Because they serve the public, museum employees' dress should enable
mobility, too. In the event of a disaster or emergency, the ability to move
quickly and freely could save lives and collections. Suit jackets, slim
skirts, and high-heeled shoes--typically included in corporate
office/professional wardrobes--can all restrict movement. 

Costumed staff can be severely limited by their trappings, too. I remember
the difficulty of trying to respond to an emergency while wearing
low-heeled boots and a floor-length skirt and crinoline. The same costume,
in the event of a fire, would have rendered me nearly useless

Rebecca Trussell.  


> [Original Message]
> From: Tim Bonow <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Date: 11/29/2005 12:50:27 PM
> Subject: Re: intern dress question
>
> While it may be a sad fact that museum attendance is not typically in
direct correlation with community demographics, it is a stretch to suggest
that dress codes (implicit or as a matter of policy) are at fault.  That is
like saying that the army's uniform is responsible for the United States'
involvement in Iraq.
>
> Interns are students, learning how to behave in the museum world. 
Dressing appropriately is necessary for acceptance in the real world (as
opposed to the world of stereotypical conformist "murkins [sic]").  Don't
believe it? Go ahead and show up to your next job interview in a dirty
Slayer t-shirt.
>
> tcb
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of L Dewey
> Sent: Tuesday, November 29, 2005 9:59 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: [MUSEUM-L] intern dress question
>
> ahhh, but you've put you're finger on a key problem with museums in the 
> U.S.
>
> Isn't it the case that many museums and cultural organizations function 
> as 'country clubs', not to promote inclusion or cultural diversity? 
> This whole discussion about 'dress code' is about a 'code' that belongs 
> to the upper middle class. (As well as a matter of 'conformity', which 
> is another contemporary 'murkin' cultural trait.)
>
> According to the data collected by the NEA and by the US Census bureau, 
> U.S. museums mainly attract an upper middle class audience, which is 
> very unfortunate, but hardly a coincidence.
>
> - L.D.
>
>
> On Nov 29, 2005, at 9:41 AM, REYNOLDS, Trevor wrote:
>
> > The argument about upbringing implies a very non-inclusive attitude 
> > towards the backgrounds of those who want to work in our institutions. 
> >  There is no reason why your intern should not be the first person in 
> > their family to work in any form of professional environment.  If an 
> > institution believes that all its interns should come from families 
> > with a professional background then it will be perpetuating 
> > "institutional discrimination".
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