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Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!seismo!hao!kpno!ut-sally!riddle
From: riddle@ut-sally.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.women
Subject: Hairy legs and monkey suits
Message-ID: <239@ut-sally.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 11-Sep-83 13:36:28 EDT
Article-I.D.: ut-sally.239
Posted: Sun Sep 11 13:36:28 1983
Date-Received: Mon, 12-Sep-83 19:56:27 EDT
Organization: U. Texas CS Dept., Austin, Texas
Lines: 41


(This is a reply I sent to thanh@rlgvax.UUCP over a recent item he posted
to net.women.only with the subject line "leg/armpit hair must be shaved if
shown at work".  I am posting it to net.women because I don't want to
violate net.women.only.  In fact, I think that this topic really transcends
both groups.)

   To: thanh@rlgvax.UUCP
   Subject: This isn't hate mail, but...
   References: <1136@rlgvax.UUCP>
   
   ...did it ever occur to you that there are people to whom an "office
   environment" is unpleasant precisely  b e c a u s e  it forces everyone
   into an identical mold?
   
        I am a man who finds suits and ties uncomfortable, impractical and
   repugnant, particularly in the warm climate enjoyed by much of the U.S.
   People's expectations that I dress in such a monkey suit to fit  t h e i r
   idea of how one should dress in an office make me mad.
   
        Similarly, the idea that a woman who preferred not to shave her legs
   or armpits would be pressured into doing so by her co-workers or superiors
   strikes me as a despicable, if petty, infringement on her personal matters.
   
        I happen to detest the pancake makeup and perfume worn by most women
   in a typical office environment, just as you seem to detest hairy legs
   and armpits.  Why should your standards of beauty be forced on women office-
   workers when mine aren't?
   
        I say, let those who want to sweat and be stifled in their suits or be
   plastered and scraped by their makeup and razors do so; but don't make it a
   requirement that the rest of us do the same just to conform to your sense of
   propriety.
   
        (By the way: if I have flamed a bit, please don't take it as hate mail.
   If you can express your opinion, so can I.  No personal offense is intended.)
   
                                       -- Prentiss Riddle
                                          {ihnp4,ut-ngp}!ut-sally!riddle
                                          riddle@ut-sally.{UUCP,ARPA}