'Lost their minds': Missouri Dems cry foul over GOP-proposed dress code for female state lawmakers
By: Rodric Hurdle-Bradford
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
The Missouri House of Representatives has started off 2023 receiving scrutiny nationwide as they have debated the proper attire that women legislators should wear when they are on the floor of the Capitol in Jefferson City, reports the St. Louis Post Dispatch .
The state of Missouri, which was under the nation's critical eye during the racial discrimination protests at the University of Missouri-Columbia in 2015 and 2016, in the immediate aftermath of the Michael Brown killing in St. Louis, has now garnered attention for their House of Representatives for opening a debate that many female lawmakers have decried as sexist.
In this particular case, the Missouri state legislature is considering a ban on women's apparel that exposes bare arms.
St. Louis Democrat Pete Merideth roasted his Republican colleagues for even making this a topic of discussion.
"The caucus that lost their minds over the suggestion that they should wear masks during a pandemic to respect the safety of others is now spending its time focusing on the fine details of what women have to wear (and specifically how many layers must cover their arms) to show respect in this chamber," Merideth tweeted.
Merideth said the debate originated in last year's session when several lawmakers thought that select female legislators were not dressing up to the legislative standards. The previous dress code allowed women to wear dresses, skirts or slacks with a blazer or sweater along with "appropriate" dress shoes or boots. The current rules make female legislators wear a second layer over a dress or a top, with many legislators preferring to wear shawls or other apparel.
Republican Representative Brenda Shields of St. Joseph accidentally touched off the debate when she requested that lawmakers change the dress code to allow cardigans be defined as jackets. After the debate, the amendment was allowed to stay in, and female legislators can cover their arms with cardigans.
Kansas City Democrat Representative Jamie Johnson called out the debate as ludicrous and unnecessary on Twitter.
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I read a comment that said...I thought it was a constitutional right to bare arms....
The next woman to speak on the floor should show up in a burka. We don't want those GOP male lawmakers to accidently pop a boner.
I think they would hide under their desks thinking they were under attack...
As soon as I saw the article title the thought went through my mind that an appropriate follow-up by conservatives to reversing Roe v Wade would be to require burkas to be worn.
Remember the scandal when Michelle Obama chose to wear a sleeveless dress?
Or when he wore a tan suit...
The same was done to Megyn Kelly.
What "scandal" was that, especially since Mrs. Obama was never an elected official. I do recall Nancy Reagan and Jackie Kennedy sleeveless, so Michelle's bare arms in the 21st century weren't a shocker to anyone.
Elected people's (male and female) attire should be business-smart while doing The People's Business at either the federal, state, or local levels. It's not the place for hoodies, cargo shorts, or cardigan sweaters.
so, for every gov't job? fuck that...
There's my entire comment. I should have included their staff, too.
Don't like it? Don't run for elected office or get a government job. Fine with me whatever you choose.
So, are you going to insist Jim Jordan wears a jacket or does he get a pass for male hot flashes?
I think it would depend on what job they do. Like an aide that will be on camera with them, of course you don't want them looking like a slob. Yet a coffee runner should be able to be a little more casual.
spoken like someone who doesn't work at any government level
" The latest arms controversy embroiling the White House has nothing to do with the Second Amendment. Instead, it's sprung from criticism about Michelle Obama showing off her toned triceps and biceps in her first official photo as first lady ." - March 1, 2009
Obama's Choice to Bare Arms Causes Uproar - ABC News (go.com)
The reality is that she got attacked for her bare arms mainly from white male conservatives who felt emasculated and decided to invent the fantasy that Michelle Obama is actually a guy because she has buffer arms than they do.
REMINDER: Many Right-Wingers Believe Michelle Obama Is A Man | Crooks and Liars
If you'd like me to, I will. Please let me know.
Jealousy isn't a good look is it?
let me guess, mini skirts, tube tops, and platform heels...
Over dressed ... just an apron and no underwear ... fertilization ready.
Missouri GOP dress code...
That is deeply disturbing, Dismayed
I get sick of shit like this. Even for the men. Why do they have to wear ties?
Imo ties are the ugliest, dumbest thing to ever wear. No point to it whatso ever
I don't even own a suit. Only wore one once when I was in a wedding and it was paid for.
My office told me I had to wear business casual 2 years ago. I mostly still wear jeans and a t-shirt.
I can never understand some rules or meanings, like business casual.
What is that....wearing khakis and a polo? Haha
I have one pair of jeans that cost more than a whole cheap suit.
Hate to admit that but I wanted a pair.
one sales job I had started out long sleeve shirt, tie, dress slacks, dress shoes. by the time I left it was polo, khakis, and sneakers, for me anyway...
Yeah... dress pants and either a polo or button down shirt. I sweat too much so I mostly wear plain colored t-shirts and nice jeans my wife buys. In the winter I'll wear a long sleeve pull over or sweater over my colored T. I do have a few button downs and when I'm in the mood I'll pull one out and iron it.
When I had my own business I started out with a bunch of polo shirts, but I stained them all with coffee and didn't replace them. Hahaha!
I haven't done sales since my car dealership days. Even then I never wore a suit. As long as you knew about the car, most people didn't care.
I do have several long sleeve button ups and some slacks that I only use for certain occasions.
Like I have a dark gray button up with black slacks that I used for a funeral.
Mostly t-shirts.
I think nice jeans are fine. I even have some in green, red, tan, black...
For forty years I was required to wear a suit or a sport coat and tie. It was called "Presenting a professional image"...
Tan lines under my chin and at my wrists.
Now I'm always in sweat pants and tees.
Am I the only one left on the planet that still wears the three quarter sleeve baseball shirts?
Wearing one right now. Haha
I love those!
What is this fascination with what people wear especially women?
Idk... I like to do the "Winney the Poo" - a t-shirt and no bottoms.
Donald Duck rocked that look, too
Standard L.A. uniform: T-shirt, shorts and flip-flops (barefoot around the house). During the winter we need long pants and sometimes have to wear a sweatshirt and socks!