A pencil skirt and pumps in the British winter? That’s right, I have been interviewing with some companies this freezing January. And as a part of putting my best foot forward, I have, of course, read through countless articles about what to do (or not do), say (or not say), and wear (or not wear).
I have never been one of those who cringed at the thought of donning a suit for work. In fact, being a young executive in a start-up digital media agency in the image-conscious Dubai, I have always been quite conscious of what my work wear communicated to my clients and co-workers. We are told to let out ‘femininity’ show through the severe lines of formal wear. But to beware of the occasional cleavage, distracting jewelry or a hemline that refuses to be shy.
In fact, in this rather scintillatingly written story about Debrahlee Lorenzana, is hidden a gem of conventional wisdom – women in the corporate world have been entrusted with the responsibility of keeping their ‘femininity’ out of their workspace. The repurcussions of not following this adage is seen as a moral panic caused by unruly female bodies in a workplace where men who carry out the important duties are too distracted to concentrate. It is our responsibility to cover up the offending body parts or risk being thought of as unprofessional. Continue reading
Maitrayee Basu 