When it comes to ending discrimination, I'll admit, I'm not one to be in the trenches on the equality battlefield. Nor am I actively involved in any pro-equality organization. I am the first one to admit that I should be more proactive on the equality "frontlines"; that we need more grassroots activists and less behind-the-scenes policy makers (squeaky wheel gets the grease, right?). But some of us just aren't cut out for that.
This certainly does not mean, however, that I am apathetic to instances of discrimination. Any time I see a woman, LGBT person, or other minority being treated unequally, I get as outraged as anyone. And the case of the woman fired for being too "hot" posted on this website's front page this morning certainly qualifies as one of these instances.
The article I'm referring to is this - "Too sexy to work?". Though brooklynbadboy summarizes the story very well, an even shorter version goes like this: a very attractive business woman is fired from Citibank for wearing, according to the defendants (her bosses), clothes that were either too revealing and/or too distracting for her male co-workers. Citibank alleges it was because of her "poor work performance", despite the fact that she had received numerous awards of praise and excellence from previous employers in the same career field (banking).
The Village Voice article is well written and provides a much more in-depth take at the matter, and you should read it here.
As expected, the comments section of the Village Voice article (and even some here at Daily Kos) are disgusting, accusing Ms. Lorenzana (the plantiff in the lawsuit) of being an media attention whore, backing Citibank's claims that her outfits are too revealing (pictures of her normal work attire can be viewed as an extra section to the article), to the ever-popular sexist "you can work for me honey!!" quip.
Stories like this remind me of a conversation I had with some of my peers in my undergraduate years at Rutgers University (not that far off considering I graduated in Spring 2009). On campus is our famous Douglass College, long steeped in the tradition of advocating for and fostering equality for women. As expected, the same old sexist comments are made about the college ("it's full of feminazis", "it's a lesbian headquarters", "it's home to all the ugly college girls", etc.)
Because I'm a man, my peers would ask me why I defended Douglass College against attacks and why I supported feminism. Ultimately, why should I care about a movement whose history involves "radical" events, like bra burning and the insistence on woman being spelled "womyn".
And my response was this:
"Feminism isn't about "radical" events or supposed anti-male sentiment. It's merely a simple ideal that women have a right to be treated equally with men in all arenas of life."
If we can cut through the bullshit propaganda that to be a feminist is to be a short-haired, overweight, "ugly", radical lesbian, then maybe we can start to change the hearts and minds of our fellow citizens.
Because if you support the ideal that women should be allowed to vote, you are a feminist.
Because if you support the ideal that women should receive equal pay for equal work, you are a feminist.
Because if you support the ideal that women should be able to live in a world where their career advancement is based on actual achievements rather than breast, butt, or leg size, you are a feminist.
Because if you support the ideal that a woman who is abused or sexually harassed or raped is never at fault, you are a feminist.
Because if you support the ideal that a women should have complete control over her reproductive organs and access to contraception, you are a feminist.
When we can start making great progress in eradicating these false and damaging notions of what a feminist is supposed to think and feel and look like, instances of workplace discrimination like the one front-paged today can start to come to a halt.
I'm not saying we don't need equality rallies anymore. All I'm saying is that if we can all just remind our pejorative peers what the ideals of a true feminist are, then maybe the lightbulb will go on in their heads and they will see that any person who loves their friends, mother, grandmother, aunt, girlfriend, wife, and daughter should want a nation where the simple ideal of feminism is embraced. Hopefully, then, we can keep making progress for true equality, because as progressives that's what we embrace more than anything - progress.
Lastly as an aside, we need more men to embrace and willingly promote the true ideals of feminism to push back against the propaganda. There have been many instances where progress has been forged through coalitions of those being discriminated against and those who are lucky enough to avoid it - the abolition and civil rights movement comes to mind quickly. Please don't be intimidated by the Rush Limbaughs of the world - be a proud feminist and promote the simple ideal that woman and men are equal.