We also ask that our interns (and staff) dress appropriately. However,
appropriate or "professional attire" differs from one community and
organization to another.
When I first relocated to Miami Beach from Washington, DC, I dressed in what
would be considered professional attire for DC. In less than a couple of
weeks, I realized that my attire was entirely too conservative for the
community.
I think it is all about the image your organization wants to project WITHIN
its community. Our community is fairly young, and most don't wear suits or
pantyhose. Many wear jeans with astronomically expensive high heels or
designer (not dirty) t-shirts. (I recall a Vogue cover from a year or two
ago which featured Nicole Kidman in a denim ensemble. There was nothing
casual or too-poor-to-go-to-the-store about it.) In our organization, an
overall well-groomed appearance is more important than the
suits/khakis/jeans question.
-----Original Message-----
From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf
Of Tim Bonow
Sent: Tuesday, November 29, 2005 12:50 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
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".
=========================================================
Important Subscriber Information:
The Museum-L FAQ file is located at
http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed
information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message
to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help"
(without the quotes).
If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to
[log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff
Museum-L" (without the quotes).
=========================================================
Important Subscriber Information:
The Museum-L FAQ file is located at
http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed
information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message
to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help"
(without the quotes).
If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to
[log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff
Museum-L" (without the quotes).
=========================================================
Important Subscriber Information:
The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes).
If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).
|
