Sorry for the weird question, don’t know how else to word it. Basically I’m job hunting and I’m realizing the dress code is gonna be an obstacle.
I exclusively wear skirts and dresses. Not for a religion – I’m agnostic – but for sensory reasons. I hate pants. I hate how they feel on my legs and I haven’t worn them in almost 10 years now. I understand the need to wear pants for some jobs because they’re ultimately safer than a flowy skirt, but one of the jobs I’ve applied to is a bank. I doubt the building is a skirt deathtrap behind the scenes.
Honestly the idea of having to wear pants is so upsetting I’m breaking down over it. It’s so stupid but after I finally found a way to feel comfortable when I started wearing skirts, I don’t think I can go back even if the job is better than my current one.
My only idea is to get some kind of doctors note but even that seems unlikely. Hoping for other ideas here.
Likely, since you didn’t mention it, you don’t want your gender to be an issue. That’s not the world we live in. If you present as male and want to wear a skirt, the only possible option at bigger corporations is a kilt, but then you’ll need to lean into being “Scottish”. You might find more acceptance at a small business, even a smaller bank, perhaps, depending on where you are.
If you present as female, then I don’t know what to say, I’ve never heard of a job that requires trousers for women apart from for safety reasons.
I present male and I wear skirts to work. The boss said the dress code was black trousers and I said I don’t wear pants. Never been an issue
That said, it’s totally nerve-wracking to make that stand. If an employer refuses on anything other than a safety concern then it’s just bigotry, straight up.
Don’t work for bigots - which can be a difficult stance to take when you don’t know how you’re going to make rent. People don’t deserve to be put in this position, but as you say it’s the world we live in
I salute you o7, the era of men in skirts is long overdue for a comeback.
There is no technical reason a man can’t wear a skirt. The society you live in may “frown” upon it. But that’s a different issue to address entirely
Don’t forget the sarong as another male alternative. Flipping great in the weather it developed in.