So I was scanning Buzzfeed today, and came upon this article. http://www.buzzfeed.com/lilyhiottmillis/artist-documents-her-experience-dressing-more-feminine-to-ge
So a couple of days ago I got into another fight with Shannon's brother. This time about hiring female workers. To shorten the trip from hells deepest depths and back: he doesn't hire women as much because of the fear that they will sue the company later if they are hired. By these women suing the company HE has to do more paperwork. And he doesn't want to bother himself with it!
So I thought to myself well FUCK IT why do women constantly have to change themselves to be hired. Why do we have to prove to people that we won't sue (even if the company is patriarchal), and prove that we are sweet docile humans.
Well here pops up onto my Buzzfeed this short post about a gender queer woman, who has to dress more feminine to get her job. The post takes one through the whole transformation of comfort zone to objectification of the female. (Watch the video at the end) I would never want to wear something that I didn't for work, but many women (and men!) do all the time. Many employers want the 'normative' male-female because that is safe. Well safe my ass! Discrimination IS discrimination and I'm tired of it being called different things. Wants and desires can be discriminatory; just like when boss WANTS to do less paperwork.
So what do people think? Fascinating post? Or just another female feeding into the system?
This is so annoying how she had to change her appearance to for a job. The whole system of having to look a certain way or be a certain type of person to work some really sucks because its puts alot of people in a double bind. Do you change your look to fit the job or do you no accept the job and run the risk of being unemployed.
ReplyDeleteI love your point Ebony. I have struggled with this for my main project.... while I understand a company wishing to present a certain image, there are a multitude of problems in having such selective hiring. One of the most troubling things to me is in the idea of "dressing for success"- in order to get a job most companies want you to be dressed in a very specific way. While stores like Target and Walmart make this slightly more attainable, it seems that such requirements for presentation greatly favor wealthier applicants, who are financially able to buy clothes that present "success."
ReplyDelete