Why is motherhood still the first thing journalists think of?

My initial reaction on seeing this SIO was the body language of a hunched up woman sitting uncomfortably in an ill fitting dress. FGS, buy a dress that fits!
This outfit takes away from her professional status to my mind regardless of what year it is.

I did initially look twice at her, but I moved on from that once she started to speak. I think it was the bare arms look at a serious press conference that took me by surprise.
In my job I always wore a suit or dress and jacket if I were meeting a member of the public for the first time and especially if the newspapers visited. I guess it was the reputation of the place I was trying to uphold.
I was more taken aback by her silly defensive quip to a reporter, saying she couldn't interview the dog. We all know that, but too jokey a comment to make, neither the time nor place.

Germanshepherdsmum

Practice manager - not a client facing role * HPQ*.
As Iam says, the SIO’s position in the televised press conference was as high profile as it gets. Dressing as if going out on the town was disrespectful and did nothing to inspire confidence in a police force which was facing much criticism. She was imparting important information on the progress of a serious case. She did not look the part and whether we like it or not, looking the part is vital in a professional role.

please get off my back GSM, your unwarranted snobbery is rather pathetic really.

I’m not being ‘snobby’ or having the DM instruct me on work wear. In my role jeans snd a t shirt were right some days more formal the next. It was t all about me it was about service users

No Iam’ it’s me who is apparently snobby because I distinguish between correct dress for those in a professional office who come into contact with clients/the public and those who don’t. Riverwalk noted that her solicitor had put a jacket on before seeing her, despite the office being warm, and rightly saw it as a mark of respect and professionalism; good on her.

If your work involves direct contact with patients, clients, service users, imo it’s part of the job description to dress appropriately for the occasion.
I always had a decent jacket so if I was in jeans and T-shirt for eg play therapy but was called to court or an unexpected formal meeting I could brush up reasonably.
Some of my work involved people in great distress and from a huge variety of cultures as well as variety of people. . The least I could do was dress in a way that didn’t immediately draw attention to me.

It may be there’s still a debate to be had about clothes conventions at work.

Snobbery? No just a desire to set everyone else right as per Daily Mail POV.

I’m in no way under the influence of the DM

I wouldn’t know Iam64. I don’t read the DM but evidently many agreed with what was said in the DM about how women should dress. I found support of the DM on GN surprising. It’s usually criticised.

I don’t read the DM either. I haven’t been supporting the DM. My thoughts are my own.

Same here, mollygo please don’t make that kind of assumption. I loathe the DM. I believe our country would be a healthier place if it disappeared

The DM was brought into this discussion (not by me), because evidently its criticism fitted with the opinions of various posters. Perhaps ‘support’ was the wrong word.
I don’t think it matters if your own personal views on this matter match those expressed by the DM or not. I was just surprised at the concurrence of views.

I thought the manner of the SIO’s attire was perfectly fine. We were discussing this in our local last Friday, one of the group, a female solicitor and a gynaecologist are pleased the dress ‘rules’ are being relaxed for professionals. It’s helping to attract younger people into the professions, some of whom were dismayed at what they could see as ‘old fashioned’. In courts now wigs are being removed.
A lot has changed in the last five years or so, maybe since some Gransnetters have retired.

My son and daughter in law are partners in City law firms, as I was, so I’m far from out of touch. If anyone is deterred from a career in the law by something as superficial as dress codes I would suggest the law is not for them.

Yes we get it GSM, you sound a little insecure about you see as professional status and the relevance of your opinion compared to those of us who are not retired solicitors. Now please drop it.

Not in the least insecure. Far from it. Very happy with my achievements. What a strange observation. My remark related to JaxJacky’s post. It wasn’t addressed to you. Why are you so touchy? It seems to me that what I have said about my own profession makes you feel insecure. That has never been my intention.

This is a policewoman doing a difficult and emotionally draining job. She doesn't sit in an office wearing a jacket as she speaks to paying clients.I find the criticism of her clothing very inappropriate and instigated by the DM.
I don't forget that police officers put their lives on the line every day and some sadly are killed.
I find the criticism petty in the extreme.

The DM may have commented on the inappropriate dress, but some of us made up our own minds on the matter without being told by the DM what we should think.

The DM started this criticism and others followed.

AGAA4

The DM started this criticism and others followed.

Yes and their personal opinions agreed with the DM.
Everyone likes to have their views endorsed, even the DM and its readers.

getting back to the OP

not just mothers you see.

The father-of-five from York said British doctors had told him he ect ect

MerylStreep

Houseplantqueen
I have to agree that her outfit was unprofessional. She was there
as a senior police officer. Why was she not in uniform.

Officers who are detectives are not uniformed. We used to refer to them as plain clothes officers. The officer in question was, I believe, a Detective Superintendent and hence not in uniform.