The Republican-controlled Missouri House of Representatives adopted a rules package that requires female lawmakers to cover their arms by wearing a jacket like a blazer, cardigan or knit blazer.
Rep. Ann Kelley, a Republican state representative, who co-sponsored the proposal said she felt compelled to offer the change to “mirror the language in the gentleman’s dress code,” according to CNN.
“Men are required to wear a jacket, a shirt and a tie, correct? And if they walked in here without a tie, they would get gaveled down in a heartbeat. If they walked in without a jacket, they would get gaveled down in a heartbeat. So, we are so interested in being equal,”Kelley said.
Kelley initially wanted everyone to wear blazers while in the chamber, but Republicans altered the amendment to include cardigans and jackets after Democrats criticized the proposal.
“Do you know what it feels like to have a bunch of men in this room looking at your top trying to determine if it’s appropriate or not?” state Rep. Ashley Aune (D) said on the House floor, before calling the proposal “ridiculous”.
“We are fighting — again — for a woman’s right to choose for something. This time, it’s how she covers herself — and the interpretation of someone who has no background in fashion,” state Rep. Raychel Proudie (D) said in a speech on the floor. “I spent $1,200 on a suit, and I can’t wear it in the People’s House because someone who doesn’t have the range tells me that it’s inappropriate.”
“I don’t think I’m qualified to say what’s appropriate or not appropriate for women and I think that is a really dangerous road for us all to go down,” Democratic Rep. Peter Merideth who refused to vote on the amendment said on the House floor.
“Y’all had a conniption fit the last two years when we talked about maybe, maybe wearing masks in a pandemic to keep each other safer. How dare the government tell you what you have to wear over your face? Well, I know some governments require women to wear things over their face, but here, oh, it’s OK because we’re just talking about how many layers they have to have over their shoulders,” Merideth added, according to CNN.
The rules package was passed on a 105-51 vote. The dress code amendment passed on a voice vote.
The men’s dress code did not change from the previous legislative session, nor was the debated.
