Pants

[Anonymous]

IT_Veteran wrote:

I’ll never forget being chastised by a counselor in the SP for showing up to a recommend interview without a white shirt. Thing is, I’d come straight from work and was wearing a dress shirt, slacks, and tie. I just didn’t have time to go home and change into a white shirt.

Story time. I showed up to a TR interview with the SP and I was dressed in normal clothes. Completely normal, nothing church about them. There’s a small group waiting their turn and someone in the group turned to me and asked, “What are you doing here?” in a pretty aggressive tone. Everyone else was dressed like they were going to pass the sacrament and I was in my slob clothes (that’s how I normally dress). I answered that I was getting my TR renewed and left it at that, then I sat there in thought. Man… this guy is out of line, that’s not right, what gives, maybe I’m not showing the proper respect, dang, etc.

5 minutes later someone else walks in, again in church clothes so I’m still the only guy there dressed like a human being. The same guy that got aggressive with me turns to the new guy, “What are you doing here?” Over the next 30 minutes while waiting my turn for the interview it becomes clear to me that the guy that I thought was getting onto my case had Alzheimer’s and was generally confused about his surroundings and what was going on around him.

That’s the story about how I thought someone was getting onto my case about not wearing the right clothes at church. I’ve got other stories where it was someone overtly getting onto me for how I dressed at church but at this point I think those proud, few people know that half the reason I dress the way I do is to get under their skin and they now leave me alone. :angel:

[Anonymous]

Haha, I have had some moments where its been made clear to me that I’ve perceived others actions in the wrong way – I appreciate the reminder.

I’ve definitely had some comments about facial hair (which I currently wear) and the short mohawk I wore for about six months.

[Anonymous]

Fwiw, I wore dress slacks and a polo shirt to Stake Council meetings for a long time, since I went straight from work to arrive on time. Nobody said a word to me about it.

I went to the temple somewhat recently to help with baptisms. They were one person short, so one of the temple presidency members called me to see if I could help. I went from where I was to the temple – in jeans and a t-shirt. My friend at the recommend desk smiled and said, “Nice outfit.” I grinned and said, “I’m here.”

I went to the temple once while traveling with my job. I hadn’t expected to be able to do so. I was dressed in khakis and a polo shirt. Nobody said a word to me.

My wife and I were out of town two weeks ago and went to church there (in our Stake). I was wearing khakis, a white shirt, and a tie. Frankly, I didn’t want to pack a suit for one night away from home. We went to Sacrament Meeting. We left immediately to support our daughter’s friend in a play at the local Catholic high school.

I get it from my dad. He did his HT one month in the town bar, since that is where the other brother was.

I also get it from my own determination to respect general customs but not internalize them to the point they morph into eternal creeds. I understand why some people are Pharisees. Often, there actually is a good, personal justification; often, not. I just refuse to be a Pharisee – and it is easy to do that from outside “the orthodoxy,” as well. I know plenty of unorthodox, “enlightened” Pharisees.

We can lose sight of that last fact far too easily.

[Anonymous]

I realize our ward is small and in a more rural remote area outside utah, but we have seen often women wearing pants to church. I’ve also in previous posts mentioned my son passed the sacrament in a black shirt and red bow tie. Another time I also was asked to give a blessing to a ministering family of mine, and I ran home from work, changed into a white shirt and tie because I anticipated this older traditional and temple going couple would appreciate it…only to be told they didn’t expect me to go to that effort and it wasn’t needed (for future reference). We’ve also had more people use first names to each other and less deliberate use of titles like Bishop or President.

I guess..I just get the feeling people in my area realize the emphasis on accepting others more than the external clothing pressure. Of course, we have so many inactives (more than actives) in our ward and stake…it is just appreciated to have people show up.

I just think there is more tolerance to relax on some of these things in the church, and less formalities. But there are also still those other people who love to stress the formalities and importance of respect … it goes back and forth. Just feels like more leaning towards relaxing on stuffy rules in efforts to be kinder and more loving.

Pants for sister missionaries is very practical. And still nice looking (more so, IMO).

[Anonymous]

I would caution against any suggestion that wearing a dress is equivalent to white shirts for men.

Does requiring women to wear dresses have anything to do with gender essentialism and gender roles?

How much of wearing a dress is about a woman’s worship of diety and how much of it is about her relationship and status compared to men?

[Anonymous]

Roy wrote:

I would caution against any suggestion that wearing a dress is equivalent to white shirts for men.

Does requiring women to wear dresses have anything to do with gender essentialism and gender roles?

Of course it has something to do with gender roles, etc, but same with guys and white shirts and ties. Both genders are being forced, in certain instances, to wear something they’d rather not to conform to societal expectations. It’s not anything about comparing societal status, or sexist discrimination, just elevating a cultural standard (a very old cultural standard) to a religious practice. It’s religion mirroring culture, and assigning a supernatural explaination to the mundane. What else is new?

Roy wrote:

How much of wearing a dress is about a woman’s worship of diety and how much of it is about her relationship and status compared to men?

Depends on the individual. Do most women who wear a dress do it to demean themselves, or because they feel it’s respectful towards God? Or do they do it, just because it’s what’s expected of them and want to fit in? But I don’t think any woman has ever worn a dress to debase herself because of her gender. It’s arbitrary.

[Anonymous]

Quote:

He pulled out the “representative of Jesus Christ” card and reminded me that a white shirt and tie are required for meeting with said representatives.

I should have mentioned it – this was less than five years ago.

I might have gently asked if he could point out in the handbook where it exists. When he wouldn’t, or couldn’t, I’d have looked it up and then, at another time, said something that alludes to my point (that he’s out of line), by saying “here is the closest guidance regarding interview dress code”….and then cited something as far away from it as Tim Buk Tu.

[Author]

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