A Question for Those with Masculine Jobs...

[Larry124]

Another adjective that we might perhaps do without: "delicate" sensibilities.

I think that EVERYONE has delicate (hot button?) sensibilities on at least one subject or in one area of life or experience. Some have few, some many. Some topics here bear that out -- although this forum to its credit is much more enjoyably civil than others.

I'd have said predominately male occupations or workplaces. "Masculine" might be read to imply an attribute of an individual -- and suggest an opposite that's too much like red meat.

I worked (I'm retired now) in a human services office in which the customers were very often embarrassed and supplicant. That often prompted the fight or flight response. And if you can’t flee (or fight outright) then the substitutes included finding something (anything) to take offense to, and a ready argumentativeness especially again to change the subject.
A kilt would have been a clear disruption in that environment.

[Birddog]

Look, there can ALWAYS be better ways of saying things. Could I have been more "PC" in the way I initially posted this thread? Maybe. But it does not detract from the fact that I am simply looking for ways to broach wearing a kilt around my military coworkers, nor does it change the fact that there are jobs which will always be predominately male oreinted. To deny, or take offense, will not change one bloody thing. I do think that people should have read the entire thread before they took offense to what I said; they would have clearly seen that I was not being sexist, and they could have constructively added to the thread. Human skin has made it this far because it can be thick; let's not lessen the specie by thinning our skin. Now, back to the topic!

[davedove]

I never really understood this line of thinking. I've met some girls who just insisted they didn't like kilts, although perhaps it may have just been that they were embarrassed by them. But for someone to just genuinely not like them, for no particular reason, baffles me a bit.

It's quite possible she just doesn't like the way they look. Everyone has different tastes, and sometimes you just can't explain them. I been in situations before where people were saying how great something was, but I just didn't get it.

Although I suspect her dislike is more that kilts are outside of the norm and just don't fit into her worldview.

[hospitaller]

I don't get why you would have trouble with your military coworkers if you wear a kilt...specially given that the kilt was/is used by actual combat units.

I specially don't see the problem when so many active service mil types wear kilts as well, I guess im trying to say I think you're making a bigger deal than necessary, simply wear your kilt and be done with it.

If they get out of line with their ribbing, they are the ones that will be disciplined, so...go for it and don't overthink it.

[siva011]

I understand the "masculine" jobs idea of this thread, but I think more along the lines of factory work and the like more so than military, fire or police. As a few have mentioned, firefighters have a long line of history with the kilt. There were units of soldiers that were kilted, and how many police pipe bands are there? I would actually be more surprised to have reactions come from those groups. Branches of the military, police departments and fire departments even have their own tartans. It seems this group of servicemen would be very much in tune with wearing kilts.

As far as other jobs with a more macho presence, that can be a very different story. I have worked in warehousing, and while many people know I wear kilts, I usually had a uniform or for safety reasons couldn't wear one. Also I have frequently worked in the inner city where exposure to kilts is virtually none. Again some people knew I wore kilts and would rib a little bit, I'm sure it would be much, MUCH more if I were to show up kilted.

Now I'm in an office with mostly women, and while some admit that they "don't get it", most are intrigued. Again, dress code doesn't let me come to work kilted

[Nighthawk]

Look, there can ALWAYS be better ways of saying things. Could I have been more "PC" in the way I initially posted this thread? Maybe. But it does not detract from the fact that I am simply looking for ways to broach wearing a kilt around my military coworkers, nor does it change the fact that there are jobs which will always be predominately male oreinted. To deny, or take offense, will not change one bloody thing. I do think that people should have read the entire thread before they took offense to what I said; they would have clearly seen that I was not being sexist, and they could have constructively added to the thread. Human skin has made it this far because it can be thick; let's not lessen the specie by thinning our skin. Now, back to the topic!

Military coworkers?!?! Where's the problem, then? The kilt is one of the most respected military garments in history!

[staticsan]

...
A few of the lads even remarked how "manly" wearing the kilt was. So there you go. Good to see these blokes recognise it for what it is. In fact, it wasn't that unusual to them at all. I would have copped more flack if I'd shaved my legs or grown a moustache.

I get that sort of comment from friends. One in particular was gob-smacked the first time he saw me kilted, now he likes to see it. Another set of friends in the same group accept it as just me; initially they tried to be all-knowing about kilt-wearing until I gently pointed out that that would be a losing battle.

I found the workplace is a unique place to (try to) wear a kilt. The only time I went kilted, the HR manager chickened out of supporting me against a complaint, even though she personally loved it. And it was a software house,
so kilt wearing was not something that was physically unsafe or anything.

Wade.

[Timmy]

I am a police sergeant and have just this year started wearing kilts. I wear my utilikilt just about anywhere,(movies,dinner, etc). My co-workers jibe me goodheartedly about this and just about anything else they can think of. I think your own self confidence is what determines how you are recieved. People only kick you when you are down.

[kiltedinUSMC]

I have worn kilts around those I was in the military with. They had no problem with me wearing one. Heck I got started on kilts from one of my Marines buddies!

[haxtonhouse]

I am a fifth grade teacher, but in the summer I operate heavy equipment at construction sites. I also served 11 years in the U.S. Army Special Forces. I wear my kilt to school, and to work in the summer, (While in the army I was in uniform of coarse)I did get a bit of ribbing the first couple of times that I wore a kilt, but everyone is used to it now, and I haven't heard anything for a long time now.