Remember Simcha Fisher and the Great Pants Debate?
I was reminded of this the other day, because I think I have stumbled upon the Working Woman's Version of the Great Pants Debate.
It is this 2010 question about pantyhose at the popular business/HR blog Ask A Manager.
A reader writes:
"Perhaps my question is a bit trite, but do I have to wear pantyhose to an interview? I hate pantyhose. So much so that I haven’t owned or worn any in at least 10 years. I usually just wear slacks to an interview, but I bought this killer new suit, and it has a skirt, so the issue has come up again in my life."
Ask A Manager's blogger, human resources professional Alison Green, replied:
In general, no. But there are some industries — fewer and fewer of them — where women are still expected to wear pantyhose. Are you interviewing in a particularly conservative industry? If not, bare legs are fine these days. Go with a closed shoe though.
If you’re not sure if the office is particularly conservative or not, you could play it safe and err on the side of pantyhose. (Or you could decide that if they have a problem with you not being squeezed into waist-to-toe nylon, it’s not the culture for you anyway.)
So far, so good, right?
Wrong. Green had to close comments, and the controversy was forever after referred to as the "Great Pantyhose Debate of 2010.
Notable from the comments was Mike:
Well no one expects me or the other guys to be wearing the stuff so why should the rest of the office have to?
Are there still places that balk at the thought of women choosing to wearing pants as well?
Ah, Mike. So refreshing, the naivete.
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