Got in trouble for being kilted at work

[Mike_Oettle]

Fluter wrote: “One of the great things about kilt wearing is the frequent opportunity to look on the young Goths and hipsters and say: ‘Conformist!’ ”

Love it! And I certainly identify with the statement “I am not a willing participant in this cultural experiment of mindless conformity.”

Regards,
Mike

[Mike_Oettle]

Bugbear wrote: “I’m not Scottish.”

You don’t have to be Scottish to be kilted.
I do have some Scottish blood, but the family is from the Lowlands (kilts not strictly speaking part of their culture). I believe there is also a MacGregor connection, which would tie me to the Highlands, but I have not been able to trace it so far.
I got into kilt-wearing through having one as part of a military uniform. It’s a good enough reason to wear one.
Regards,
Mike

[KiltedGirl]

A kilt is "culturally related" attire. No different than "African" shirts or other an Arab tunic. It is not legal in the US to discriminate based on culture, and if the OP has had positive performance reviews in the past, the manager would be very foolish to start problems now. If a kilt is not against dress code, then it's not against dress code, no matter what the manager says. If other employees can wear "cultural" based clothing, then all employees can as long as it falls within the bounds of the rules. End of story.

Many people's "African heritage" is 150 years old, but because of their skin tone no one argues with their clothing choice if they choose to wear those garments. You do NOT have to be from Scotland, nor have any relative there in recent memory, if you identify something of yourself in Scottish culture then you have the right to wear the appropriate clothing.

I'm soooo tired of the "some people have rights (but a white male doesn't)" stuff.

[Bugbear]

Bugbear wrote: “I’m not Scottish.”

You don’t have to be Scottish to be kilted.
I do have some Scottish blood, but the family is from the Lowlands (kilts not strictly speaking part of their culture). I believe there is also a MacGregor connection, which would tie me to the Highlands, but I have not been able to trace it so far.
I got into kilt-wearing through having one as part of a military uniform. It’s a good enough reason to wear one.
Regards,
Mike

Fair enough, Mike.

I don't feel that my culture is Scottish; the kilt is out of context in my life and culture; I really don't understand the kilt innately.

There are statements sometimes made that remind me of this, and also hint that I need to give up my cultural senses to don the kilt.. because it isn't really culturally mine.

These discussions have, though, given me a way to reflect back on my own culture and traditions.

[Doc Canary]

mnp13's comment "I'm soooo tired of the "some people have rights (but a white male doesn't)" stuff." is unfortunate.
I guess people will be asking to see the birth certificates of those they think should or should not wear kilts if comments continue in that vein.
I thought Xmarks is about brotherhood, common bonding, and fun no matter ethnicity, race, or cultural heritage. Must say I feel that comment was rather unexpected and disappointing. We get enough such statements in the "real" world.

[Calico]

Doc, I think he was just venting. I don't think he meant to slight anyone. (of course, if he did, he is welcome to correct me! )

Bugbear, I have no Scottish heritage or connection to the culture. Since childhood I thought kilts were cool. The only people I saw wearing them were well dressed, and I always associated that with "proper role model". My wife wants me to wear a kilt, and I'm happy to do so, so I do. Culture is, for me, pretty much irrelevant. Although I do try to know enough to be respectful of the culture... so I listen closely to Jock Scot (and everyone else here who knows more than I do... all of you?). Even when we disagree!

I was disappointed there was so little positive reaction to my kilt at work yesterday. Nothing negative, just that everybody thought it was weird that I would want to wear it to work. I think I'll wear it more often so they can get used to it, then sample reactions again.

[Doc Canary]

Calico, we are all big boys here and are more than capable of speaking for ourselves. Our comments stand on their own and for good or bad are our representatives. Knowing that, we should choose our words carefully and moderate our frustrations as needed.
If he cares to clarify his comments, he knows how to do so.

[Nighthawk]

mnp13's comment "I'm soooo tired of the "some people have rights (but a white male doesn't)" stuff." is unfortunate.
I guess people will be asking to see the birth certificates of those they think should or should not wear kilts if comments continue in that vein.
I thought Xmarks is about brotherhood, common bonding, and fun no matter ethnicity, race, or cultural heritage. Must say I feel that comment was rather unexpected and disappointing. We get enough such statements in the "real" world.

I think that what he was saying is that the American double standard is what he's tired of. I understand. I am, too. I hate when I go out and have some black guy in an Africa t shirt call me a fag, and when I tell him that my kilt is as cultural as his shirt, and try to explain to him what it is, I get told that I'm not Celtic- I'm white! Like bread... or mayonaise. My skin isn't dark, so I have no claim to a culture of my own. I'm told that I shouldn't wear the kilt because it's a costume. When I mention dashikis, lap lap, and sarongs, I'm told it's OK for people to wear those because they're cultural. So a sarong is perfectly acceptable male attire... but my kilt is a costume. That kind of double standard gets really old. And yes, X Marks is deffniately about brotherhood regardless of race or ethnicity, which is why we feel comfortable about venting about this kind of thing here.

Calico, we are all big boys here and are more than capable of speaking for ourselves. Our comments stand on their own and for good or bad are our representatives. Knowing that, we should choose our words carefully and moderate our frustrations as needed.
If he cares to clarify his comments, he knows how to do so.

Yes, but the nature of discussions is that they evolve and include everyone involved. He can clarify, and the rest of us can express our own opinions on the subject, and interpretation of his statements. Problem with choosing our words carefully is that they're always open to interpretation. There's no such thing as one clear-cut meaning, because we all see the world through different eyes.

[troxel87]

Much agreed, NightHawk. I, too, am tired of the double standard of what is now called "equality". It's very frustrating when a woman who wears pants to work tells a man he can't wear a kilt, or when an islander tells me a kilt is a skirt, but his sarong is just fine. How is that equality? Why is the shelvar/qamiz (traditionally Indian garments) more smiled upon that the kilt, especially when the kilted is dressed to the nines?

Sorry for the venting, I hate what "equality" has become.

[Doc Canary]

Being a Black man and gay, I often hear or read the statements others make that are at the least stupid and at worse offensive, even if the person who made the comment is oblivious to the those perceptions.
The point I don't like is other people stepping in to explain what the other person was trying to say. He said it, let him explain it.
I get all kind of comments from people when I wear a kilt in public. They have varied from very nice comments to being assaulted and the police arresting the offending party. I consider the source of the comment and actions. By that I mean the individual. People speak for themselves, not what ever group they belong to or we choose to place them. People are individuals and their comments and/ or action should not be considered the monolith of their actual or perceived groups.
We all live in situations of differing exposures to diversity. The people commenting on my kilt wearing have been black, white and every thing in between. I have been told how wonderful I look to being called everything from ****** to ******.The guys who assaulted me because I was wearing a kilt were white. I hold no grudge towards anyone other than those two individuals. I still wear my kilts and take the world as it comes. I don't expect praise or condemnation for doing so. I do expect the same thing I give to the world: civility and tolerance. Because others choose to attempt to assault my dignity does not mean I allow myself to loose my dignity.
We have gotten way off topic from the original discussion of wearing a kilt at work. Just be aware when you make a comment that everyone on this forum does not look like you or walk in the world along your same path.