It should be either saree or salwar kameez – that is the unofficial dress code for women in the government service in the State. Hence, when a group of women employees turned up in loose shirts and jeans on Tuesday at the Kozhikode Corporation office, many eyes were turned. Some frowned, while others appreciated. But the 25-odd women who “took the risk” are determined to continue dressing the way they want.
“When the news came out that a school at Balussery was going for gender-neutral uniform, we wished we could dress in a more comfortable manner at the office. So when the matter came up at a recent committee meeting, we wanted to test it out,” said Sashitha N., District Convenor of the women’s committee of the Kerala Municipal Corporation Staff Union who spearheaded the ‘operation’.
“It is not that there is any official dress code or ban on wearing an attire of our choice, but we have apprehensions within ourselves about what people would think, especially those working with us, if we dressed in a modern way,” said Subaida T., another staff member who, however, did not join the bandwagon. She says it was only a couple of years ago when she garnered the courage to wear salwar kameez in place of saree. She said there were a few newly appointed members of the staff who dressed in modern attire and it encouraged the rest to try out the same at least once.
