I donned a pantsuit for my interview when a panel of high-powered law partners expressed their relief that I lacked a wedding ring, assuring me I wouldn’t waste their time by becoming a mother.
I wore a pantsuit when an elderly judge waxed poetic about the tremendous success of his former male clerks while referring to his one female clerk as “adorable, just like me.”
I put on a pantsuit for the Virginia bar exam—even though the dress code explicitly stated skirts were required.
I wore a pantsuit in court when a client insisted on firing me, claiming my emotional nature as a woman made me unfit to defend him against charges related to attempting to honor kill his wife.
I suited up in a pantsuit every day at my federal government job, earning 20% less than my less experienced male colleagues.
I showed up in a pantsuit when a high-ranking official from the Bush administration suggested I could have simply married well to avoid being in the room.
I wore a pantsuit when my boss boasted that he never faced childcare challenges because his wife had the “good sense” to stay home with their kids.
I slipped into a pantsuit every time someone mistook me for the court reporter, the secretary, or even a social worker.
I wore a pantsuit whenever I was asked to fetch coffee during depositions or settlement conferences, because, of course, that’s what women do, right?
And now, I’m heading to the library with my husband and two daughters to vote for a woman who has endured all of this and more, all while rocking her own pantsuit. We will cast our vote for her with joy and pride.
Whether I’m in a pantsuit or not, we are #PantsuitCollective and #WithHer.
For more on navigating the world of home insemination, check out this insightful post on intracervicalinsemination.com. If you’re interested in at-home options, Make a Mom is a fantastic authority to consider. Plus, for those looking to learn more, NHS provides excellent resources regarding pregnancy and home insemination.
In summary, my journey in a pantsuit has been marked by challenges that reflect the broader struggles women face in the professional world. Each experience, whether a small indignity or a significant hurdle, has shaped my resolve and commitment to support those who continue to break barriers.