Good that the confusion is cleared up, bad, bad HLD
, I really thought I had said something terribly wrong there without knowing it. Maybe I should avoid using that particular expression ("just a thought").
Back to topic:
@Gwally: Interesting, here I would say it's rather the other way around. To generalise, during the 80's, many businesswomen and other female professionals, wore lots of smart dresses and high heels. Probably as a reaction against the 70's bra-burning and potato sack style, the female gender role developed into "equal although I am feminine" ideal, where women felt they didn't want to repress their feminine looks in order to be viewed as equal to men. This fashion declined during the 90's, where at the same time the dress code became more and more leisure for both men and women also in a professional context. Teenage girls here all wear tight jeans and tiny tops, but among professional women, you very rarely see this. Personally, I only know professional women, and many of them are in male dominated areas. I have no statics, only anecdotal evidence, but the anecdotal evindence unfortunatly support the view that many women feel they have to choose between looking "feminine" and "sexy", or being taken as professional and equal. My best friend for instance, she is tall and slim and has this fashion model type of looks. She used to dress in tight jeans, short skirts and dresses etc - until a few years ago when she got the job she has presently. She is a computer technician, and when she started this job, it was her and 50 guys (now they are - gasp - three women). Sadly, it was all very much like one's prejudices would predict. I was amazed to hear adult men behaving like teenagers. She was so unhappy with all the sexist comments regarding her looks, so she started to change her dressing style into a very neutral, IMO boring look, that excluded make-up, skirts and tight clothes.
Another of my friends, she's an architect, and a small, curvy blond in Marilyn Monroe-style. Same story - she also altered her clothing style because she got tired of all the degrading comments.
In my own field, I have noticed that most women choose very neutral clothes, often a baggy sweater/T-shirt and baggy trousers or a long, wide skirt. Frankly, most women I have met in neuroscience, look like old hags although they are 30. During discussion with female colleagues, I have understood that many feel they are taken less serious if they look otherwise. Unfortunately I have collected some evidence that supports this, since I know 2 very successful female researchers who look very feminine and sexy, and I have heard how some people talk about them. This, in combination with my personal experiences of critisism for my looks during my education, has led me to chose an opposite way. Should somebody complain about my clothing style and looks (which many have done, but mostly women in my case), well then - they just have to wait and see. To me (I know this sounds ridiculous and childish) it is sort a statement that I refuse to change the way I look to avoid sexism. Should I get the Nobel prize tomorrow
rolleyes: very likely, of course) I would probably go to the city hall and receive it in a golden bra with a see through blouse.
Originally posted by fable
Wearing a pair of Dockers, you wouldn't know whether I'm approaching or leaving.
ROFLMAO
