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Q&A Cleavage Crisis!
I work in a really casual office and have a young co-worker who always shows a lot of cleavage. Everyone in the office talks about her behind her back and I feel bad. I would like to tell her to button-it-up a bit but I don't want to step over any lines. Should I just keep my mouth shut?
The fact is that there is a "cleavage crisis" in corporate America today! The generations are clashing about what's appropriate. Frankly, it's surprising that no one in management has said anything to her already- unless she is a waitress at Hooters. If you care about her and want to help, you could start the opener with, "If I see something that may hold you back in your career, would you like to know?" If she says "yes", then share with her, gently, that she may be getting a lot of attention for the wrong reasons. But the fact of the matter is-most women who do this know exactly the type of attention they are getting-they just don't realize how badly it can hurt their reputation. With that said, if you are in fashion, a lot of skin is appropriate, if you are in banking, think the opposite.
Copyright 2008 WE: Women's Entertainment LLC. All rights reserved.
As a person with great cleavage who has "been talked about..." -Maybe she doesn't care. Life is WAY to short to worry about what other people with less spectacular bodies think. They're typically either jealous or just really uptight.
I've been successful in business-my body and cleavage has never hurt my progress or cost me a promotion. I've even been involved in a lot of HR functions. Yes-I've been "talked about' and of course I know it. It's actually mildly amusing that despite the hustled pace of corporate America-they actually have the time to worry about what other people are wearing. You'd think they would have more work to do.
I guess it depends on how much cleavage she's showing and how she's showing it. I don't go to work in my 6 in heels and bustier tops, but a low cut blouse under a suit never hurt anyone. If it's classy-it's OK.