Viva la resistance . . . to pants!!!

During a recent water cooler conversation with a colleague, the following story was relayed.

Our vice president (Sean) was walking one of our hallways lined with offices when he started a casual conversation with someone coming the opposite way. During this conversation, Sean leaned on what appeared to be a closed office door. To his ultimate dismay and horror, it was not and swung wide open when leaned upon.

Inside was a new mother sitting casually at her desk with her blouse unbuttoned and a mechanical breast pump attached and pumping away. He quickly apologized, closed the door and went straight to her supervisor, the colleague telling the story.





This woman still works there today, and I will often snicker when walking by that office. This leads me to my point. If she was able to keep her job after this incident, why on earth should I be subjected to wearing pants?

At what point in our so called civilized society did wearing pants become the norm? Somehow pants became such a staple of our existence, that phrases associated with power were coined around pants. For example, "who wears the pants in your marriage?" Who cares if you’re wearing pants, everyone is. Now to show real power, the phrase should go, "who is wearing NO pants when the in-laws are over?" Oh, how the authority just oozes from that statement.

I for one, feel that pants are hindering our productivity both in the workplace and the social arena. Some of my most brilliant moments have occurred whilst free of pants. Some naysayers may inject, "why don't you wear shorts, they aren't as binding as pants?" Let’s be honest here, shorts are simply a stop on the train to "No Pantsville".

So, say so long to the slacks. Kick off the khakis. And leave the Levis at home. I'm making casual Friday truly casual, and sticking it to the man at the same time, the pants man that is.