Yahoo Finance After United Airlines incident, women share stories of being shamed for their clothing
In response to United Airline's legging-gate, women are speaking out.
Two young girls wearing leggings were banned from a flight on Sunday morning due to a violation of the airline's internal dress code. The situation, which was live-tweeted by activist Shannon Watts, sparked outrage from thousands on social media who called out the company for policing the girls' attire.
Author Dana Schwartz was one of those that spoke out against United Airlines, and asked women on Twitter to share their stories of feeling "embarrassed" or "sexualized" for the first time because of what they wore.
SEE ALSO: United Airlines bans 2 girls with leggings from flight because they weren't 'properly clothed'
Ladies, when was the first time you were made to feel embarrassed and sexualized for what you wore? I was in 5th grade, shorts too short.
— Dana Schwartz (@DanaSchwartzzz) March 26, 2017
"It was the 2nd to last day of school. HOT out. I was a beanpole, everything was short on me. They made me call my mom to bring pants," she recalled.
"AND THEN when you DO grow up you reach the fun point when you're embarrassed to go out with your dad in public bc people think you're dating," Schwartz explained.
These tweets sparked countless stories from women sharing similar experiences.
@DanaSchwartzzz "We must! We must! We must increase our bust! The bigger the better, the tighter the sweater, the boys depend on us!" (2)
— RealMarjo (@RealMarjo) March 26, 2017
@DanaSchwartzzz early example, though not the first: when my male boss told me (14) that I'd be really hot when I was 16
— Rani Molla (@ranimolla) March 26, 2017
@DanaSchwartzzz 4th or 5th grade. Gray leggings were inappropriate. Nothing else was clean, but I didn't tell them that
— Erin El Issa (@Erin_El_Issa) March 26, 2017
@DanaSchwartzzz 5th grade: dance pants were too tight for school. 8th grade: friend & I wore matching tube socks & skirts. Forced to change.
— Jordon Cloud Rahmil (@jordoncloud) March 26, 2017
In my HS girls had to wear oversized t-shirts that said "I violated the dress code" if tank tops/leggings/etc. were deemed "inappropriate" https://t.co/DC7KB4pnQ4
— Laura Wagner (@Laura_M_Wagner) March 26, 2017
@DanaSchwartzzz 3rd grade. My arms are really long, and the hem of my shorts wasn't far enough down.
— dan stevens real fan (@whas2001) March 26, 2017
@DanaSchwartzzz at 14, was told small town moms were gossiping about me because I showed 1" of my midriff. hadn't even kissed a boy ever.
— Alyssa Galella (@woodlandalyssa) March 26, 2017
@DanaSchwartzzz I almost didn't get to partipate in my 8th grade graduation because my dress had straps that showed 2 much shoulder. 1981. pic.twitter.com/QXHnPNRZcV
— Cami MacNamara (@webcami) March 26, 2017
@DanaSchwartzzz I once heard a church mom ask my little sisters if they were going to "dress modest this summer, or like your sister Emily"
— Emily Joy (@emilyjoypoetry) March 26, 2017
@DanaSchwartzzz Age 10, end-of-year dance recital, they measured us at the beginning of the year & refused to let us wear bras for dance
— TofuForBrains (@TofuForBrains) March 26, 2017
@DanaSchwartzzz First day of high school sent home for wearing dress with thin straps that revealed I had no bra straps. Didn't need a bra!
— MosaicMoods ☮️ (@DianaMaus) March 26, 2017
Carina MacKenzie summed up the majority of stories on the thread pretty succinctly:
@DanaSchwartzzz I honestly don't ever remember NOT feeling that way.
— Carina MacKenzie (@cadlymack) March 26, 2017
