It was a close call there for women’s rights advocates in Everett, Wash. On Monday, a federal judge ruled that an ordinance requiring half-naked — and sometimes more — female baristas to cover up was unconstitutional.
From The Seattle Times:
U.S. District Judge Marsha Pechman, in a 13-page order issued Monday afternoon, said an ordinance that attempted to impose a dress code was likely vague and violated 14th Amendment equal-protection guarantees because it particularly targeted women.
The women in this line of work are called “bikini baristas” even though some of them wear far less. A Fox News report from April included an interview with one woman who wore pasties and a thong on the job.
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The report further notes that at some coffee stands, customers can buy more than just a latte. A server at one location was captured on hidden camera performing a strip show for a male customer who apparently liked “extra sugar” with his coffee, while other baristas have been investigated for prostitution.
How any of this is a step toward equality for the fairer sex remains to be seen. During the run-up to the 2016 presidential election, one of Democrats’ many criticisms of candidate Donald Trump was that he had been accused of “objectifying” women, thereby denying their dignity and humanity.
Could anything be more objectifying than asking a woman to strip down her skivvies or less while pouring a cup of coffee?
