Sorry for the weird question, don’t know how else to word it. Basically I’m job hunting and I’m realizing the dress code is gonna be an obstacle.

I exclusively wear skirts and dresses. Not for a religion – I’m agnostic – but for sensory reasons. I hate pants. I hate how they feel on my legs and I haven’t worn them in almost 10 years now. I understand the need to wear pants for some jobs because they’re ultimately safer than a flowy skirt, but one of the jobs I’ve applied to is a bank. I doubt the building is a skirt deathtrap behind the scenes.

Honestly the idea of having to wear pants is so upsetting I’m breaking down over it. It’s so stupid but after I finally found a way to feel comfortable when I started wearing skirts, I don’t think I can go back even if the job is better than my current one.

My only idea is to get some kind of doctors note but even that seems unlikely. Hoping for other ideas here.

  • DJKJuicy@sh.itjust.works
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    2 hours ago

    I am a little confused by this, maybe I just have USA brain.

    I’ve worked office jobs for over 30 years now. No employer I’ve ever worked for would forbid women from wearing skirts to the office.

    If there’s more to the story and you’re dealing with gender issues then add that information.

  • lorty@lemmy.ml
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    2 hours ago

    Work from home or check the company’s dress code before applying. But as most have said: if your presented gender matches the “expected” one for wearing skirts, you’ll never face problems doing so, unless you want to work at a factory or something.

  • HobbitFoot @thelemmy.club
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    2 hours ago

    It depends on what job it is. I don’t see a bank having a problem with it unless they have a uniform. If you were doing any field or machine work, I could see a safety issue.

  • SpongyAneurysm@feddit.org
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    22 hours ago

    Might be helpful to know your gender, location (like country) and do you have autism by chance?

    The first part is to taylor (lol) suggestions to you. The second part is out of curiosity and because that might be helpful to classify it as a medical necessity.

  • Appoxo@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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    1 day ago

    Come to the interview and ask if it’s a problem.
    I am pretty sure pencil skirts (if I reference the correct clothing) arent that uncommon in office jobs.
    Just keep it to professional office attire. 🤷

  • JennaR8r@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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    1 day ago

    If you’ve been comfortably wearing skirts & dresses for 10 years, wouldn’t you rrealize that skirts & dresses are perfectly acceptable attire in a bank? And if you’re a man who’s comfortably been wearing skirts & dresses for 10 years, how is this upcoming bank interview suddenly an obstacle? Is this your first job interview in 10 years? Here are some business-appropriate kilts: https://21stcenturykilts.com/kilts

  • daannii@lemmy.world
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    2 days ago

    I don’t understand what religion has to do with wearing a dress or skirt at a bank job. ?

      • daannii@lemmy.world
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        1 day ago

        What religion requires people to wear dresses ?

        I’ve never worked for an office that banned skirts or dresses.

        Though one banned shorts after Labor Day.

        I thought that was pointless.

        Some people are large and sweaty. If they want to wear shorts in December. Why not?. Doesn’t affect anyone else.

        I hate stupid rules for stupid reasons.

          • daannii@lemmy.world
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            13 hours ago

            That’s literally no where in the Bible. They just make up a bunch of b.s about anything and everything don’t they ?

            Like the rapture. That’s also not in the Bible. Made up.

            • cheers_queers@lemmy.zip
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              12 hours ago

              oh i get it, believe me. growing up queer in that situation was actual hell. the verse they use is the one in leviticus saying men and women shall not dress like each other, and their reasoning was that pants are mens clothing (how quaint) lol

        • Deadrek@lemmy.today
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          21 hours ago

          First and only one I can think of, that would be working in a modern setting, is Pentecostal and specifically denim I think in their case.

          Not sure if it’s all Pentecostal or only certain sects or whatever.

  • DigitalDilemma@lemmy.ml
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    2 days ago

    How can I wear a skirt at work

    Wear skirt. Go to work.

    I don’t know what I’m missing here. Unless there’s a safety reason to the job or a mandatory uniform, why would anyone care? Maybe you’re in a particularly repressive country and I don’t understand the nature of the problem, or why religion comes into it.

  • communism@lemmy.ml
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    2 days ago

    Skirts are fairly common formalwear, at least for women. Are you a man? If not, I think any office job, receptionist job, etc, would be fine with you wearing a skirt. I imagine it’d only be some forms of manual labour where a skirt would get in the way.

    Why would a bank make you not wear a skirt?

    • Dyskolos@lemmy.zip
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      2 days ago

      I wondered that too. I don’t even think I saw a female banker in anything BUT a skirt.

      And even if male…who cares. Skirts rock! Fuck the rigid jobworld

      • HubertManne@piefed.social
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        2 days ago

        I don’t think I have seen someone in a skirt in a customer facing role in awhile. In office not to uncommon but dresses seem more common or at least longish skirts.

