Post by mominatrix on Jul 28, 2015 13:50:09 GMT -5
This JCPenney employee says she was sent home because her shorts were too short. Now she's fighting back.
Beth Stebner / July 28, 2015 9:35 am
Consider this a fashion Catch-22.
A JCPenney employee says she was sent home for wearing shorts that were deemed, well, too short by her boss. The super weird part of this story? The shorts in question were actually purchased from the department store’s career section. Seriously, the career section?
JCPenney employee and feminist blogger Sylva Stoel said on Twitter that she was sent home for wearing “too revealing” shorts on a hot day at work.
“I bought (them) from the store I work at in the career section,” she continued, attaching a picture of herself in a sleeveless blue button down and a pair of red shorts.
“Boss sent me home for wearing “too revealing” shorts that I bought from the store I work at in the career section,” she tweeted.
She then said her boss sent her home, asking her how long it would take her to change into something more appropriate. An indignant Stoel said she was probably going to take the whole day, since she didn’t plan to return to her job. Stoel then took to Twitter, calling out JCPenney’s outdated employee rules.
Sylva @queenfeminist He asked how long it'd take for me to go home & change. I said "idk probably the whole day" I'm not coming back
Follow Sylva @queenfeminist Hey @jcpenney wanna know how to appeal to ur millennial customers ur losing? Bring ur dress code to the 21st century. 10:01 AM - 24 Jul 2015
Stoel told Mic that she was never told by JCPenney that shorts were not allowed (she claims the only clothing items specifically banned were jeans, T-shirts, and “too short” skirts). She also definitely didn’t think an item of clothing purchased from the store’s career section would be considered inappropriate for work.
“I could’ve lectured [my boss] on feminist theory with an emphasis on body-shaming, but I doubted that my speech would be appreciated,” Stoel told Mic. “So, I saved that bit for Twitter.”
This whole debacle raises some important issues – first, that Stoel purchased these shorts from the career section of the same store where she is an employee. If it’s allegedly not acceptable for a JCPenney worker to wear it to work, why is the company peddling it to other working ladies?
Second, women are too often the target of dress code shaming. In schools around the country, girls are fighting back against rules that suggest female bodies should be covered up—to prevent “distraction”—instead of teaching males to treat women with respect.
That backwards thinking doesn’t do anyone—male or female—any favors. While Stoel’s boss’ hasn’t provided his reasoning, and JCPenney has yet to comment on the incident, Stoel’s tweet is a reminder that body-shaming dress codes can extend beyond the classroom. And speaking up and educating people on this issue can make a difference.
When have you ever seen a retail clerk wear shorts? I haven't.
I used to work at Victoria's Secret. It wasn't explicitly stated we couldn't wear VS undies and bras to work alone, but I was pretty sure it was frowned upon.
She claims that only jeans, t-shirts and "too short" skirts aren't allowed. Even then, I feel like a certain degree of critical thinking is needed here.
However, it seems that dress codes these days really do need to be spelled out. JCP may want to look into that.
Post by jeaniebueller on Jul 28, 2015 14:03:39 GMT -5
She then said her boss sent her home, asking her how long it would take her to change into something more appropriate. An indignant Stoel said she was probably going to take the whole day, since she didn’t plan to return to her job. Stoel then took to Twitter, calling out JCPenney’s outdated employee rules.
Fucking millenials. Why does every source of conflict have to be a social media moment?
It's not, but it is funny/ironic that JCP is telling employees that their own "career shorts" aren't appropriate for work.
Right.
It's not that the shorts aren't appropriate to wear as a retail clerk. It's that they aren't "career wear."
The joke here is on JC Penny. I actually bet this person knew how ridiculous the shorts were, and did this whole thing as a set up.
That wouldn't surprise me. My MIL works retail and wears things all the time that are clearly violating the spirit of the dress code but not the letter. She does it purposely.
She then said her boss sent her home, asking her how long it would take her to change into something more appropriate. An indignant Stoel said she was probably going to take the whole day, since she didn’t plan to return to her job. Stoel then took to Twitter, calling out JCPenney’s outdated employee rules.
Fucking millenials. Why does every source of conflict have to be a social media moment?
#notallmillennials
Some of us primarily use social media for posting about cats, AS GOD INTENDED THE INTERNET.
Eesh. I'm feeling super awkward for her about “I could’ve lectured [my boss] on feminist theory with an emphasis on body-shaming, but I doubted that my speech would be appreciated,” Stoel told Mic. “So, I saved that bit for Twitter.”
Some places may allow shorts as part of their professional attire (see Hot Dog on a Stick). JCP does not. This is not a story. It's certainly not a feminist one. It would also not make sense for a warehouse worker at JCP to walk into the "career wear" section and show up in a suit to work.
Eesh. I'm feeling super awkward for her about “I could’ve lectured [my boss] on feminist theory with an emphasis on body-shaming, but I doubted that my speech would be appreciated,” Stoel told Mic. “So, I saved that bit for Twitter.”
Check yourself, Sylva.
Plus- women can and do sometimes actually wear INAPPROPRIATE clothing. Just because feminism and body shaming are issues doesn't mean you can wear shorts to work!