I am wearing jeans. I often do. Sometimes with t-shirts, and high-top Chuck Taylors. But I can get away with that here, my dept is fine with it. Other places, not so much, you know?
Ideally, what someone wears "isn't anyone's business," but this is academia. Weird little petty things can count for a great deal. The big modifier is, as always: depends on field/department. Is the department in question populated by folks who let it all hang out, who have full sleeve tattoos showing, who have facial piercings, who have cutoffs on? (don't laugh, I know departments like this and the colleagues I am thinking of are all top-notch scholars in their fields) Is the department in question much more staid, and in comparison this young woman stands out like a chipmunk in a birdcage?
When in rome, etc etc, to some extent. But when at a conference, or when on an interview, have some common sense and dial it down a notch until you have a good feel for the place and context.
General Rule for Scholars #657: if the most memorable thing about you is your visible underthings, this is not good.
Is the department in question populated by folks who let it all hang out, who have full sleeve tattoos showing, who have facial piercings, who have cutoffs on?
hahaha, this describes my department perfectly. We have grad students with full sleeve tattoos, post-docs with faces full of metal, and one professor whose sartorial choices tend to encompass Hawaiian shirts, filthy cutoffs, and lederhosen. (I ran into him on the street and had a conversation - my boyfriend wanted to know "why I was talking to that homeless man.")
Perversely enough, I ended up in the one lab where everyone is perfectly attired in crisp, clean, expensive-looking, professional clothing. I had to clean up my act.
While I, personally, don't feel uncomfortable, I am wondering if this could affect her TA status later on in her grad career.
The professor, as far as I know, doesn't have a problem with it.
Then why do you care? It doesn't bother you, and you haven't mentioned it bothering anyone else. Are you going to tell her, one day, "The people on the internet and I think that you're dressing inappropriately, although it doesn't actually bother me"?
I'm with kataplexis on this one. This sounds like a very gendered issue, the way you've phrased it.
OP, ou seem a little overinvested in this for someone who professes not to care. She probably knows the department's/field's standards for dress better than you, so your protestations that she's 'going to get in trouble' ring a little hollow for me.
Comments 226
(The comment has been removed)
(The comment has been removed)
Reply
Reply
(The comment has been removed)
Reply
Reply
Reply
When in rome, etc etc, to some extent. But when at a conference, or when on an interview, have some common sense and dial it down a notch until you have a good feel for the place and context.
General Rule for Scholars #657: if the most memorable thing about you is your visible underthings, this is not good.
Reply
Reply
hahaha, this describes my department perfectly. We have grad students with full sleeve tattoos, post-docs with faces full of metal, and one professor whose sartorial choices tend to encompass Hawaiian shirts, filthy cutoffs, and lederhosen. (I ran into him on the street and had a conversation - my boyfriend wanted to know "why I was talking to that homeless man.")
Perversely enough, I ended up in the one lab where everyone is perfectly attired in crisp, clean, expensive-looking, professional clothing. I had to clean up my act.
Reply
Reply
Reply
The professor, as far as I know, doesn't have a problem with it.
Then why do you care? It doesn't bother you, and you haven't mentioned it bothering anyone else. Are you going to tell her, one day, "The people on the internet and I think that you're dressing inappropriately, although it doesn't actually bother me"?
I'm with kataplexis on this one. This sounds like a very gendered issue, the way you've phrased it.
Reply
OP, ou seem a little overinvested in this for someone who professes not to care. She probably knows the department's/field's standards for dress better than you, so your protestations that she's 'going to get in trouble' ring a little hollow for me.
Reply
Leave a comment