Missouri’s GOP-dominated state House is facing left-wing backlash for implementing a new dress code that requires women to cover up their shoulders with a jacket.
The dress code is the brainchild of state Rep. Ann Kelley, a female Republican who’s argued that she’s just trying to even things out a little bit.
“Men are required to wear a jacket, a shirt and a tie, correct? And if they walked in here without a tie, they would get gaveled down in a heartbeat. If they walked in without a jacket, they would get gaveled down in a heartbeat,” she pointed out during a floor debate Wednesday, according to CNN.
Previously, women were just required to wear “dresses or skirts or slacks worn with a blazer or sweater and appropriate dress shoes or boots.”
The new dress code is as follows: “Proper attire for women shall be business attire, including jackets worn with dresses, skirts, or slacks, and dress shoes or boots.”
In response to MO State Rep. Ashley Aune (D) questioning the need for the dress code amendment, sponsor Rep. Ann Kelley (R) says, “You would think that all you would have to do is say, ‘dress professionally’ and women could handle it!” pic.twitter.com/75gbaGnzZu
— Heartland Signal (@HeartlandSignal) January 11, 2023
Despite Kelley’s logic, and despite the fact that the bill was proposed by her, a woman, Democrats and their allies have been screaming “sexism” ad nauseum.
“Do you know what it feels like to have a bunch of men in this room looking at your top trying to determine if it’s appropriate or not?” state Rep. Ashley Aune, a Democrat, reportedly kvetched from the House floor Wednesday.
“I’ve seen a lot of lack of decorum in this room in my two years here and not once has that lack of decorum spurred from someone’s blazer or lack thereof,” she added.
MO State Rep. Proudie (D) goes after GOP House members pushing a dress code for women — requiring they wear jackets — in a rules bill.
“I spent $1,200 on a suit, and I can’t wear it in the People’s House because someone who doesn’t have the range tells me that’s inappropriate.” pic.twitter.com/uORB2OWTXW
— Heartland Signal (@HeartlandSignal) January 11, 2023
Meanwhile, state Rep. Peter Merideth, a Democrat and apparent mask zealot, felt it necessary to make this all about you know what.
“I don’t think I’m qualified to say what’s appropriate or not appropriate for women and I think that is a really dangerous road for us all to go down,” he said on the House floor.
“Y’all had a conniption fit the last two years when we talked about maybe, maybe wearing masks in a pandemic to keep each other safer. How dare the government tell you what you have to wear over your face? Well, I know some governments require women to wear things over their face, but here, oh, it’s OK because we’re just talking about how many layers they have to have over their shoulders,” he added.
He also took his complaints to Twitter:
Debating the house rules on the floor today, and the first amendment offered by a Republican is about making stricter the rules of what women have to wear in here.
— Rep. Peter Merideth (@PeterforMO) January 11, 2023
Yep, 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 (specifically how to cover their arms) to show respect here.
— Rep. Peter Merideth (@PeterforMO) January 11, 2023
Apparently, requiring a dress code at work is equivalent to forcing millions of people to needlessly mask up. Who knew?
In a Facebook post published Thursday, a day after the new rules were adopted, Kelley revealed that she’s faced “lots of hateful calls, emails, and messages in regards to this amendment.”
She also claimed she was just “fixing the errors and clarifying the rule.”
State Rep. Brenda Shields, a close ally of Kelley, has argued the same.
She “said Kelley’s plan was intended to clarify current rules because the previous wording left the dress code up to interpretation,” according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
Speaking of which, Shields reportedly introduced her own amendment that allows cardigans to count as jackets.
As for the hate that Kelley is receiving, some of it can be seen on Twitter:
I wouldn’t have had @AnnKelleyMO on my misogyny BINGO card, standing up for the white patriarchy and the subjagation of women, but I quickly placed her there when I realized she’s #Republican, lives in the 1800s, and wait, lemme guess, #Christian. #WomensRightsAreHumanRights
— Democracy Advocate (@factbase4) January 14, 2023
Will the dress code be in effect? I don’t have my full head covering yet, but I figured a paper bag would do for now. Also, since your against women’s rights and freedoms, should I ask my husband for permission first? Only if he is comfortable with my ankles showing, of course.
— Chips (@Iron_Chips) January 14, 2023
@AnnKelleyMO What’s next, you going to tell women that have large chests they need to hide them? It’s really weird that a woman would be slut-shaming other women for showing arms. I’m guessing you though Ivanka was trailer trash for doing that, right?
— Adam Charles Smith (@SirLoinofSteaks) January 14, 2023
The irony of being the most sloppily and unprofessionally dressed person in either video also being the person trying to push for a “dress professionally” dress code
I’ve worn a cardigan to a business meeting. I would never wear what she’s wearing.— Heather Hughson (@HNHughson) January 14, 2023
btw… you may want to send Ivanka some wardrobe tips. pic.twitter.com/pvSoFDCJ7u
— Travis Rogers (@TravisW63501) January 14, 2023
Republished with permission from American Wire News Service
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