AMERICA/The new year is already off to a perfect start for women in this country—Roe v. Wade is history, pro-rape mesosphere bloggers are more popular than ever. Furthermore, if you’re a woman in Missouri’s state legislature, there’s no greater clarity as to what you can and can’t wear on the state House floor.
Last week, state lawmakers kicked off this year’s legislative session with a prolonged debate to amend the dress code for women lawmakers, who make less than of the state legislatures. The legislature debates changes to House rules at the start of the General Assembly every two years. Wednesday’s debate largely hinged around women’s right to bare arms, on the House floor.
Previously, House rules stated that “dresses or skirts or slacks worn with a blazer or sweater and appropriate dress shoes or boots” were permissible for women on the floor. Rep. Ann Kelley, a Republican, proposed an amendment to explicitly require women legislators to wear blazer jackets on the House floor; calling this “essential to always maintain a formal and professional atmosphere.” She was backed up by another Republican lawmaker who argued that the amendment was perfectly reasonable. As this would simply clarify previous rules that might have allowed women to—god forbid—wear a cardigan.
Twitter reactions
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 Meredith (@PeterforMO) January 11, 2023 said on twitter
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
According to Merideth, engaging with other Twitter users on the matter, Republicans proposed these changes this week because they were particularly miffed by “a couple women last year didn’t dress nicely enough for their standards.”
Actually just tweaking the dress code because they thought a couple women last year didn’t dress nicely enough for their standards.
— Rep. Peter Merideth (@PeterforMO) January 11, 2023
What happened in the end?
All of this ultimately prompted a morning spent discussing the true enemy in a state ranked among the most impoverished in the nation, with among the highest maternal mortality rates in the nation: light layers. Clearly, the real problem is that the legislature’s narrow minority of women are not suitably covering their arms with formal enough outer apparel.
After thoroughly wasting a morning, the House landed on a new dress code for women, ultimately compromising to allow cardigans so long as ladies just put their damn arms away: “Proper attire for women shall be business attire, including jackets worn with dresses, skirts, or slacks, and dress shoes or boots,” the new policy states.
Mind you, just last year, 15 mass shootings took place in the state, including one at a school in St. Louis. But, sure! The real problem worth cracking down on is women’s right to freely bare their arms, as opposed to, say, endemic gun violence.
Source: Yahoo News
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