A few weeks ago, Republican State Representative Ann Kelley proposed a new amendment to the rules for the Missouri Statehouse: a stricter dress code for female-identifying members.
Representative Kelley, backed by the Republican-led Missouri State House, suggested the current dress code needed to be strengthened, specifically by enforcing coverage of arms and using a jacket or cardigan to cover oneself.
Missouri Democrats have argued against the new policy. According to CNN, State Representative Ashley Aune responded, “Do you know what it feels like to have a bunch of men in this room looking at your top trying to determine if it’s appropriate or not?”
A Democratic representative from Missouri, Peter Meredith, is reported to have refused to vote on the matter, saying, “I don’t think I’m qualified to say what’s appropriate or not appropriate for women and I think that is a really dangerous road for us all to go down.”
Along with Representatives Aune and Meredith, many other Democrats protested the ridiculous amendment. But, with Missouri being a majority Republican state, the amendment passed with a 105-51 vote.
Women often hear from a young age that certain outfits are “too distracting” or “inappropriate.” Schools have notoriously put harsh dress codes into place, such as restricting girls from wearing tank tops, cropped shirts, and short skirts. Imposing dress codes on children, or anyone, sends the message that they can be sexualized, which can have negative impacts on their self-image and development.
Now, we are seeing these dress codes continue into adulthood. Kids are seeing and hearing this news, and it is reinforcing the awful ideas and reasons behind dress codes. The idea that clothing can make someone a distraction suggests that they can be held responsible for other people’s behavior. It reinforces harmful gender stereotypes and creates a toxic culture. Nobody should have a say in what another person is wearing, yet kids are being raised to think that they do.
In an interview with CNN, Representative Aune points out the familiarity of this legislation, saying, “In 2019, House Republicans passed the abortion ban that went into effect this summer after the Dobbs decision came down, fully restricting a women’s right to choose in this state, and on day one in our legislature they’re doubling down on controlling women.”
The right to abortion, and the right to have a say to your own body, are fundamental to healthcare and getting to gender equality. This dress code is just another example of a woman’s right to choose being taken away after a long fight to get those rights in the first place.
The idea that a man can have a say over what a woman wears is a ridiculous concept and has no place in modern society. Women are losing more and more rights, slowly but surely, and the recent rule change in Missouri is yet another concerning example of such. If the Missouri State House can tell its female-identifying members what to wear, it is setting a dangerous precedent for the rest of the country and the future of the world.
