# Is there any profession in which a woman would be required to wear a dress or skirt? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 13, 2009, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-profession-in-which-a-woman-would-be-required-to-wear-a-dress-or-skirt/496284 "2009-05-13T13:55:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2009, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-profession-in-which-a-woman-would-be-required-to-wear-a-dress-or-skirt/496284/1 "2009-05-13T13:55:29Z")
This query came out of [this thread.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=517372) I was thinking there had to be one job in the western industrialized world that required a skirt or dress, but I can’t think of one. Is there a job that requires wearing a skirt? ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2009, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-profession-in-which-a-woman-would-be-required-to-wear-a-dress-or-skirt/496284/2 "2009-05-13T14:02:08Z")
Various types of women in the entertainment industry, perhaps. Say a dancer in a Vegas show. Are you talking strictly white-collar work? I would think that skirts are pretty well contraindicated for most blue-collar work. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2009, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-profession-in-which-a-woman-would-be-required-to-wear-a-dress-or-skirt/496284/3 "2009-05-13T14:02:56Z")
When Ross Perot ran EDS for a long time he did not allow women to wear pants. I think that rule only changed in the last 10 years, well after he sold EDS. In the 80s men had to wear full suits too. ---
**Author:** ![jovan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/0ea827/32.png) [@jovan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jovan)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2009, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-profession-in-which-a-woman-would-be-required-to-wear-a-dress-or-skirt/496284/4 "2009-05-13T14:08:13Z")
Uh, maybe I’m missing something, or I’ve been away for too long, but it seems to me there are many professions that require a uniform, and said uniform features a skirt. Flight attendants, and others in the service industry come to mind. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2009, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-profession-in-which-a-woman-would-be-required-to-wear-a-dress-or-skirt/496284/5 "2009-05-13T14:16:49Z")
> [@jovan](#): > > Uh, maybe I’m missing something, or I’ve been away for too long, but it seems to me there are many professions that require a uniform, and said uniform features a skirt. Flight attendants, and others in the service industry come to mind. Many, if not most, flight attendants wear pants suits these days, at least they did on my flights. I defy you to name one non-theatrical service job where skirts are a must. ---
**Author:** ![Jelymag](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d2c977/32.png) [@Jelymag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jelymag)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2009, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-profession-in-which-a-woman-would-be-required-to-wear-a-dress-or-skirt/496284/6 "2009-05-13T14:31:37Z")
Nun? ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2009, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-profession-in-which-a-woman-would-be-required-to-wear-a-dress-or-skirt/496284/7 "2009-05-13T14:35:25Z")
What is the status of female officer uniforms in the US military these days? Skirt required? ---
**Author:** ![h.sapiens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e0b2c6/32.png) [@h.sapiens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/h.sapiens)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2009, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-profession-in-which-a-woman-would-be-required-to-wear-a-dress-or-skirt/496284/8 "2009-05-13T14:46:49Z")
> [@Jelymag](#): > > Nun? I think it depends on the nun and the order. When I was in Catholic school (for 12 years, total), some nuns, usually the older ones, always wore a habit which included a skirt/blouse and veil of some kind. Others wore conservative clothes, no veil. Some of these wore pants as often as skirts. I think it was their choice whether to wear a habit. These were Sisters of St. Francis and Sisters of Providence, btw. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2009, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-profession-in-which-a-woman-would-be-required-to-wear-a-dress-or-skirt/496284/9 "2009-05-13T14:49:43Z")
> [@astro](#): > > This query came out of [this thread.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=517372) I was thinking there had to be one job in the western industrialized world that required a skirt or dress, but I can’t think of one. Is there a job that requires wearing a skirt? I suspect there are some business offices that do not consider suits with pants to be acceptable attire for women. ---
**Author:** ![Harriet\_the\_Spry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e56c9b/32.png) [@Harriet\_the\_Spry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harriet_the_Spry)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2009, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-profession-in-which-a-woman-would-be-required-to-wear-a-dress-or-skirt/496284/10 "2009-05-13T14:50:57Z")
Not a whole profession, but individual employers may still have that as a dress code requirement. Positions where that has been a common requirement are receptionist and restaurant hostess. A quick Google indicates some military branches still require women to wear skirts on some occasions: (warning, sound) [http://www.redorbit.com/news/general/94607/us\_navy\_makes\_skirts\_optional\_for\_women/](http://www.redorbit.com/news/general/94607/us_navy_makes_skirts_optional_for_women/) In professional positions, it’s not likely to be a requirement, but there will be a lot of pressure to dress for the occasion, and sometimes the choice of pants will be criticized. For example, Hillary Clinton was routinely criticized for wearing pantsuits. Now, some of that was just Hilary-hate, I’m sure, but somehow that criticism wasn’t dismissed as ridiculous on its face. It wasn’t seen as being as ridiculous as criticizing a male public figure for wearing suits with pants. Check out Wikipedia’s “Women in the US Senate” page: [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women\_in\_the\_United\_States\_Senate](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women_in_the_United_States_Senate) In the photo of the 17 female Senators, all of the ones whose legs are visible are wearing skirts. These are women who hire consultants to help them dress for power and influence. I believe they are wearing skirts because that gets them better results in those areas, not for fashion or comfort–heels and hose being supremely impractical. So as a formal requirement, it’s fading away, but as an informal norm, I don’t think it’s dead. ---
