Student strips off during presentation after professor questions her clothing

Student strips off during presentation after professor questions her clothing

G’day blokes and blokettes. Chuck here. How ya going?

The fight to make the world a better place is alive and well in the youth of today. They love to stand up to ‘The Man’ and all his forms of oppression, ridicule and elitism. Just have a look at this sheila from Cornell University. She will not have her rights overruled by anyone!

Behold my work-suitable attire. Credit: Letitia Chai/Facebook

Behold my work-suitable attire. Credit: Lchai Thesis

As far as the story goes, it was presentation time in class and Letitia Chai’s name, scrawled on a scrap of paper and balled up, was drawn from the proverbial akubra. She choked down her nerves, she rose from her seat and she sauntered towards the front of the room.

The young lady had dressed for the occasion. She had selected some pants she thought were perfect for her presentation. Presenting her thesis, she knew she’d be a professional soon. She’d be styling herself as a leader in her industry and she’d be loved by everyone.

Don't like it? No problemo. I'll get rid of it. Credit: Lchai Thesis

Don’t like it? No problemo. I’ll get rid of it. Credit: Lchai Thesis

Then the professor pipes up. “Is that really what you would wear?” she asks.

Now, there’s a couple of ways to look at that. As she’s the professor, you could trust her judgement, take it on the chin and tell a little porky-pie about your broken-down washing machine, but alternatively, you could also think, yeah-nah, f**k ya. You think me clothes aren’t dapper enough? Ya wanna shame me for me fashion choices? How’s this then? and strip down to your undies.

It's warm in here anyway. Credit: Lchai Thesis

It’s warm in here anyway. Credit: Lchai Thesis

That’s what Chai did.

Some people think it’s a little bit over the top. Chai, though, she reserves the right to protest. Here’s how she described the incident on her Facebook page…

The professor proceeded to tell me, in front of my whole class, that I was inviting the male gaze away from the content of my presentation and onto my body.

She said I was making a statement by wearing my outfit. I told her that I sure as hell wouldn’t change my statement to make her or anyone else feel more comfortable.

Who knows? Maybe it's how she paid for college... Credit: Lchai Thesis

Who knows? Maybe it’s how she paid for college… Credit: Lchai Thesis

Final thought: You know, it’s never nice to be told you’re clothes aren’t appropriate. My missus often gives me a hard time about wearing me pluggers to the shops, but sometimes you do have to dress for the occasion. Not everything needs to be protested and not everything needs to be seen as an oppression of your rights. Having said that, getting your gear off should be the new normal for protests.

Think meat is murder? Get your gear off.

Think the government doesn’t care about you? Get your gear off.

Think the boss should pay you more? Get your gear off.

That would surely make the world a better place!

H/T: News.com.au.