Recently, the Missouri House of Representatives voted to change the rules, and in these rule changes women are required to cover their arms. This is blatant sexism especially when there are not any changes made towards male dress code. I am unsure why women's shoulders and arms must be concealed, is it truly because these men simply "cannot control themselves?" A woman wearing a tank top, or a dress without a blazer or cardigan is not what state legislatures should be concerned about. If a woman is able to do their job professionally, who cares if their arms are exposed.
Having legislation like this in place is a bit scary because what is stopping these state legislatures from imposing such laws on the rest of the public? It can easily become a slippery slope. It is even more scary that men in the Missouri House have an overwhelming majority, as women make up just a third of the representatives. Crusty old white men should not be the ones dictating what is appropriate, especially when these are the same men that grew up in a time where women and people of color had little to no rights.
This is now just another hurdle that women serving in public office must jump over in Missouri. It is almost as if these Republican men are trying to deter women from running for office. Overall, this is sending the wrong message to other lawmakers and the public, because it is displaying the necessity for policing women's bodies, when there is absolutely no necessity for doing so.
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