Spreading the Word

[Gus]

I've been mulling over an idea for the last few days. Maybe this is something that someone has already tried but then again...

We want to spread the word and get both men and women to accept the idea of men in skirts as "normal". Right? So this got me thinking along the ideas of a day for this or day for that - like "Casual Day" or "Bring your child to work day" and so on. What about "National Wear a Skirt to Work Day"? This would apply to both sexes, because so many women seem to be wearing skirts less and less. And then I thought, why confine the idea to South Africa? What about International Wear a Skirt to Work Day?

We have at our disposal the power of the internet so it should be possible to get as many people aware of the idea as possible. I am pretty sure most men who have not worn skirts before would be hooked after trying. And then of course there is also safety in numbers - the "I'll do it if everybody else is doing it" kind of attitude.

Ok, maybe it's stupid idea...

Gus

[mugman]

I've heard of a 'No Pants' day in the US - people wear underclothes - polkadot boxers, etc. I'm not sure what the intention was though.
A 'Skirts For All' day would need a lot of publicity, plus a lot of reasoning explained. A hefty job I reckon, but maybe one that might evolve into a stronger and more participated version each year. I'm not sure where you would actually begin.

[Gus]

I did say maybe it's a stupid idea but I would like to know other peoples views on this. Personally, I would be extremely happy if it was considered OK to wear a skirt to work every day. I think I would be a much happier and more productive employee. But we have to start somewhere - great things have small beginnings.

[crfriend]

What about International Wear a Skirt to Work Day?

Well, there are sillier things. Take International Talk Like a Pirate Day for instance. I suspect that pitched as something fun it could gain some traction; it'd just take a major media outlet to give it a gentle nudge.

[Gus]

Aaaaargh Carl - but that's me everyday me heartie

[mugman]

The title could be a bit shorter and punchier, something like 'Work In A Skirt Day'. I doubt if a lot of employers would accommodate it, unless maybe it were connected in some way with a worthwhile charitable cause. My old employers would have gone with that reasoning, I'm sure, if it was a nationally (or internationally) recognised 'day'.
However, if it's treated as a joke, then that's certainly not the message we're trying to spread.

[crfriend]

[... I]f it's treated as a joke, then that's certainly not the message we're trying to spread.

It was not my intent to make light of the idea, but rather to point out that it might go over a bit easier if put forward with some levity. If projected as a very serious matter, I suspect that some women (read, "a vocal minority") would be incensed about the notion that they "should" (or are being "invited" to) wear a skirt to work -- and, if the guys are going to take part, then the jokes are going to fly anyway.

Face it, blokes wearing anything other than trousers in "Western Civilisation" are going to get looked as askance, no matter how much logical sense it makes that "it's just cloth", and that's going to persist for quite a few more years. So, if it's accepted that there are going to be playful jabs thrown (and they will be), then we'll be better off from the get-go with just a whiff of levity.

Another thought might be to just wear your skirts to work on Halloween -- many places, depending on the local "corporate culture", may be tolerant. I wore my long black tiered skirt last Halloween and actually picked up several positive comments, mainly from women. I haven't made up my mind yet whether I'm going to do something similar this year (I need to wear another skirt if I do, though), but I may well. I also might point out that I had my tr*users in my briefcase (laptop bag, actually) "just in case" there was trouble. I'm happy to report that there was no trouble, though.

[Peter v]

Great Idea, it is just implementing it, in such a way that men who otherwise don't dare, would wear a skirt on such a day.

Actually we that is, the skirt wearers who wear them in public, "should" be out there in force every day or every moment there is a chance to. That is possibly the very best way to stimulate others to "join in".

But with wives ( partners) who ensight more fear in men than a gang of hoodlums keping some from wearing, and possibly neighbourhoods which may not accept any man dressed "out of code" and employers who may discriminate when it is known, I fear that most would be wearers will stay indoors.

Having said that, a good publicity stunt in the form stated above, ie a wear a skirt day, may present enough of an excuse, stimulance to wear a skirt openly on such a day, being able to "refer" to "the day" as support if any questions are asked, but all the while, the skirt wearers ARE WEARING A SKIRT IN PUBLIC. Which if found fine, would have following. And that is what we want, more men who want to, actually comming out and wearing en public.

