Dress code debate

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Rob: Hello Jennifer! 

Jennifer: Now Rob, you’re a man of taste - what would you usually wear to the office? 

Rob: Well I think it’s important to look smart, but in my job I can be casual, so perhaps a nice shirt and some jeans or casual trousers? 

Jennifer: Very nice, and what about the women, what do they wear? 

Rob: Well, there’s quite a range at work - some ladies are quite smartly dressed and might wear a dress or a skirt and blouse, but others are more casual. Of course, they ALL look lovely - including yourself. 

Jennifer: Hmm, I’m not sure how sincere you are about that, but I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt. We’re talking about the importance of dress codes on 6 Minute English today, but before we get to our story, I’ve got a question for you and it’s all about fashion, something I’m sure you know lots about. Are you ready for the all-important question, Rob? 

Rob: Yes I am. 

Jennifer: Fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld is known for his bold statements about fashion and famously said: “One is never over-dressed or underdressed with a what?” 

(a) Pair of jeans 

(b) Little black dress 

(c) Pair of high heels 

Rob: Oh dear, I don’t even understand the quote? What does it mean exactly? 

Jennifer: If you are overdressed, you look too formal. If you are underdressed, you are not formal enough - so he thinks there is one fashion item which is perfect for all occasions - is it a pair of jeans, the little black dress, or a pair of high heels?

Rob: Well surprisingly I have no idea about women’s fashion. I’ll go for a) a pair of jeans… 

Jennifer: Well we’ll see if you’re right at the end of the programme. Now back to our story which is about a controversial microblog post which has sparked a debate in China. 

Rob: That means it has lots of people talking about it - and often arguing about it! 

Jennifer: The post was from a metro¹ operator in Shanghai who suggested that women should dress in a conservative way in public. 

Rob: If you dress conservatively, you wear traditional clothes and avoid anything outlandish or revealing. 

Jennifer: The blog post included a photograph of a woman wearing a see-through, or transparent², dress. 

Rob: That’s certainly the opposite of conservative! I don’t think many people would go out in public wearing an outfit³ you could see through! 

Jen: Probably not, but this blogger’s comment about the outfit has caused controversy⁴. Listen to this clip from the BBC’s John Sudworth - what comment was made about the photo? 

BBC correspondent John Sudworth: 

The Shanghai Metro authority used its official Weibo account, the Chinese version of Twitter, to publish a photograph of a woman in what appears to be a see-through dress, standing⁵ on a subway platform. “It’s not surprising that women get harassed⁷ if they dress like this,” the caption⁸ reads, adding “it’s hard to avoid perverts⁹. Girls, please cherish yourselves.” 

Rob: The Metro authority said that if women wear see-through clothes, then it’s not surprising they get harassed. 

Jennifer: Thousands of female passengers have been voicing their anger at this, as they feel it is an attempt to blame them for any sexual harassment¹⁰ they receive. 

Rob: Those passengers think they should have the right to dress however they like - without being harassed. 

Jennifer: But on the other hand, there are people who have said that women should not dress provocatively¹¹, as it might encourage people to make unwanted comments. 

Rob: It seems that opinion is divided. 

Jennifer: Here’s the BBC’s John Sudworth again with some of the responses to the statement. 

BBC correspondent John Sudworth: 

“The issue is currently the second most discussed topic on Weibo and has even prompted a small tube-train protest. One woman, angered by the statement, held up a banner reading; “I can be coquettish but you can’t harass⁶ me.” Other internet uses through have spoken out in defence of what they say is simply common-sense advice. In an online poll, with 45,000 respondents so far, almost 70% said that women should dress more conservatively when taking trains or buses.” 

Rob: So it’s even prompted a protest by some women who feel it’s their right to dress how they like without people making comments. 

Jennifer: That includes dressing¹² coquettishly - or in a flirty¹³ manner. 

Rob: But other people have said it’s only common sense - or good judgement - to dress conservatively, as then nobody is likely to bother you. 

Jennifer: Maybe not - but they argue that everyone should be treated with respect no matter what they choose to wear. 

Rob: Sexual harassment is a huge problem in society and the question of how to avoid it is a difficult one. Who is responsible for harassment - the people who dress provocatively, or the people making the unwanted comments? 

Jennifer: It’s a difficult question, and I’m sure the debate will carry on for a long while. Speaking of difficult questions, I asked you a tricky¹⁴ one about clothing at the start of the programme. Karl Lagerfeld once said “One is never over-dressed or underdressed with a what?” 

(a) Pair of jeans 

(b) Little black dress 

(c) Pair of high heels 

Rob: And I said … 

Jen: And you were wrong! Jeans are very important, very handy for the wardrobe, but according to Lagerfeld, every woman should have own a little black dress, as they are so versatile¹⁵! 

Rob: Have you got one? 

Jen: I’ve got far too many. Ok, we’ve come to the end of today’s programme. Rob, will you remind us of some of the words that we’ve heard today? 

Rob: Of course, they are: 

sparked a debate 

conservative 

coquettishly 

common sense 

sexual harassment

Jennifer: That's all we have time for today but do join us again for more 6 Minute English and for more help with any aspects of your English language studies go to our website BBCLearningEnglish.com. Bye for now! 

Rob: Bye! 

Vocabulary and definitions 

sparked a debate caused an argument 

conservative traditional or plan 

coquettishly in a flirty way 

common sense good judgement 

sexual harassment unwelcome comments about the body 

provocatively in a manner which attracts attention 

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