1. How Organizational Context, Society, and Culture Contribute:

Trethewey’s research, particularly focused on the book “Beyond the Naked Public Sphere,” argues that disciplining women’s bodily display occurs through a complex interplay of factors:

• Organizational Context:Workplaces set explicit and implicit rules surrounding acceptable attire, often favoring a professional yet feminine ideal. These rules vary across industries and professions, but often emphasize slenderness, modesty, and conformity to traditional gender norms. This creates pressure on women to conform to specific physical presentations, impacting their choices and potentially hindering their advancement.
• Society:Broader societal expectations around beauty standards and femininity significantly influence organizational norms. Media portrayal, cultural stereotypes, and social hierarchies shape perceptions of appropriate dress for women, creating a constant pressure to achieve an often unattainable ideal.
• Culture:Each culture carries its own values and expectations about women’s bodies and their display in public spaces. These cultural norms can intersect with organizational policies and societal pressures, further restricting women’s freedom to express themselves through their bodies.

2. Expectations for Women:

Trethewey’s research highlights several expectations placed on women regarding their bodily display:

• Conformity to a specific aesthetic:This often involves maintaining a particular body size (often slender), dressing in ways deemed conventionally feminine, and adhering to specific notions of professionalism that may prioritize modesty over personal expression.
• Regulation of emotional expression:Women may be expected to maintain a composed and professional demeanor, potentially suppressing genuine emotions that might be deemed “unprofessional” or “hysterical.”
• Objectification and sexualization:In some organizational contexts, women’s bodies become objects of scrutiny and potential harassment, creating a culture of fear and self-consciousness around self-presentation.
• Silencing of bodily experiences:Issues like menstruation, pregnancy, or physical limitations may be considered taboo topics to discuss in the workplace, further erasing women’s bodily experiences from professional spaces.

It’s important to note that Trethewey’s research acknowledges and critiques these expectations, calling for a more inclusive and liberating approach to women’s bodily display in organizations. Recognizing the complex interplay of organizational, societal, and cultural factors is crucial to dismantle these expectations and pave the way for diverse and authentic self-expression for all genders.