**Author:** ![Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilarity_n.suze/32/6223_2.png) [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilarity_N.Suze)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2009, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-profession-in-which-a-woman-would-be-required-to-wear-a-dress-or-skirt/496284/11 "2009-05-13T14:55:43Z")
> [@Harriet\_the\_Spry](#): > > In the photo of the 17 female Senators, all of the ones whose legs are visible are wearing skirts. These are women who hire consultants to help them dress for power and influence. I believe they are wearing skirts because that gets them better results in those areas, not for fashion or comfort–heels and hose being supremely impractical. “Sure you can wear pants for the picture, honey, but you’ll have to stand behind the couch.” ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2009, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-profession-in-which-a-woman-would-be-required-to-wear-a-dress-or-skirt/496284/12 "2009-05-13T15:02:08Z")
Skirt model. ---
**Author:** ![robby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robby/32/11048_2.png) [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2009, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-profession-in-which-a-woman-would-be-required-to-wear-a-dress-or-skirt/496284/13 "2009-05-13T15:04:05Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > What is the status of female officer uniforms in the US military these days? Skirt required? In most office environments, females in the U.S. Navy can choose whether to wear pants or skirts on a given day. At sea, females are generally required to wear pants or coveralls. However, in some situations (such as ceremonial occasions), the option may be prescribed in the guidelines for the Uniform of the Day. Females may well be required to wear skirts at such times. I have attended various ceremonies (e.g. Change of Command ceremonies and graduations) where all of the females in uniform wore skirts. In other cases, such as group formations, for a uniform appearance, it may be dictated that all females wear pants or all females wear skirts. ---
**Author:** ![Kimmy\_Gibbler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Kimmy\_Gibbler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimmy_Gibbler)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2009, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-profession-in-which-a-woman-would-be-required-to-wear-a-dress-or-skirt/496284/14 "2009-05-13T16:00:01Z")
> [@robby](#): > > In most office environments, **females** in the U.S. Navy can choose whether to wear pants or skirts on a given day. At sea, **females** are generally required to wear pants or coveralls. > > However, in some situations (such as ceremonial occasions), the option may be prescribed in the guidelines for the Uniform of the Day. **Females** may well be required to wear skirts at such times. > > I have attended various ceremonies (e.g. Change of Command ceremonies and graduations) where all of the **females** in uniform wore skirts. > > In other cases, such as group formations, for a uniform appearance, it may be dictated that all **females** wear pants or all females wear skirts. You’re not sexing a cat, you can call them “women.” Also, wasn’t there some brouhaha over what the Solicitor General will wear to SCOTUS. All previous SGs have been men and have worn morning dress. The version of this attire for women is distinctly inappropriate for oral argument (I think it would be some kind of Edwardian gown). ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2009, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-profession-in-which-a-woman-would-be-required-to-wear-a-dress-or-skirt/496284/15 "2009-05-13T16:03:16Z")
French Maid? ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2009, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-profession-in-which-a-woman-would-be-required-to-wear-a-dress-or-skirt/496284/16 "2009-05-13T16:52:17Z")
> [@robby](#): > > In other cases, such as group formations, for a uniform appearance, it may be dictated that all females wear pants or all females wear skirts. Heck, in some military units even the men are required to wear skirts as part of the dress uniform. ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2009, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-profession-in-which-a-woman-would-be-required-to-wear-a-dress-or-skirt/496284/17 "2009-05-13T16:55:40Z")
> [@Jelymag](#): > > Nun? [Like this?](http://www.adultcostumeshop.com.au/contents/media/l_83127-nun-costume.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2009, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-profession-in-which-a-woman-would-be-required-to-wear-a-dress-or-skirt/496284/18 "2009-05-13T17:08:53Z")
> [@Gorsnak](#): > > Heck, in some military units even the men are required to wear skirts as part of the dress uniform. [Yup](http://www.funny.co.uk/stuff/art_175-2781-Its-True.html). ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2009, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-profession-in-which-a-woman-would-be-required-to-wear-a-dress-or-skirt/496284/19 "2009-05-13T17:11:12Z")
> [@Sailboat](#): > > Skirt model. Better yet, upskirt model. ---
**Author:** ![robby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robby/32/11048_2.png) [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2009, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-profession-in-which-a-woman-would-be-required-to-wear-a-dress-or-skirt/496284/20 "2009-05-13T17:32:38Z")
> [@Kimmy\_Gibbler](#): > > You’re not sexing a cat, you can call them “women.” I spent over ten years in the Navy–we had male sailors and officers and female sailors and officers, and they were universally referred to as such. Check out the Navy uniform regulations–I challenge you to find the words “men” and “women” anywhere in there: [http://buperscd.technology.navy.mil/bup\_updt/upd\_cd/bupers/unireg/chapter3/chapter3.pdf](http://buperscd.technology.navy.mil/bup_updt/upd_cd/bupers/unireg/chapter3/chapter3.pdf) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-profession-in-which-a-woman-would-be-required-to-wear-a-dress-or-skirt/496284.md?page=2)