seed Posted February 13, 2006 Share Posted February 13, 2006 I am a woman. I don't have a body like a man. I don't want to look or dress like a man. I don't want to wear man pants with weird elastic on the waisband, and pockets galore. It's not the color, it's the lack of style and cut, for a woman. I wear it to every meeting and function but I can't take it anymore. Is there any hope for my cause, or do I need to just change it on my own? What can they do , fire me? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greying Beaver Posted February 13, 2006 Share Posted February 13, 2006 Hi, Seed. No, you can't be fired. National Supply has coulotts for women leaders. If your local scout shop does not carry them, ask them; they can be ordered for you. Takes about a week, maybe less. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fgoodwin Posted February 13, 2006 Share Posted February 13, 2006 At http://www.scoutstuff.org, I see ladies pants, shorts, culottes, and skirts, for uniform wear. Now, I'm no expert on women's clothing, but I wonder why have separate listings for ladies slacks, if they aren't cut any differently then men's slacks? Just from the thumbnail photo, its hard to tell what the differences are. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seed Posted February 13, 2006 Author Share Posted February 13, 2006 National is in the dark ages. I don't know when culottes were in style, but it must have been in the dark ages. They are not something a younger woman wants to be seen in. ((shudder)) Don't think I am the only gal who feels this way... Don't get me started on the shirt that is cut straight up and down and our bodies are not! It reminds me of a box. In order for it to button properly, you have to buy a size that is waaay to large and then the shoulders are halfway to my elbows. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lisabob Posted February 13, 2006 Share Posted February 13, 2006 I'm with you seed - I thought I was the only one with that particular shirt problem! And don't anybody seriously suggest we women should buy the skirts (to go w/ the yellow cub leader shirts) either. Honestly, how much rugged outdoor activity can one really do in coulotts and skirts. That said: the women's supply items might be especially bad but evidence abounds that most of the guys aren't too thrilled with "their" uniforms either. Sounds like we're all in the same boat. Lisa'bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kaji Posted February 13, 2006 Share Posted February 13, 2006 http://www.mninter.net/~blkeagle/smallbig.htm 2nd to the last paragraph is what you'll find of interest, I think. Basically, assuming that the information is still accurate, you can give the supply shop your measurements and they'll have your uniform tailored to fit. No more having to buy a shirt that fits the shoulders but not the bust, or vice versa. Pants can be tailored likewise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seed Posted February 13, 2006 Author Share Posted February 13, 2006 "Basically, assuming that the information is still accurate, you can give the supply shop your measurements and they'll have your uniform tailored to fit." Thanks for the link, but that's REALLY not the problem. After it's all said and done, the uniform is made for a man. Ok, they have woman's clothing too. But there axactly the same. I have had to wear uniforms in the workplace also, even neckties. A woman's blouse does not need to have two big pockets in the front, with this yahoo coller that you can't do anything with. It's just ugly and mannish. It's no wonder that all the women, (and some men) wear turtlenecks underneath. Think I'm on a roll now... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seed Posted February 13, 2006 Author Share Posted February 13, 2006 "Sounds like we're all in the same boat. Lisa'bob" Thanks Lisa'bob! We are not encouraged to wear the yellow in our district. I see very little of it around here. Oh...but they do have a ton of it hanging at the Scout Shop! Can't figure that out either. When I get dressed to go somewhere, even if it's shopping, I want to feel good and look my best. I can't do that wearing this uniform. I do not want to be dressed like a guy. Heck, it doesn't even look that good on them either. I'm still looking for the "right" earings to go with this outfit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vmpost Posted February 13, 2006 Share Posted February 13, 2006 Yes, the uniforms are ugly and unflattering. And how they sell ANY (how do you spell that word) coulottes is beyond me. And I agree, Yeah, right, let's all rush out and get a skirt to wear with the Big Bird Yellow shirt/ blouse so we can be REAL outdoorswomen! But not ALL women wear turtlenecks underneath. I don't. It isn't part of the uniform. When I'm with my home pack, I might wear olive WOMEN'S pants which I have purchased, but I don't wear a turtleneck. Sorry to ruin that idea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seed Posted February 13, 2006 Author Share Posted February 13, 2006 The majority of women, and some men wear turtlenecks under the uniform in the winter. I don't see it as much at important affairs though. I have seen our District Exec wear them at meetings many times. We have quite a few women leaders in different positions. United we can make a change! I say we take action! