Following the petition launched by Nicola Thorp calling for an end to wearing high heels as part of work uniform, MPs have reached out to women asking them to share their experiences of sexist dress code.
The Petitions Comittee has written in a post on Parliament's website that they want to hear from women who have found themselves in a sexist work environment similar to that of Thorp.
They wrote, 'It will also give us an idea of how many people this affects and help us to decide what action to recommend to the Government'.
So if you have been asked to wear heels to work, then you can share your story anonymously by posting on the inquiry's web forum.You have until 10am on the 16th of June.
On 12 May 2016 we wrote...
Turns out you can legally be sent home from work for wearing flats. Yes, really.
Receptionist Nicola Thorp has launched a petition after refusing to wear high heels throughout her nine-hour shift at London-based finance firm PwC. After arriving for her first day of work back in December in flat shoes, she was ‘laughed’ at for challenging the sexist dress code. The company stated that she must wear shoes with a ‘2 to 4 inch heel’ yet she refused as men are not required to follow the same guidelines - only to be sent home without pay.
In response to the sexist backlash, Nicola has launched a petition campaigning for the law surrounding female dress codes to be changed. Her call for action has already seen more than 88,000 signatures.
Nicola told BBC Radio London, ‘I said, "If you can give me a reason as to why wearing flats would impair me to do my job today, then fair enough", but they couldn’t. I was expected to do a nine-hour shift on my feet escorting clients to meeting rooms. I said I just won’t be able to do that in heels.’
This call for change comes after Canadian waitress Nicola Gavins shared a photo of her friend’s blood-stained feet after being forced to wear heels throughout her shift due to company policy.
In response to Thorp's petition, Portico, the company who employed her, has claimed that workers must obey ‘personal appearance guidelines’ and admitted they suggest ‘appropriate styles of footwear for the role’- i.e highly unsuitable heels.
Yet Nicola has made a stand for women everywhere despite being afraid of losing her job. ‘I was a bit scared about speaking up about it in case there was a negative backlash,' she admitted. “But I realised I needed to put a voice to this as it is a much bigger issue. I think dress codes should reflect society and nowadays women can be smart and wear flat shoes. Apart from the debilitating factor, it’s the sexism issue. I think companies shouldn’t be forcing that on their female employees.’
Good on her. You can support Nicola's campaign against strict and frankly sexist female dress codes by signing her petition here.
Follow @whoryouwearing to share your own experiences of sexist dress codes in the workplace.