A Question for Those with Masculine Jobs...

[Birddog]

Looking for some advice from those who are serving right now. Perhaps Police and Firefighters might be able to help as well. I poll those who serve in "masculine" jobs. Have you worn your kilt in the company of those you work with, and what sort of reception did it get? A few I work with know I have a kilt, but I have not worn one around my coworkers yet. Just looking for some advice from those who have braved this area. We all know our coworkers can be ruthless with ribbing at times; we all have done it.
Kevin

[macneighill]

Considering my profession, it’s not always the best to wear a kilt during my shift. Most Firefighters wear them during ceremonies and such but, not for "daily wear" during their shift. As for my fellow Firefighters "accepting" it . . well, they're Firefighters. Kilts have held a place in the Fire Service here in the USA all throughout it's history, from it's beginning to present. I'm working on organizing a ceremonial detail for our Fire Department that would be kilted (an Honor Guard, if you will).

Of course, there will be "those" fellow Firefighters that will poke fun. But usually, they are the ones that don't know much about the history of the Fire Service or kilts in general. The last time members (unfortunately, I was not one of them ) of my department attended something while kilted, not one person made any kind of smart comment. Everyone knew why they were worn and were respectful.

I've found that, especially in my other job, one on one with people, they are cool with it. But, when co-workers are around "certain" people, they usually have some sort of comment to give. As if to: "show off". But that's more of ignorance than masculinity.

[northernsky]

I didn't realize jobs had gender. Would teaching be a masculine or feminine job? How about medicine? Plumbing? Electrician? I ask because I am male and a teacher, but my doctor, plumber and electrician are all female....

[Birddog]

Northern, I think you might be missing the point of the thread, or perhaps reading too much into it. No sexist conotations here. I am simply referring to traditionally masculine jobs, i.e. military, law enforcement, firefighters, etc. We all have a certain "macho" style all our own in the way we deal with our jobs, coworkers, etc. It is almost a matter of pride as to how much you can bust your coworkers chops.

Jimmy, thanks for the input. However, I should have made it clearer in my original post. I am wondering if anyone in these type jobs have gone out casually with coworkers while kilted.

[Big Mikey]

I am a boiler operator in a lumber mill as part of an all male crew. I took a bit of flack from my team mates when I first wore the kilt to a social function and still get a rare bit of ribbing. Overall, I receive compliments on my chosen attire. Most of the guys just write it off as me being me, going against the norm. The older fellows are usually interested in what tartan I'm wearing and its significance. The ladies from the office are ALWAYS impressed and complimentary. POWER OF THE KILT!!

[Frank McGrath]

In my 30 years as a forklift mechanic, I have never met a female lift truck mech. I'm not saying there might not be one, and it sure would be interesting to meet one. I can not wear the kilt on my job. But I have worn it to several company parties and was well received by all but the most extreme rednecks. during the entertainment part of the last one, my supervisor tried to call me on my cell phone. He blew up at me the next time I came into the office for not carrying my cell phone. (Company issued). He and the women at his table all wanted to make comments about whats under the kilt. Not to my face, but they did leave several comments on my voice mail. I erased them before listening to them. These people are just morons. The nicest comments came from upper management people. I still wear it for me. No one else. Except this sunday, two people from Edinborough (sp) will be in church. I will wear it sunday. But then, I usually wear it to church anyway.

[graham_s]

When I was in the RAF (Royal Air Force) I used to take mine to detachments around the world. I rarely received a ribbing, I can't remember getting much in the way of negative comments either.
I'm now an engineer for an oil company.
I wore one of my Kilts today, the only comment was "is that a real knife in your sock?"

[JRB]

When I was working as a boatbuilder I would never wear a kilt to work. The job incolved constantly climbing in and out of boats, wriggling into tight compartments (sometimes upside down), working around milling machines that could easily grab and pull loose clothing and dealing with caustic or abrasive chemicals. Not to mention thatit was a filthy job. I wore out Carhartt pants with ease. Even one of those heavy duty canvas work kilts wouldn't have lasted more than a few months. Can you imagine having to buy three or four $100+ work kilts a year!? My boatshop was definitely not the place to wear a kilt.

As far as going out casually with the guys while kilted...I never did it. They knew I wore a kilt now and then and no one ever said anything negative about that. In fact, most of the guys with whom I worked actually found it interesting.

[Nighthawk]

I am the senior graphic designer for a machine shop/production factory. There is the occasional guy who acts stupid- until he comes into my office. I have a big sign posted with the deffinitions of four words- Stupidity, ignorance, kilt, and Celt, with pictures of soldiers, cops, firefighters and athletes (including several pro American style football players) wearing kilts. That has shut all but one up. I ended up filing a hostile work environment complaint based on ethnic and religious harassment. That shut him up. With most people, the real key is simply education. There is the occasion person who just refuses to learn (which is the most basic deffinition of stupidity- willful ignorance) but for the most part, it isn't too tough to get people to either not care, or to actually accept and appreciate your choice to be different.

And as to the ribbing thing... I for one am ruthless.

[O'Callaghan]

In my 30 years as a forklift mechanic, I have never met a female lift truck mech. I'm not saying there might not be one, and it sure would be interesting to meet one. I can not wear the kilt on my job. But I have worn it to several company parties and was well received by all but the most extreme rednecks. during the entertainment part of the last one, my supervisor tried to call me on my cell phone. He blew up at me the next time I came into the office for not carrying my cell phone. (Company issued). He and the women at his table all wanted to make comments about whats under the kilt. Not to my face, but they did leave several comments on my voice mail. I erased them before listening to them. These people are just morons. The nicest comments came from upper management people. I still wear it for me. No one else. Except this sunday, two people from Edinborough (sp) will be in church. I will wear it sunday. But then, I usually wear it to church anyway.

One of my female cousins used to drive a forklift. Granted she's not a mechanic. I doubt if she would have worn a skirt to do that job, somehow.

I've never had a macho job like hers, LOL!

Nobody in my office knows I wear a kilt, but they have never asked, and the dress code specifies trousers. Any socialising has been done right after work, without any chance to change clothes even if I wanted to.