        • Dyskolos@lemmy.zip
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          2 days ago

          But in those places you saw long skirts or dresses, everything but mini-skirts (I just assumed that) is probably fine too.

    • teawrecks@sopuli.xyz
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      1 day ago

      Up until the 80s-90s, they were virtually mandatory for women. Probably still are in many countries.

  • TrackinDaKraken@lemmy.world
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    2 days ago

    Likely, since you didn’t mention it, you don’t want your gender to be an issue. That’s not the world we live in. If you present as male and want to wear a skirt, the only possible option at bigger corporations is a kilt, but then you’ll need to lean into being “Scottish”. You might find more acceptance at a small business, even a smaller bank, perhaps, depending on where you are.

    If you present as female, then I don’t know what to say, I’ve never heard of a job that requires trousers for women apart from for safety reasons.

    • SpongyAneurysm@feddit.org
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      22 hours ago

      There’s also the much less known Fijian Sulu.

      Probably much harder to pull off outside of the Pacific, because it’s not as well-known, but the way they wear it in Fiji can look pretty damn sleek and professional.

      It’s a unisex piece of clothing, too.

    • BougieBirdie@piefed.blahaj.zone
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      2 days ago

      I present male and I wear skirts to work. The boss said the dress code was black trousers and I said I don’t wear pants. Never been an issue

      That said, it’s totally nerve-wracking to make that stand. If an employer refuses on anything other than a safety concern then it’s just bigotry, straight up.

      Don’t work for bigots - which can be a difficult stance to take when you don’t know how you’re going to make rent. People don’t deserve to be put in this position, but as you say it’s the world we live in

        • Appoxo@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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          1 day ago

          Know a friend (male obviously) that likes to wear high heels when going outside their hometown.
          His reason why outside: Hometown is small and no need for drama.

          When I joined him I saw mixed reactions. Some took covert pictures while giggling, some looked twice and some seemed even impressed at the choice.
          They were about 10cm high.
          And I am not afraid of being seen with him because they look awesome!

          • oopsgodisdeadmybad@lemmy.zip
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            54 minutes ago

            Given the rarity of seeing someone present as a man but wearing heels, I would probably fit into the 2nd and 3rd groups there.

            In that position, I would wear a skirt in public way before heels though.

            Hats off to those that choose em, but for anything longer than a twirl around the room, they look agonizing. So like 30s to a minute I guess it would just be uncomfortable, but after that I feel like my feet would implode and need therapy to work again.

          • GrantUsEyes@lemmy.zip
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            23 hours ago

            Oooof, I know exactly what you are talking about. Wild how some people lose all decorum when they encounter someone any flavour of non-conforming out and about, right? In my case it’s just how I look,no matter how I dress, I’ve dealt with it all my life. But honestly props to your friend for just being his authentic self, It takes courage.

            • bridgeenjoyer@sh.itjust.works
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              1 hour ago

              I enjoy seeing people be different!! I admit I may stare for a second but thats because I find it interesting.

              Sometimes when out with the in laws they have to whisper among themselves about how “weird” something is or outright be like “is that person gay?” And I’ll say I’m not sure, it doesn’t affect you, and their clothes are fabulous arent they??

              Fricken old boomers man. They love to whisper among themselves at anyone who’s not straight and white. Its their culture.

            • Appoxo@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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              22 hours ago

              I found the reactions to be quite funny.
              They werent doing it in avery obvious way but I catched their glance once the noticed the foot gear and the behavior changed so I knew what they were trying to achieve when angling the phone a certain way.

              Honestly if it helps promoting the takedown of bs gender society rules and normalize so everyone can wear what they like, I’m (and my mate are) all for it.
              Because remember: Men wore heels originally ;)

      • Appoxo@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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        1 day ago

        But those can hardly be called skirts.
        They are obviously more rugged.
        I could see that going in something like an outdoor job but not at a bank or insurance corp.

        • MrsDoyle@sh.itjust.works
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          13 hours ago

          They’re quality garments, high fashion here in Scotland - the sort of thing a modern man would wear at his wedding rather than an old-fashioned “full Highland dress” type of kilt.

          • Appoxo@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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            22 hours ago

            Yep.
            You wont be seen in jeans at a bank.
            Same for a summer dress (regardless of gender, sex or whatever)

            Personally I couldnt care less but society ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

    • 64bithero@lemmy.world
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      2 days ago

      There is no technical reason a man can’t wear a skirt. The society you live in may “frown” upon it. But that’s a different issue to address entirely

  • RBWells@lemmy.world
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    2 days ago

    Are you a lady? I work in an office at a sports company (so sporty casual is common) and there are several women here who wear dresses and skirts not pants, several more who switch back & forth. Not me - pants feel much more secure to me - but it’s nothing anyone really notices.

    A man wearing skirts we would notice for awhile, not care but notice; if you are customer facing then you might encounter that surprise over and over, if not, I don’t think it will be a big deal.