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Male train drivers don skirts after shorts ban (Sweden)
The Local ^

Posted on 06/09/2013 10:19:09 AM PDT by marthemaria

It gets warm working on the railways around Stockholm in the summer and in recent weeks male employees have been revolting against a ban on shorts by coming to work clad in skirts. "Of course people stare at you a little when you are on the platform, but you just have to put up with it," train driver Martin Åkersten told the local Mitti newspaper.

Åkersten is one of a group of 13 male employees who have been wearing skirts in order to keep cool while working the Roslagsbanan commuter train services.

"It can be over 35 degrees Celsius in the train cab on hot summer days," he said.

Åkersten's employers Arriva have meanwhile responded positively to the move and have given their approval to the men in skirts.

to say anything else would be discrimination," communications head Thomas Hedenius told the newspaper.

The company's uniform regulations state skirt or long trousers and the male drivers would prefer to be able to wear shorts.

At a staff meeting in the autumn the Arriva hierarchy however reiterated the uniform regulations and told the drivers that shorts were not acceptable.

Hedenius explained that the idea behind the regulations is that staff should look neat and tidy, claiming that shorts appeared "more relaxed" than a skirt.

The firm has recently taken over the running of the Roslagsbanan service and Hedenius said that there is a further meeting arranged for September where the issue of uniforms will be back on the agenda.


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KEYWORDS: sweden
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1 posted on 06/09/2013 10:19:09 AM PDT by marthemaria
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To: marthemaria

We need some of that attitude in the USA.


2 posted on 06/09/2013 10:25:20 AM PDT by Fzob (In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock. Jefferson)
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To: marthemaria

Kilts all around


3 posted on 06/09/2013 10:29:08 AM PDT by Nifster
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To: marthemaria

The descendants of the Vikings!


4 posted on 06/09/2013 10:31:24 AM PDT by Signalman
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To: marthemaria
Haven't seen pics but they probably aren't skirts. Most likely they are kilts and made by http://www.blaklader.com/us/products/

On my tablet so link is to the generic Blaklader USA website. I wear kilts from Amerikilt in Philly, Stillwater kilts, Celtic Croft and Utilikilts. The latter offers a workman's kilt with modesty snaps for those times when you are on a ladder or working in a vulnerable view position.

5 posted on 06/09/2013 10:35:07 AM PDT by prisoner6 (Right Wing Nuts help hold the Constitution together as the loose screws of the Left fall out!)
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To: marthemaria

Better be careful, their new immigrant controllers may demand they wear Burkas as the the short skirts may be too sexually explicit!!


6 posted on 06/09/2013 10:36:28 AM PDT by Mastador1 (I'll take a bad dog over a good politician any day!)
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To: marthemaria; Revolting cat!; Slings and Arrows

The coroner says it was the ban on shorts that kilted him.


7 posted on 06/09/2013 10:39:23 AM PDT by a fool in paradise (America 2013 - STUCK ON STUPID)
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To: prisoner6
Actually they are skirts that are normally for women. Shorts were apparently not allowed as part of the uniform. But there are no rules about men wearing the skirts.In Sweden it would be discriminating to make special uniforms for men or women.

They probably will get shorts next summer though as part of their uniform.

8 posted on 06/09/2013 10:41:20 AM PDT by marthemaria
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To: marthemaria
Åkersten's employers Arriva have meanwhile responded positively to the move and have given their approval to the men in skirts.

to say anything else would be discrimination," communications head Thomas Hedenius told the newspaper.

Good heavens. management approves.

9 posted on 06/09/2013 10:43:57 AM PDT by JohnBrowdie (http://forum.stink-eye.net)
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To: marthemaria

Guys get real, your legs are not attractive and shorts are not business-like. Wear lightweight long pants please


10 posted on 06/09/2013 10:47:04 AM PDT by yldstrk (My heroes have always been cowboys)
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To: marthemaria

11 posted on 06/09/2013 10:47:57 AM PDT by deport
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To: a fool in paradise

*sigh* Sitzpinklers.


12 posted on 06/09/2013 10:59:43 AM PDT by Slings and Arrows (You can't have IngSoc without an Emmanuel Goldstein)
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To: deport

this group of 13 male employees probably wear dresses and skirts on their off hours


13 posted on 06/09/2013 11:15:10 AM PDT by molson209
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To: marthemaria

http://www.utilikilts.com/


14 posted on 06/09/2013 11:17:15 AM PDT by ctdonath2 (Making good people helpless doesn't make bad people harmless.)
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To: marthemaria

In a plaid kilt, with sporran, dirk, skein dubh, and of course, regimental —


15 posted on 06/09/2013 11:19:11 AM PDT by imardmd1
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To: marthemaria

It’s called “air conditioning” and in hot weather extremes the male anatomy has more need of it, more to keep cool between the thighs, than the female.

Summer is no time for the “tighty whities”.

Heat + the human anatomy spell NO to tight fitting clothes.


16 posted on 06/09/2013 11:23:56 AM PDT by Wuli
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To: marthemaria

Smart! I love it! Can’t discriminate against their transvestite orientation!!


17 posted on 06/09/2013 11:25:16 AM PDT by Yaelle
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To: deport

Hmmmmm, gosh, I don’t know; black socks or white socks? Tie or no tie? LOL.


18 posted on 06/09/2013 12:19:44 PM PDT by Carriage Hill (Guns kill people, pencils misspell words, cars drive drunk & spoons make you fat.)
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To: marthemaria; JoeProBono

they should try kilts


19 posted on 06/09/2013 1:18:17 PM PDT by Morgana (Always a bit of truth in dark humor.)
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To: marthemaria
As a man, it's always annoyed me that I am expected to show up for work in a wool suit on a 90 degree day (tie, jacket and all) while my female counterparts get to dress comfortably. Hell, most professional women don't even wear pantyhose anymore, they just slip into a pair of shoes in their bare feet and wear a lightweight skirt and blouse when the weather is warm.

And who says that skirts are "women's clothing" anyhow? Why are women allowed to adopt men's clothing and not the other way around? If men can't wear skirts, then women should not be allowed to wear pants either. Let them go back to dresses.

Men's skirts - or whatever you want to call them - need not be sissy or feminine, with floral patterns and such. Just design masculine skirts for men and they will wear them. What would a "masculine" skirt look like? I have no idea. Let those who design men's suits devise one. There hasn't been a new idea in men's suits for 100 years now - so it's high time they started earning their money. Maybe the Scottish kilt is a starting point. Most of those kilt-wearing Scots would beat you senseless if you ever tried calling them a sissy.

20 posted on 06/09/2013 1:48:56 PM PDT by SamAdams76
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