[Gus]

The title could be a bit shorter and punchier, something like 'Work In A Skirt Day'. I doubt if a lot of employers would accommodate it, unless maybe it were connected in some way with a worthwhile charitable cause. My old employers would have gone with that reasoning, I'm sure, if it was a nationally (or internationally) recognised 'day'.
However, if it's treated as a joke, then that's certainly not the message we're trying to spread.

I agree wholeheartedly that it should be for a charitable cause and definitely not treated as a joke. I think the last thing we want to be associated with is speak like pirate day! I never realized there was such thing.

While I agree that it should never treated as a joke, we don't want to take it too seriously. Nothing like a sense of humour to get things done.

As for employers not tolerating it - this could raise some interesting issues and may eventually cause a lot of employers to revise there ridiculous double standards dress codes. At my office the dress code is what they call business casual - which basically means that a tie is not essential unless meeting with certain customers.

Gus

[Gus]

It was not my intent to make light of the idea, but rather to point out that it might go over a bit easier if put forward with some levity. If projected as a very serious matter, I suspect that some women (read, "a vocal minority") would be incensed about the notion that they "should" (or are being "invited" to) wear a skirt to work -- and, if the guys are going to take part, then the jokes are going to fly anyway.

Carl - I'm with you 100% - but I refuse to wear a skirt AND talk like a pirate!

Gus

[mugman]

Humour would inevitably be part of it anyway, depending upon how skirt wearing is viewed either individually or within groups of male workers. In which case it would be the usual 'carnival' approach of men fooling around in drag outfits, which isn't going to help a lot. I agree that the idea would not be easy to take too seriously.
Coming from a different angle, would protestation against obligations to wear trousers be a better route?
The wording is important as it has to express the main intent of the day.
'Skirt To Work Day' suggests both wearing a skirt at work, and, more importantly, putting a skirt to work. But it doesn't connect skirts with men in the title...

Kick outdated male tradition in the pants for a day.
Will you wear a skirt to work to support your
favourite charity?
INTERNATIONAL 'SKIRT TO WORK DAY'
May XX
...you might even enjoy it!
Kick about in a kilt, skivvy in a skirt, or shuffle paper in a sarong.
Get family and friends to sponsor you.
INTERNATIONAL 'SKIRT TO WORK DAY'
is wholeheartedly supported by:
(list of relevent suppliers of kilts, male skirts, etc)

...just my take on it.

[miniskirt07]

just wear skirt and go out anywhere you like as normal so that it may push men to wear more. I wear black opaque tights, denim mini skirt (light stonewash) with big belt, black polo jumper, black suede slouch calf boots and went out for walk - it didnae bother me -- just wear and go out anywhere you like as it just normal clothes. It nice feel and cool when walking anywhere people already seem me full dress. remember women wear trousers at 1st time and then now it got bigger so it time for men do the same with skirt.

[ChrisM]

Great idea!

I will take somebody to work hard to get the word out. Take Mugman's text. Create a mini-poster (a4 or 8.5 x 11 size). Post it on a website "wear a skirt to work.com". Distribute the poster (by email) to all of us. We spam our friends with it. We print it out and put it on our office door / cubicle wall.

Maybe, just maybe, with enough promotion in the, say, six weeks leading up to The Day, we could pull it off!

I'll do my part - but I don't have much of an office. SOmebody want to take the lead on this? I promise to forward to poster to my friends.

(I thought Mugman's approach struck just the right tone - not mocking, not femme, just 'wear a skirt.')

Chris

[Gus]

I see some really good ideas are rolling in. Let's keep 'em coming and then we can start putting an action plan together.

I like the idea of a special website for the idea (after all even the "pirates" have one). We will also need a plan to "alert the media" so to speak. I must say I am starting to get quite excited about the idea.

I agree totally that we don't want to trivialize this exercise, but let's approach it with a sense of fun - after wearing a skirt is fun.

[cessna152towser]

In theory this is a great idea, especially if linked to a charitable cause, perhaps a charity for men's testicular or prostate cancers.
In practice, this would need a lot of advance publicity if large numbers of men were to be persuaded to take part and if employers were to be made to appreciate the significance of the event.