WORLD | America
US congresswomen go to work in sleeveless clothes as part of their fight for ‘right to bare arms’
Washington, July 16: In a unique protest, over 30 US Congresswomen on both sides of the aisle wore sleeveless dresses to support their “right to bare arms” in parts of Washington’s Capitol building.
The lawmakers staged the protest on Friday against the dress code in the speaker’s lobby, a room bordering the House chamber where lawmakers congregate between votes and where reporters conduct interviews.
The long-standing code for the room has required women, reporters and lawmakers, to wear dresses and blouses with sleeves if they want to enter. The rule also requires men to wear jackets and ties, CNN reported.
“It’s 2017 and women vote, hold office, and choose their own style. Time to update House rules to reflect the times!” tweeted Congress member Chellie Pingree.
“The rules are kind of archaic, if we just went by tradition in this chamber then we wouldn’t have a women’s bathroom off the floor,” California Democrat Linda Sanchez said, referring to the lack of a women’s bathroom off the floor until recent years.
A CBS news report about the uneven adherence to the dress code and the story of an unnamed young, female reporter barred from the room because her dress did not have sleeves kicked off an online debate, particularly among journalists.
On Wednesday, Martha McSally, an Republican lawmaker from Arizona, made reference to the strict dress code in the speaker’s lobby at the end of remarks on the House floor about first responders in her state.