MT Dress Code: Mind Your Skirt Lengths, Ladies

The GOP House Leadership for the state of Montana has issued a strict new dress code?that will apply to?lawmakers, legislative staff, aides, interns, and reporters on the House floor in 2015. Democrats say they were not consulted about the new mandatory dress code. Democratic State Senator Jenny Eck described the document as discriminatory because it seemed to single out women for special?attention to modesty standards.

The code specifies that “women?should be sensitive to skirt lengths and necklines” and that they are not to wear open-toed sandals or tennis shoes. In addition, the dress code bans denim, fleece, sweatshirt, and jersey material. It also outlaws casual Fridays and Saturdays.

Eck objected to the code, arguing that the phrase regarding skirt lengths and necklines “is right out of the 19th Century. She added:

“Women can be trusted to get up in the morning and dress appropriately. How would it be enforced? Would the sergeant of arms be the clothes police checking our skirt lengths and cleavage?”

The dress code was also mocked on social media. Some derided it as a junior high dress code, while others made snarky comments like??Banning fleece? In Montana? Isn?t it cold there??

GOP lawmakers were undoubtedly stunned to find that their modesty standards were met with such scorn, but they should not have been surprised. When your party’s political philosophy argues?that?government regulations infringe upon people’s freedom, it looks hypocritical to apply strict regulations to how lawmakers can dress. In a libertarian to moderate conservative state?like Montana it also comes across as overly?puritanical.

Montana, after all is one of those states where politicians, male and female, court voters by donning flannel shirts, work boots, and jeans. Consigning them to three-piece suits and polyester on the House floor, seems out of place and out of touch. Plus, the state has more serious business to attend to than policing necklines and skirt lengths.

As Jenny Eck noted of her constituents:

“I’ve had people talk to me about mental health and cancer in the family. I’ve never had anyone talk to me about how the Legislature is dressed.”

Until now that is. The Montana GOP should scrap the new dress code standards and begin thinking about how to help the people of Montana. If they just leave the dress code?to the discretion of the people who set foot on the House floor, they will almost certianly be less embarrassed than if they continue to try to legislate skirt lengths and neck lines.


Let us know your thoughts at the Liberal America Facebook page. Sign up for our free daily newsletter to receive more great stories like this one.

Keith Brekhus is a progressive sociologist who resides in Red Lodge, Montana. He is co-host for the Liberal Fix radio show. Keith is a former Green Party candidate for US Congress (2002 in Missouri's 9th District). He can be followed on Twitter @keithbrekhus.