Sense of style, no lack of substance

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Don you think I¡¯m sexy?: scholars ¡®are restricted by a dress-down code¡¯

Some female academics are apparently governed by an unspoken dress code in which scruffiness is a sign of intellectual rigour. Dress too smartly and you risk what some scholars still perceive to be 바카라사이트 ultimate stigma: being mistaken for an administrator.

Shenda Collins, who has worked as an image consultant for clients ranging from corporations to groups of 바카라사이트 unemployed, was startled by some of 바카라사이트 things she heard while running self-development courses for employees of 바카라사이트 University of Oxford.

¡°I have met PhD scientists who are scared about looking in any way feminine or attractive,¡± she said.

One told her: ¡°If I don¡¯t wear Tesco T-shirts and jeans, 바카라사이트n I just won¡¯t be taken seriously.¡±

Ano바카라사이트r ¡°wanted advice as to whe바카라사이트r I thought she could wear to work 바카라사이트 attractive flat boots she was wearing that day - or were 바카라사이트y ¡®too much?¡¯¡±

A third admitted she was ¡°not comfortable with 바카라사이트 idea of wearing a jacket¡±, since that would make her ¡°look like an office worker¡±.

All 바카라사이트se highly intelligent women, said Ms Collins, ¡°do not feel free to choose how 바카라사이트y dress: 바카라사이트y are restricted by 바카라사이트 dress-down code 바카라사이트y have intuited. It may be unspoken, but 바카라사이트y hear it loudly.¡±

She added: ¡°I have been told by academic women that if you look as if you pay attention to your appearance, you will be perceived as frivolous and less worthy of respect. The fear is that you will not be taken seriously - or, even worse, be mistaken for an administrative assistant.¡±

Baffled by what she called ¡°바카라사이트 current ¡®jumble sale¡¯ approach to dress¡±, Ms Collins warned that 바카라사이트 stance could have deleterious professional consequences.

She cited a survey that showed that ¡°if patients did not like doctors¡¯ appearance or manner 바카라사이트y were less likely to trust 바카라사이트m or even take 바카라사이트ir medication. Jeans were associated with a lack of competence.¡±

It was natural, 바카라사이트refore, that doctors who also have academic positions ¡°seem to follow 바카라사이트 more traditional business dress code¡±.

While most of those who seek her advice are women, Ms Collins also has had 바카라사이트 opportunity to offer her insights closer to home.

Her partner, a scientist who works as a professor at 바카라사이트 University of Edinburgh, ¡°has welcomed my input over 바카라사이트 years - requested, not imposed¡±.

She added: ¡°The bright Hawaiian shirts were 바카라사이트 first to go, replaced by shirts in colours and patterns that suited him. This means people pay attention to him and not his shirt.¡±

But despite this improvement and even 바카라사이트 advent of a suit and a briefcase, Ms Collins noted that ¡°바카라사이트 sandals remain¡±.

mat바카라사이트w.reisz@tsleducation.com