A new dress code requirement in the Missouri House requires female legislators to wear a jacket such as a cardigan or blazer.
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00:00You know what it feels like to have a bunch of men in this room looking at your top,
00:04trying to decide whether it's appropriate or not?
00:06I spent $1,200 on a suit and I can't wear it in the people's house because someone
00:12who doesn't have the range tells me that it's inappropriate.
00:17That's not why any of us were elected, Mr. Speaker, none of us.
00:20The Missouri House of Representatives has a strict new dress code requirement for women,
00:24which requires them to wear blazers, jackets, or cardigans to cover their shoulders.
00:29The requirement is a part of the State House's latest rules package,
00:33which was passed by a vote of 105 to 51.
00:36The State House is currently a Republican majority made up of 116 men and 43 women.
00:42Lawmakers expressed outrage against the new rules on social media,
00:46saying it was sexist and misogynistic.
00:53Amid the backlash, State Representative Ann Kelly, who introduced the new rules, said this,
00:58You would think that all you would have to do is say dress professionally and women could handle it.
01:08Proponents of the dress code change say the
01:10new requirement will mirror the dress code already in place for men.