Ivan Gedz
Why don’t men ever get asked to show a little more skin?
That’s the question a downtown restaurant on Somerset Street is asking with an event on Wednesday when male servers will don dresses and heels to draw attention to what the eatery sees as discriminatory dress codes toward women working in the restaurant industry.
“We’re going to put on some miniskirts, we’re going to buy some heels,” said Union Local 613 co-owner Ivan Gedz. “We’re going to attempt to provide service in this uniform, hopefully to demonstrate its impracticality.”
The hipster eatery has already garnered much attention on its Facebook page after announcing the event, with many praising the gesture but some criticizing the restaurant’s “shamey language” regarding a women’s choice of attire, as one poster commented.
In an email to customers on Friday, the restaurant had said “plunging necklines, skimpy skirts and high heels shouldn’t be a part of any establishment’s dress code,” and that its male staff will be “running around in the same stupid outfits women are forced to wear” during the Wednesday event.
Gedz said he appreciates the counterpoints but does want to make one thing clear: people should get to choose how to dress, and the restaurant is not vilifying those who like to wear more revealing clothing.
“It’s misconstrued in that people are thinking what we’re saying is miniskirts are ****ty, sex-shaming if you will, and that’s not the case,” said Gedz.
What he does advocate is labour laws and societal standards that apply equally to the sexes. He sees an advantage to society as a whole when people do not need to change jobs just to wear clothes they’re comfortable in.
The restaurant is also looking to give back during the event. It will donate all proceeds from the evening, which takes place from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m., to St. Joe’s Women’s Centre, a local women’s shelter. “Wings and $8 cocktails. Dudes are welcome, too,” the restaurant said in an email.
Gedz said the event will be a blast.
“I fully anticipate that there will be some drinks spilled on customers. I can’t fathom walking around, carrying a tray (with heels). I think it’s going to be absurd.”
Union 613 to dress male servers in heels and skirts to highlight industry’s discriminatory dress code | Ottawa Citizen