Cleavage can hold you back?

[buttmunch]

Dec. 2, 2005 — If you're a professional woman with designs on occupying the corner office, your fashion sense better be more Hillary Clinton than Pamela Anderson.

A new study on women in the workplace finds that people are likely to feel negatively toward a provocatively dressed businesswoman in a position of power. But as long as she's the secretary, it seems most people won't mind.

"Playing up sexiness is sort of a dangerous game, particularly for higher status jobs. It's something that has more costs than benefits," said Peter Glick, the Lawrence University psychology professor who conducted the study.

The study, which appears in the December issue of Psychology of Women Quarterly, focused on how women who emphasized "sexiness" were evaluated within high status work roles. Participants in the study viewed videotapes of women who were deemed to be equally attractive and then dressed both conservatively and provocatively.

The results showed that a provocatively dressed women in a managerial role evoked hostile emotions and were deemed less intelligent. But when study participants were told that the woman was a receptionist, there were no negative emotions or negative perceptions of the woman's competence.

"For women, it's not just about physical attractiveness, it's about how you play it up," Glick said. "If you look too sexy, the stereotype is that you're not that bright, and that's certainly not beneficial if you're planning to move up the ladder."


Dealing With a Double Standard


Numerous studies have shown that being physically attractive is beneficial for both men and women. Attractive people are generally assumed to be smarter and more competent. But for women, appearance stereotypes can be more complicated, particularly in a business environment.

Glick said the reasons for the negative response to the sexy female managers in his study were probably tied to traditional office mores and gender roles. Because high-powered jobs have traditionally been held by men, managerial positions became associated with masculine personalities. The challenge to that stereotype is likely what caused a negative emotional reaction, Glick said.

And, of course, there is the age-old "bimbo" or "dumb-blond" stereotype that often plagues attractive women. Though obviously not politically correct, Glick said women with aspirations of career advancement might be wise to recognize that these emotions exist.

"If you're really trying to demonstrate your abilities, looking sexy might not be the best way of going about it," he said.

At least one image consultant took that sentiment a step further.

"The first thing I tell clients is that [dressing too provocatively is] the kiss of death," said Sandy Dumont, president of the Image Architect, a consulting firm. "If you have to flaunt it, it tells people that you're not qualified and you have to use something else to get ahead."


Fashion Guidelines Relax Over Time


Mary S. Hartman, a Rutgers University professor and director of the university's Institute for Women's Leadership, noted that as more women entered the workplace during the last 30 years, there was pressure to assimilate to more masculine behavior and dress. She noted one particular 1970s study in which women were asked to dress in clothes identical to their male co-workers, complete with jackets and ties.

"Fortunately a lot of women in that study said, 'I don't think so, we'll dress as we please,'" Hartman said.

Over time, the expectation that businesswomen must behave exactly like men has faded. That has allowed women more leeway in their career choices and their clothing.

"There has been a lot of relaxing of what some of those standards were," she said. "The message now is not to dress like a man, but just to dress sensibly."


Younger Women Most Likely to Make Mistakes


Some experts say that dressing inappropriately is a particular problem with younger women who are likely to be more familiar with the clothing styles they see in fashion magazines than corporate boardrooms. The fluctuations during the last decade between "business casual" and formal attire have also made the situation more confusing. And television images of women in the workplace can distort the idea of what is acceptable.

Ginger Burr, president of Total Image Consultants, said she couldn't think of a single image in the media that would serve as a good model for young businesswomen.

"The blouses on the women on TV are cut down to the navel, and that's not acceptable. It all started with 'Ally McBeal,' and it's not getting any better," she said.

Burr noted that it was important for a woman to understand what's acceptable in her particular profession and office. A graphic designer who manages an office of artists will likely dress more casually than a corporate executive. But casual, she said, does not necessarily mean sexy.

Both Burr and Dumont said that women must accept a certain double standard when it comes to office attire and stereotypes. Men who dress poorly may be considered sloppy, but that probably won't affect the perception of their competence.

"For women, people will immediately assume: 'Oh, if she can't put a skirt and a blouse together, then how is she going to handle my finances?'" Burr said. "For men, they're more likely to say: 'Well, he's a bad dresser, but he's a whiz with numbers.'"

