Kilt concerns

[artificer]

Guys, I don't mean to sound argumentative here, but why do people keep comparing this to womens' skirts, or making it a gender battle? Historically speaking, the battle of women wearing trousers like men instead of dresses was a political battle of equal rights in society (and was tied to suffrage, etc.). That is a whole 'nother ball of wax than what we're talking about here. The kilt is, and has always been, the ethnic clothing of Highland Scots (and to a far lesser degree their descendants, the diaspora). It's not the symbol of a political movement for equality unless you're somehow trying to tie it to some sort of transgender issue, which would be flat out inappropriate for the Highland kilt and for this forum.

Appealing to an employer on the basis of "fairness" when females are allowed to wear skirts but not men, is going to do nothing but create acrimony and problems between you and management. Even if they begrudgingly allow it out of fear that you'll make a stink, you still won't come out a winner. And every time you wear your kilt to work, you'll be reminding them that you forced their hand. They'll be watching and waiting for your kilt to cause problems. Why would you want that negative attention in your workplace, upon which you rely for your livelihood?

I dislike being the lone negative voice when this topic comes up, but I really think it's a mistake to push too hard for kilt acceptance in the workplace. If they have deemed it inappropriate (for whatever reason), it may be worth politely asking about it. But if they state firmly "no", then let it go. Wear the kilt in your off-hours and have fun, but don't make it a problem in your workplace. And for goodness sake, don't turn it into some sort of political rights issue when it's really not.

It's not about "equal rights" (at least for me, since I can wear whatever the heck I like to work so long as I don't mind it being ruined by dye/glue/etc) so much as it is "Are rules being applied uniformly"? If they are not then there was a possibility of pleading his case. The rational for allowing a skirt but not a kilt would be questionable at best (historical issues aside).

As for whether or not it's ACTUALLY worthwhile pushing for the kilt to be accepted- that's why I ended my last post with the bit you cut out.

The real question is "Do you actually want to be that big a pain for your boss"? (aka- is it really worth the trouble and inevitable bad feelings you'll generate just to be able to wear the kilt at work?)

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