Kilt as political promo

**Archangel** · 27th May 06, 07:05 PM

So here's one of the things I've been doing lately. I'm pretty busy with union stuff, through education and human rights. Due to a transfer, a union position of Employment Equity Representative has come up. That's our phrasing for a Human Rights officer on the union side. It's an elected post on the shop committee and I decided to run for it.

I prepared two posters. The first had my face, 3/4 profile, looking very serious and academic in front of a bookcase. The other is me in my kilt, sandals, Rolling Stones t-shirt and my two cats. The idea was to show that I have a culture that went against the status quo and I am comfortable with that, therefore I have a deeper appreciation of your culture. There are several other tie-ins.

The plan was to put just a few of the kilt posters up in areas where they would be less likely to be vandalized. The rest of the plant would have the serious one.

The voting is on Monday but the feedback on the kilted posters has been quite positive. There were several skinny leg jokes, but for the most part it was respectful. Some people wanted to see white socks and the whole thing but that lead to good conversation too. Several observed that I was the only one wearing a skirt, which they thought was ironic (women running also run as Women's Advocate, if a man wins the woman with the most votes becomes that role with less hours). The skirt name calling didn't last long since I don't react badly to it (that type of clothing is called a skirt, that type of skirt is called a kilt). (By calling me a man in a skirt, you are trying to insult me by comparing me to a woman, and your insult is ...what?) Back to a good discussion on Human Rights.

Somebody wrote on one, "I'd vote for a man in a skirt." I took that as an endorsement and left it up. Later, the writer admitted it, and said he meant it as a good thing. As he was from another culture and has felt victimized, I was encouraged by his support.

All in all, it's been an interesting exercise and I hope that it provoked good dialogue so that no matter who wins, the plant is more respectful of other cultures/group/each other.

**Blu (Ontario)** · 27th May 06, 08:21 PM

.... Let us know how it turns out!

**Archangel** · 27th May 06, 10:27 PM

Here's the two pics, if you're curious...

**Rob Wright** · 27th May 06, 10:52 PM

I wear the same stones shirt with my Douglasmodern kilts, looking good

Rob

**Kilted KT** · 28th May 06, 09:05 AM

Use the kilt to increase your recognition, thereby increasing your chances of getting elected.

The one that stands out the most is most likely to be remembered. All too easily proven by those businessfolk who have decided to use their kilt to promote themselves and their business. Most of these business's have seen a marked rise in clients, simply due to the kilts, and recognizability thereof.

I'd vote for the guy in the 'skirt' as well!!!

**Mysticwolf** · 28th May 06, 10:19 AM

AA,
That is an excellent idea. It certainly sets you apart, and doing so will be an advantage. As a former Union politician (shop steward, shift steward and committeman) I know the power of a good poster, and yours, particularly the kilted one, are both excellent.
The Mystic Wolf

**Archangel** · 6th June 06, 01:43 PM

Well, I won and I'm feeling right chuffed about it. That's the Scottish word that encompasses, on the inside doing a happy dance, whoop and fist pump, and on the outside, the straight faced, hand shake and thank yous.

Using my picture kilted was valuable on many levels: it stood out even though less than 10% of my posters had the kilted photo; it created discussion about Human Rights, to end harassment I can take my kilt off (oh, behave), most other cultures don't have that choice; and several people did say, in effect, that if you're tough enough to post a picture of yourself in a kilt, you're tough enough to do the job right.

So, I now have a title, CAW Employment Equity Representitive.