Is this sex discrimination?

Errata

sportbeth wrote: »

sorry, now he's summonsed me to a meeting and he's not there. humph. Will have to wait until tomorrow for the next thrilling installment I'm afraid.

Spend ten minutes this evening making yourself a lovely bin liner dress and tell him it's a Vivienne Westwood original !

AnnieM_3

sportbeth wrote: »

sorry, now he's summonsed me to a meeting and he's not there. humph. Will have to wait until tomorrow for the next thrilling installment I'm afraid.

Did he tell you he couldn't attend? If not, that is classic 'bully' behaviour - making you turn up for a meeting and then not appearing himself. He sounds like a right one! Make sure you tell HR about that too, unless he has a really valid reason!

picnic

just to add to the confusion.... isnt a 'ballgown' a full lenth jobbie??? not the kind of dress you could pick up cheap in asda or primark...?
just a thought....

lrr_2

Just tell him if he wont treat everyone the same you wont be going!

Kippy

He's got a nerve, if you really don't want to rock the boat I suggest you stop being angry about the situation and go to this do and shine don't let the cheapskate sexist pig see that you are the slightest bit bothered, and on the night concentrate on the business in hand and secure your right to stay put if they are thinking of downsizing, go get 'em girl,


:beer: GOOD LUCK:beer:

pinkshoes

I work in a male dominated environment too, and don't possess any item of clothing suitable for a black tie do!

You MUST go, as not going would potentially dent your career. It's hard work being a female in a male dominated environment!!

If it were me, I'd hire a tux and put it on my expenses, then whilst giving the speech, I'd explain to everyone WHY I was wearing a tux instead of a ballgown! The very least they can do is the same as they've done for the men!!! (in practice I'd chicken out, hire a ball gown, made sure I looked stunning, and put that on my expenses!).

This is complete and utter discrimination, and your boss sounds like a tw*t. Just because he probably has a doormat for a wife, who does nothing but clean the house, cook his meals, and dress up and hang off his arm on nights out wearing dresses he's chosen, doesn't mean every woman is like that!

MrsTinks

It's definitely discrimination - I too work in a male dominated environment although my boss is female. But the nature of the business is very male dominated. I am expected to wear a suit or feminine equivalent to work and men to wear suits, but if I had to attend a formal function and the male half of the staff were having their tux rental paid for then you can be darned sure I'd have my dress hire paid too! A "ballgown" is not something most people have hanging in their wardrobe! cocktail dress maybe, but not a ballgown! I've been to functions that require them and I have hired dresses - also for the reason that depending on what circles you move in you don't want official pictures from several functions with you wearing the same dress hence the need to hire!
Seriously though - tomorrow if he at any point tries to make you feel guilty, bad or anything else OTHER than appologise and of course offer you the money to hire (and the time off to go find a dress at such short notice!) then you stop the meeting politely and pick up the phone to HR and ask them for an urgent appointment - like NOW. You could even suggest they might want to attend the remainder of the meeting you are in with your boss.

Your boss has crossed into a huuuuge minefield and I am not sure he realises... As a former boss I can't believe he's made such a monumental mistake... how he deals with it now though will determine not only his future career but also how long he will have one!

skintchick

picnic wrote: »

just to add to the confusion.... isnt a 'ballgown' a full lenth jobbie??? not the kind of dress you could pick up cheap in asda or primark...?
just a thought....

You're correct, although many people these days wear cocktail dresses to black tie occasions, black tie really is floor length and cocktail is knee length (men wear lounge suits to cocktail dress dos).

elona

If you end up having to buysomething then TMaxx usually has ballgowns very reasonably priced.

Whatever you do make sure that you look good, feel confident and knockem dead!!!!

Errata

Jeez, the boss is irritating me almost as much as he's irritating Sportbeth.
So I did a bit of research ! Current etiquette is that ballgowns are worn to gigs like the opera and formal dinners when the blokes are wearing white tie.

Spotbeth's upcoming gig is black tie so read here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_tie

Sounds like the boss has unwarranted delusioins of grandeur and is in grave danger of a serious breach of etiquette if he tells female staff to wear ballgowns to a black tie event. Good grief, even the Queen's more relaxed about frocks to her events than this daft boss.