New York Lawyer
January 31, 2002

Q:
I am a female partner in a large firm. Some of the young female attorneys around here wear outfits that really are unprofessional, in my opinion and the opinions of many of my colleagues. I�m talking about spaghetti straps, very short skirts, very tight clothes � especially in the summer. I�m thinking of one associate in particular, who may already have some difficulties with people taking her seriously because she has a high, little-girl kind of voice. I want to say, �You look great for going out but at work you need to look professional.�

However, I�m reluctant to say anything to these women because I�m older than they are and it might look like I�m being a fuddy-duddy. I�m concerned because I think they discredit themselves in the workplace by looking so provocative. Their colleagues (both male and female) discuss them in ways that focus on their sexuality and certainly not on their professional capabilities. How can I, or anyone, make them see that they are hurting themselves and won�t be taken seriously if they continue to wear such revealing clothing?

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A:
Many people I�ve talked with notice this as a phenomenon among younger women, which tends to wane after they�ve been around the firm for a while. Younger women are accustomed to skimpy dressing � they�ve been wearing spaghetti straps and short skirts throughout their lives � so it�s a little harder for them to make an adjustment to wearing what they consider to be frumpy, unattractive, dowdy outfits.

Just for some perspective, we should keep in mind that when women entered the workforce in large numbers, they were cautioned to dress in a faux-masculine style so that they would be �taken seriously.� Women rebelled against this dictate and now certainly appear more feminine. However, we should keep in mind that the business-like suit look has more to do with defaulting to a masculine look than creating a feminine one. It�s understandable that some women will feel that the �acceptable� look is one that defers too much to a masculine standard.

Responses to this trend run the gamut. Some people say, �She looks great, let�s not worry about it,� especially if the person�s work performance is good. Others confront the women and let them know that their dress isn�t acceptable, since many people (males as well as females) believe that provocative clothing has no place in the office. Women who dress more traditionally, such as yourself, tend to be judgmental and disapproving of younger women, reasoning that they aren�t doing themselves any favors being perceived as sexpots.

I favor a laissez-faire approach. My feeling is that adults should be left to themselves to devise a workplace persona that they�re comfortable with. These young women may decide that dressing in a way that makes them comfortable is more important to them than conforming to the norms. Or, they might decide after a while (by seeing glances, hearing remarks, and having leering clients come on to them) that more modest clothing makes it easier to do their work. Let these women decide on their own whether to ditch the mini-skirts.

Sincerely,
Holly English
Principal Consultant, Values at Work