Embrace The Pantsuit

Many people have been critical
about Hillary Clinton’s pantsuits.
These people are clearly
NOT businesswomen.

When I started in business,
I wore cute little skirt suits.
I loved them.

Then I landed
a great female mentor.
The first thing she said to me?
“Love the skirt.
Never wear it again.”

I listened to her
and never wore them again.

Wearing a skirt
limits the things we can do.
We won’t be asked
to crawl under a machine
on the manufacturing floor.
We won’t be asked
to get into a service truck.
We won’t be asked
to climb a ladder
or stand at the front of a stage.
We certainly won’t be asked
to go into any situation
where everyone else is wearing pants.

It is unlikely that anyone
will tell us
this is why we weren’t chosen.
We simply won’t be chosen.

This isn’t merely about sexism
(though that IS a factor).
It is also about being practical.
If skirts were practical,
men would wear them.
Skirts are limiting
(unless you are fine
with everyone seeing your underwear).

Embrace the pantsuit.