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrianvs Posted February 13, 2006 Share Posted February 13, 2006 Seed, I am sincerely curious as to what you believe the purpose of the uniform to be. That it does not fit your body type is a legitimate concern, but you indicated that having a custom tailored uniform would not solve the real problem. Instead the problem is that the uniform has "weird elastic on the waisband [sic], and pockets galore." The uniform is not "in style" or "something a younger woman wants to be seen in." It has unnecessary "big pockets in the front," and a "yahoo coller [sic]" that one "can't do anything with." The uniform is also "ugly and mannish." We must also not forget that you are unable to find the "'right' earings [sic] to go with this outfit." While I agree that there are some unnecessary or even odd elements to the uniform, I would submit that the purpose of the uniform is not to be something that a young woman (or young man, for that manner) feels is fashionable. I've long thought that a redesign of the female blouse would be welcomed. Could the female uniform be cut better, without large chest pockets and not tucked in, like some female miliary uniform shirts. Sure, that would be legitimate, but it still isn't fashionable by society's standards. It isn't supposed to be. It is supposed to look like a uniform. That entails humility, identity, and equality with everyone else in the uniform. I'm not indicating that this is the case for you, but if someone expects a scouting uniform to be an addition to their wardrobe to draw attention to their looks, whether in scouting or just "at the store," then there is a serious problem. What is your position within scouting? Do you feel that the uniform is hindering your fulfilling of that role? The only people whose perception of the uniform you should be concerned about are the scouts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheScout Posted February 13, 2006 Share Posted February 13, 2006 Amen, Adrianvs We should not worry about what earrings work "right" with our uniform. We should wonder about how we can help the boys. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vmpost Posted February 13, 2006 Share Posted February 13, 2006 Aww, come on. Seed says she wears the uniform to all events, and from what I've observed from her other posts, she IS putting her all into Scouting. She is active, involved, and interested. She says nothing about it hindering her role nor about it being more important to be fashionable than to be in uniform. She is simply stating, Aaaargh! The uniform is ugly, unfashionable, and fits very poorly. Would you spend $45 anywhere else for an outfit that is ugly and fits poorly? Probably not. That's all...don't read more into it. She is venting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lisabob Posted February 14, 2006 Share Posted February 14, 2006 Yup vmpost is right. C'mon guys, imagine if the uniform were designed in ways that fit most women's bodies but routinely provided an ill-made or downright embarrassing fit for you guys. You'd be hollering too. I don't wear a turtleneck under my shirt either seed...though I too have seen plenty of others do this. Personally I've noticed that wearing a turtleneck underneath tends to exacerbate the fit problem of the straight cut BSA-issue shirt. Of course, it does provide backup in case of button disasters though. Yes - tailoring is an option but designing a uniform that fits better to start with is a better one. Yes - the idea is to be uniformed (for a host of reasons suitable to another thread) and not to be fashion plates. But ya know guys when I'm forced to choose between a tent-sized shirt to fit my chest even though the rest of the shirt is much too big for me and worrying about busting a button and inadvertantly providing a show, YES IT DOES get to be a bit annoying. (and no, I'm not abnormally well endowed either) I'd even say that yes, it could get to a point where it could detract from attention to one's job. Yes - there are plenty of women - and I'm one of them - who wear the uniform correctly and with pride in what it represents, who do a great job in scouting, and who just would love for BSA to take a good look at how they could better serve their dedicated volunteers. It would be so simple. I won't even care if it is made of the same crummy material as the current uniform - I'd just love for it to made to fit. And seed...how 'bout a nice pair of woodbadge "critter" earrings? Lisa'bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seed Posted February 14, 2006 Author Share Posted February 14, 2006 Shame on me, haven't done Woodbadge. It might be the only thing I won't be doing, or won't be able to do. I am selling it to a few new leaders though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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