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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