From High Heels to Hijabs: Legal Controversies over Women’s Dress Codes in the Workplace
Abstract
Workplace dress codes are still a big problem for many women. These rules can tell women to wear high heels, skirts, makeup, or other clothing that can be uncomfortable or even dangerous. At the same time, some workplaces limit religious dress like hijabs or headscarves. This paper studies how these rules affect women’s health, rights, and jobs. It looks at laws and cases from the United States, the United Kingdom, and the European Union, and also at international human rights standards. The paper also uses real stories like the Nicola Thorp high heels case and the Achbita hijab case to show the human impact behind these policies. The study finds that many dress codes are not neutral. They often reflect old ideas about gender or religion and hurt women more than men. However, there are also new laws and company rules that try to be fairer, safer, and more equal. This paper explains why these changes matter and how future policies can protect workers better.
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