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You've Got To Be Kidding

Survey Claims Dressing “More Powerfully” Is A “Masculine Characteristic”

1:25 pm, January 7th | by Amy Tennery


Have you ever worn a longer skirt to work or covered up your cleavage in order to appear more professional? Well, then, you’re clearly acting like a dude to get ahead. At least that’s what one new study claims.

A U.K. office provider Business Environment conducted a survey of 2,000 women (full report’s here) and found that 59 percent of respondents are “knowingly taking on some… masculine characteristics in a bid to ensure their views are taken seriously in the boardroom.” Interesting. And what are these “masculine characteristics” that women are adapting en masse?

Fifty-nine percent of Londoners questioned admitted they have dressed ‘more powerfully,’ wearing longer hemlines (25 percent) and displaying less cleavage (25 percent). Indeed, inappropriate dress was cited by two-thirds of those questioned (67 percent), as the most common reason for women to pass judgement on colleagues and clients.

So… if covering up your chest and thighs are “masculine characteristics” (it’s true, men rarely show their cleavage in the office), are they saying that “dressing inappropriately” is an inherently feminine characteristic?

But wait — Business Environment assures us that “businesswomen are not giving up their feminine wiles altogether.” And how are they achieving that?

More than a third of those surveyed in London (36 percent) confessed to wearing more-make up to the office, perhaps an indication that whilst they value the ‘power effect’ of adopting more masculine characteristics, they realize the female touch can bring about success in other ways.

Every layer of mascara helps offset your calf-length, burlap skirt.

[via]

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  • Teri_ge

    It’s pretty obvious the gender of whoever did this study! What a way to waste time. 

  • ComelyConservative

    I read the report, and no doubt they predetermine the wording of the survey. They had options to choose, and I think it’s quite odd how dressing moderately in a professional environment translates to “masculine characteristics.”

    Is true that both of us, male or female, can be androgynous, but experiencing stereotype threat can have many meanings or interpretations. Here in our country, the leg is the way to go for women. And there’s no question that Face-ism does exist(I studied Psychology and that’s just a horrible word to use, lol), but it exists because, well, it works. A lil cleavage; some visible of the arms; or even the legs is the way women dress in a more favorable appearance. We often criticize(or praise) the hierarchy for applying such an endevour take, but it works(even though you can still see their wrinkles, lol).

    But I will say the makeup makes sense. But if they are trying to balance their “masculine” side with their feminist, then what does it say about how women are still perceived? It reinforces the argument that women are ambiguous in their decision-making and often will predisposition their choices based on how we(men) judge them. Now I know why I say, “Can she make a sandwich?”

    Interesting study.

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