Why This Brave Activist Wears Skirts and Heels to Work

[Olivia P]

By Jacob Tobia 1 July

I looked myself up and down in the full-length mirror. Blouse tucked in? Check. Pearl earrings on? Check. Lipstick flawless? Check. After a few minutes of primping, posing and deep breathing, I was off to my first day of work.

When I start a new job, I struggle with many typical fears and hesitations. Will my coworkers like me? Will I fit in with the office culture? Am I formatting this report the right way? But one question loomed above all others as I started my job this June: What should I wear to work?

In many ways, it's a concern everyone faces. On the first day, everyone wants to get their outfit just right. But for transgender and gender non-conforming people like me, the question of what to wear to work becomes an exhausting question of identity and survival. For us, the question changes from "How do I present my best self at work?" to "Can I authentically present my best self at work?"

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