A recent change to the dress code for female lawmakers in Missouri is sparking a contentious debate. There are new rules for “proper attire.”

Mahmoud Bennett Social Media Producer

Dress code for female lawmakers sparks debate in Missouri

Jan 16, 2023

Mahmoud Bennett Social Media Producer

By Mahmoud Bennett (Social Media Producer), Stacey Chamberlain (Producer)

A recent change to the dress code for female lawmakers in Missouri is sparking a contentious debate. The Missouri House of Representatives recently adopted new rules on “proper attire” for women in the chamber. It requires female legislators and staff members on duty to wear a jacket, cardigan or blazer to cover their arms.

Many Democrats have criticized the change as ridiculous and sexist. They argue that women should not be policed for their fashion choices. “There are a lot of ways we could break decorum in this room. but a woman, what she’s wearing, that is ridiculous,” said Rep. Ashley Aune, a Democrat.

Rep. Ann Kelley, the Republican lawmaker who proposed the change, said it was done to ensure decorum and mirror the men’s dress code. That dress code requires male lawmakers to wear a jacket, shirt and tie. “You would think that all you would have to do is say, ‘dress professionally’ and women could handle it,” said Kelley.

This debate is not unique to Missouri though. The National Conference of State Legislatures said at least half of all states have a formalized dress code in place for both men and women. But gender-specific differences in how the lines are drawn is being viewed increasingly as culturally insensitive and sexist. It has prompted places like Wyoming to adopt gender neutral policies last year. Congressional lawmakers at the federal level also had their dress code rules updated under former House Speaker Paul Ryan in 2017.

Tags: House of Representatives, Missouri, Paul Ryan, U.S. Congress, Wyoming

MAHMOUD BENNETT: A RECENT CHANGE TO THE DRESS CODE FOR FEMALE LAWMAKERS IN MISSOURI IS SPARKING A CONTENTIOUS DEBATE.

THE STATE’S HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES RECENTLY ADOPTED NEW RULES FOR “PROPER ATTIRE” FOR WOMEN IN THE CHAMBER. IT REQUIRES FEMALE LEGISLATORS, AND STAFF MEMBERS ON DUTY, TO WEAR A JACKET, CARDIGAN OR BLAZER, IN ORDER TO COVER THEIR ARMS.

MANY DEMOCRATS HAVE CRITICIZED THE CHANGE AS RIDICULOUS AND SEXIST, ARGUING THAT WOMEN SHOULD NOT BE POLICED FOR THEIR FASHION CHOICES:

REP. ASHLEY AUNE:

THERE ARE A LOT OF WAYS WE COULD BREAK DECORUM IN THIS ROOM. BUT A WOMAN, WHAT SHE’S WEARING, THAT IS RIDICULOUS.

MAHMOUD BENNETT:

THE REPUBLICAN LAWMAKER WHO PROPOSED THE CHANGE SAID IT WAS DONE TO ENSURE DECORUM AND MIRROR THE MEN’S DRESS CODE WHICH ALREADY REQUIRES MALE LAWMAKERS TO WEAR A JACKET SHIRT AND TIE.

REP. ANN KELLEY:

YOU WOULD THINK THAT ALL YOU WOULD HAVE TO DO IS SAY, ‘DRESS PROFESSIONALLY’ AND WOMEN COULD HANDLE IT!

MAHMOUD BENNETT:

THIS DEBATE IS NOT UNIQUE TO MISSOURI THOUGH. THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF STATE LEGISLATURES SAYS AT LEAST HALF OF ALL STATES HAVE A FORMALIZED DRESS CODE IN PLACE FOR BOTH MEN AND WOMEN. BUT GENDER-SPECIFIC DIFFERENCES IN HOW THE LINES ARE DRAWN IS BEING VIEWED INCREASINGLY AS CULTURALLY INSENSITIVE AND SEXIST.

IT’S PROMPTED PLACES LIKE WYOMING TO ADOPT GENDER NEUTRAL POLICIES. AND CONGRESSIONAL LAWMAKERS AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL UPDATING THEIR OWN RULES BACK IN 2017.

DO YOU THINK THERE’S A FINE LINE BETWEEN WANTING TO MAINTAIN A PROFESSIONAL WORKPLACE AND INFRINGING ON WHAT PEOPLE FIND APPROPRIATE FOR THEMSELVES?SHARE THOSE THOUGHTS OF YOURS IN THE COMMENTS BELOW.

THIS IS MAHMOUD BENNETT WITH STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS, BRINGING YOU THE UNBIASED – STRAIGHT FACTS.