I feel so badly for women who don’t have this freedom in their jobs.

By: JB in VA

JB in VA — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 03:56:33 +0000

fsteele: These paragraphs were near the end of her opening statement:

“I want to take a moment to emphasize the importance of a “bottom-up” approach to ensuring that America remains a positive force in the world. … Investing in our common humanity through social development is not marginal to our foreign policy but integral to accomplishing our goals.

“Today more than two billion people worldwide live on less than $2 a day. They are facing rising food prices and widespread hunger. Calls for expanding civil and political rights in countries plagued by mass hunger and disease will fall on deaf ears unless democracy actually delivers material benefits that improve people’s lives while weeding out the corruption that too often stands in the way of progress.

“Our foreign policy must reflect our deep commitment to the cause of making human rights a reality for millions of oppressed people around the world. Of particular concern to me is the plight of women and girls, who comprise the majority of the world’s unhealthy, unschooled, unfed, and unpaid.

“If half of the world’s population remains vulnerable to economic, political, legal, and social marginalization, our hope of advancing democracy and prosperity will remain in serious jeopardy. We still have a long way to go and the United States must remain an unambiguous and unequivocal voice in support of women’s rights in every country, every region, on every continent.”

Senator Boxer’s entire question period was taken up with the question of women’s rights, and Hillary was very explicit about being her intention to be pro-active in addressing this, including making it clear to national leaders (in Saudi Arabia, other Muslim countries, and elsewhere) that opening up women’s rights to education, health care and full political participation is essential for those nations to progress, etc.

Several other Senators also talked with Hillary about measures to halt the enslavement of women and children and the sex trade, and centering conflict resolution, economic development, and reconstruction efforts on enhancing the role of women in local communities and economies.

It really was a significant part of the hearing, and clearly something Hillary wants to carry forward. She may feel she is alone in this in the incoming administration, but not if we and other supporters of women’s rights keep the pressure on and let her know how completely we back her work in this area.

By: fsteele

fsteele — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 22:39:06 +0000

” THE groundbreaking element in Hillary Clinton’s hearing yesterday: the idea of women’s rights being central to America having a successful foreign policy.”

Woops, I missed that too. The transcript is so long, has this portion been quoted anywhere?

By: Sheryl Robinson

Sheryl Robinson — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 22:06:33 +0000

I know a bunch of women who were not allowed to wear pants to school. Some of them are even my age (44), but I suspect I avoided that bit of early oppression because I grew up in the frigid north. Pants are fine, but I'm just waiting for these people to make a line of business wear.