Missouri lawmakers on Wednesday passed a new dress code for women in the state House, requiring them to cover their shoulders. The stricter dress code was part of a larger package of new rules and passed by a 105-51 vote.
The dress code immediately drew criticism from local Missouri politicians, who took to Twitter to express their frustration. The new dress code even has its own hashtag: #Sweatergate.
“I never thought my first national interview would be about what I can and can’t wear as a female legislator,” said Missouri Democratic Rep. Ashley Aune.
Aune gave an impassioned statement against the bill on the floor, asking his fellow lawmakers, “Do you know what it feels like to have a bunch of men in this room looking at your top trying to decide if it’s appropriate or not?”
The Missouri House has 116 men and 43 women. The majority in the House of Representatives is held by Republicans, with 111 Republicans to 52 Democrats.
As long as Democrats are in the super minority in MO, Republicans will continue to exert control over every aspect of our lives – from what we wear to how we raise a family. Next on the agenda: hurting trans kids and banning ‘CRT’ You can help: #moleg https://t.co/F0FI8EcsxV
— Rep Ashley Aune (@Ashley4MO) January 15, 2023
In response, Congresswoman Ann Kelly, the Republican congresswoman who sponsored the bill, said: “One would think that all you would have to do is say ‘dress professionally’ and women would be fine with it.”
There is no rule in the Missouri State Senate that requires women to wear blazers or jackets.
In a statement on Facebook, Kelly wrote: “How is promoting professionalism wrong? If there’s ever a time to honor tradition and be professional, it’s on the House floor in the Missouri House of Representatives; I will not apologize for standing up for these things.”
“Maybe trust that women — who were the target of your latest insanity — can dress professionally of their own volition without your feeble efforts to control and disenfranchise women,” read a Monday comment on Kelly’s post.
“Absolutely disgusting that as an elderly woman, in power in a country with struggling people, you are more concerned about your shoulders than the real issues facing your constituents,” read another.
A third Facebook user compared the new ordinance to the dystopian drama The Handmaid’s Tale.
While Kelly’s original amendment said that women would be required to wear a “jacket,” which could also include “blazers and knit blazers,” a revised version was later passed to clarify that it could also be worn vest.
Under the previously existing dress code, women were required to wear “dresses, skirts or pants worn with a blazer or sweater and appropriate shoes or boots” without a mandatory second layer, the Associated Press reported.
Aune was not the only member of Congress to comment on the new restrictions.
Just going through some really outrageous photos from my first campaign. #moleg #sweatergate #NoBareArms pic.twitter.com/gOoR13sXdK
— Maggie Nurenbern (@MaggieforMO) January 14, 2023
Maggie Nurenbern, a Democratic state representative from Missouri, posted photos of her bare arms, writing in a separate tweet that it was “mind-boggling that members of the Missouri House are allowed to carry guns on the floor of the chamber, but women legislators are prohibited from displaying the same .”
“Just ended the debate explaining why knit blazers don’t include vests in an amendment limiting what women can wear in the House,” another Missouri Democrat, Congressman Jamie Johnson, said on Twitter. “Why would we need additional class barriers to the idea that anyone can represent the people?”
Even out-of-state politicians responded, with California Congressman Eric Swawell tweeting, “Republicans continue to codify their brand of sexism and misogyny, but let’s hear more about this gas stove outrage,” in response to an article about Missouri’s passing of the dress code.
More C Mandler
Sy Mandler is a New York-based social media producer and content writer focusing on LGBTQ+ issues.
Add Comment