The Professional Muslimah: Dressed for Success?

Listening to the weather forecast on my way to work, I pondered on the challenges the professional Muslimah faces when dressing appropriately for work. Whether it is finding modest clothing that suit her workplace, or finding an outfit that complies with safety requirements for risky jobs, we are often haunted by making the right dress choices that will enable us to get the job done while climbing the corporate ladder.

Thus it is not uncommon to find sisters in black-stripe suits and a matching scarf, or in long-sleeves tunics and slacks. After all, dressing modestly is part of corporate America's dress code. The challenge arises as the temperature rises, when some women trade their professional clothing for revealing, inappropriate outfits. No sooner does the sun shine and temperatures hit the 80's, than some career women switch their pants for mini-skirts, their button-down blouses for v-neck shirts, and their casual shoes for sandals. Business attire double standards are further reinforced when men continue to uphold the dress code while their female counterparts disregard the often unwritten policies on appropriate workplace fashion.

Women for Hire, a leading provider of career advancement services for professional women nationwide, has excellent advice on how women can dress professionally and stay cool. Their site offers classical tips on the Dos and Don'ts of proper business attire. "Avoid ultra-short skirts, low-cut necklines, super-high heels, too-tight clothes, and anything bordering on too sexy". This is common sense to some, and dogma to others, who rather show up to work as if vacationing at Disney World or auditioning for The Bachelor.

Add to the mix the recurring publicity and lawsuit filing by Muslim women who are discrimated against at the workplace, and strict sexual harrassment laws, and you've got yourself an everlasting recipe for frenemies. Thus, when your supervisor bends down to pick up that pen and you are disgusted by her red thong showing, or when your colleague's cleavage is all over her keyboard and sometimes yours, Muslim women are torn between keeping silent or reporting it to HR, for fear of being accused of "jealousy".

Moreover, wearing hijab in the workplace comes with the perception by peers and superiors that our professionalim is skewed by our docility. Not only are we less likely to come across as strong leaders and managers but also less likely to appear dead-set on that promotion we've been striving towards. The lack of sensitivity training to address cultural differences further robs professional Muslim women from their entitled assertiveness, gained through hard work and an impecable work ethic.

In reality, most companies deliverate between establishing a strict dress code or having an unspoken expectation on what is acceptable workplace attire and what isn't. It is only when dress code can affect the business that upper management takes the necessary action to prevent a sexual harasment lawsuit or a dreaded customer's comment on the attire of the firm's employees.

To be continued...