"There is a double standard for men and women, and it may always be that way. Women need to empower themselves and learn what impressions they are giving off with what they wear."


The Old Reliable Navy Business Suit


Both Dumont and Burr said the classic navy business suit was usually a good starting point. And they stressed the importance of finding clothes that fit properly.

Dumont said that, because of lifelong gender conditioning, many women were naturally drawn to soft colors like pastels. But she tells clients to create a more distinctive look by mixing dark colors like navy, black and racing green — and avoid orange at all costs.

"Orange is just too aggressive. You don't even have to open your mouth, and people will just assume that you have a loud, shrill voice."

The goal, she said, is to look appropriate for a business environment but avoid clothing that will stand out.

"I always insist that you have to be perfect from head to toe. If they're not noticing your clothes or the scuff on your shoe, then they just pay attention to you and your credentials," she said.

The results of the Glick study are not surprising, the image consultants said. They said it was important to understand that while not everyone can be a fashionista, a woman can really hinder her career by accentuating her sexuality too much.

"If they're going to dress provocatively, they have to be ready for repercussions. People are going to talk about you, and you may not get promotions. Knowledge is power, and young women need to know that the image they're presenting may be holding them back," Burr said.

Well, I've got me some big 'uns and it's pretty hard to pretend they're not there, no matter what a wear. And they've never held me back. Mainly because the first time any asswipe says anything about them, I verbally bitch slap them to the floor and then wipe it with them.

And by the way, why should women have to accept a double standard? Fuck that. Play by MY rules or piss off.

[savansa]

I have to agree with the article. There's a time and place for belly shirts and a professional setting is not it.

[buttmunch]

I agree as well. Although I don't like that there is a double standard.

[Zoe]

I agree as well. Although I don't like that there is a double standard.

But there isn't a double standard. Men don't come to work shirtless with half their cocks hanging out, because if they did they most definitely wouldn't be taken seriously. So why would any woman in her right mind think she could be taken seriously dressed in the same manner? You go to work to work, not to strut along a catwalk and strike poses.

[UndercoverGator]

What a bunch of bullspit. I have big hooters and have known enough women with big hooters in higher level positions and I don't think any of us ever found it a hinderance. But then again we weren't dressing up like Hooters waitresses either in the office.

[Zee]

I don't see a double standard. It's common sense. A good rule of thumb is to dress above your current level and reflect your industry.

I am a female engineer who has worked with mostly men. I dress conservatively for two reasons, doesn't fit my industry and don't like guys staring at my chest.

I do love orange and wear quite a bit. Always found it to be a happy color that can work quite nicely without being a hooter's girl.

[fluffy bomb]

But there isn't a double standard. Men don't come to work shirtless with half their cocks hanging out, because if they did they most definitely wouldn't be taken seriously. So why would any woman in her right mind think she could be taken seriously dressed in the same manner? You go to work to work, not to strut along a catwalk and strike poses.

HAHAHAHA half their cocks hanging out! But ITA with what you're saying.

[buttmunch]

I laughed at the, ahem, cock reference as well. Such a porn word, isn't it?

[Tiara]

I don't think any different of a woman with a low cut top on than I do towards a woman with a high neck top on. But I suppose I'm the only one with my head not in the gutter

[sherbear905]

I actually had a female executive pass me over for a job I was more than qualified for, for a dumpy, underqualified, still struggling person, because of MY boobs. This executive would always make comments about them teasingly (unprofessional, not even sure why I wanted to work under her....hers were smallish, which I find adorable, and mine are, well, quite ginormous....it seemed kind of like the male "penis envy" thing). I found later that she felt "threatened", and needed to be the "alpha female", worried that I would take attention away from her. (She's no longer with our company)

At the time of my interview (about 5 years ago), I would always wear conservative clothing, suits, etc., downplaying the action on my chest whenever I could.
I finally decided they were too hard to hide, and now wear sweaters, turtlenecks, etc. I'm not trying to "play them up", it's just much more comfortable to work without a suit on. I break out the jackets when needed.

They're part of my body, not my job performance.

I do, however, take dress into consideration when doing interviews, and would think twice if I was interviewing a lady with her "ta-tas" hanging out. There's a way to dress with big boobs, and not look sleazy.