Not the boobiEz!!1!
NS December 12th, 2008
You know what angered me today? Boobies.
Let me explain.
I was reading this post over at Passive-Aggressive Notes (love that site) about a woman who was sent an email by her boss about covering up her cleavage. When she submitted it to PAN she said:
“My supervisor sent me this email because apparently someone in our office complained about my shirt. The shirt in question was a run-of-the-mill top with an empire waist…but as i’m currently 7 months pregnant, i could be wearing a turtleneck and still be showing ‘too much’ cleavage.”
The email sent by her boss said:
Just a quick note, your shirt is rather low in the front and exposing a little too much cleavage….so if you have a sweater or wrap, and can cover up that would be great. If not, maybe next time try to wear another top under it so it does not expose too much. If you have any questions, please come and see Linda or me.
Thanks so much!!
Chris
And then I was reading this post at PhD in Parenting and this one at Breastfeeding123 about the litany of incidences this year in which nursing mothers were asked to cover up, move or were otherwise discriminated against for feeding or attempting to feed their babies with their — gasp! — breasts.
Lesson? Breasts are dirty and we should hide them, particularly in the workplace and especially when feeding babies. Yet, it’s okay if it’s to sell stuff, for entertainment and/or for male pleasure in a casual setting (if and ONLY if they like the look of your boobs).
Right, got it. Not hypocritical at all.
I won’t even go into the breastfeeding-in-public rant because I’ve said it all before, but the idea that women have to conceal their breasts in order to be professional in the workplace is a new pet peeve. Even women will argue against boobage in the workplace, saying it behooves women to not distinguish themselves from the men and to keep their chests under wraps if they want to earn respect. At first, I agreed with them. I thought, yeah, why would you want to ensure that someone is always judging you on your rack instead of your ability to do your job? Put it away, girls, we’re just like the men! But then I realised, wait, hold on minute, why is the absence of breasts synonomous with professionalism? Could it be because, I don’t know, WE WORK IN A FUCKING PATRIARCHY?
