Fired For Being Beautiful

Don’t hate me for being beautiful. Yes, it seems that’s still happening in the world. Allegedly, it’s happening at Citibank. They don’t want beautiful women working for them because they’re too distracting. Here’s the story, according to Debrahlee Lorenzana, pictured above, she was fired for being “too hot”. From the pictures that I’ve seen, she is a very attractive lady. She’s 5’5, weighs 125 pounds and has a great shape. DebrahLee states where she comes from women dress up, put on makeup, and get their nails done to go to the supermarket. She’s from Puerto Rico, so her dress at the office is a part of who she is. Personally, I think women should take pride in themselves regardless of where they’re from. For some women its not a priority, but for those of us who do put it at the top of their list more power to them.

When I read the article I was in disbelief. This is 2010, lets get real. The world is full of beautiful women and beautiful women are now a part of corporate America. It seems that Citibank’s male managers and co-workers found her to be distracting. Supposedly, male co-workers complained that they could not focus on their work.  As a result, two male managers gave her a list of clothing she would not be allowed to wear. The list includes turtlenecks, pencils skirts, fitted suits and 3 inch heels. Are you kidding me. It is hard to believe that there are men that damn weak in Corporate America. It is absolutely one of the most ridiculous actions by a company that I have hear of.

As a woman in Corporate America, I have seen and experienced harassment by female co-workers as a result of the pride that I take in myself so I know dress can be an issue in the work environment. I received compliments from male co-workers, but never did I receive a complaint from a male co-worker nor was I called into the office by management as a result. Than again, I’m not built like a brick house either. Anyway because of the harassment I experienced, EEO was called into my area to do several presentations on diversity. The harassing employees were told if they continued, they would be fired from the company. The harassment stopped immediately.

Now I did not sport 3 inch heels in the office for several reasons: 1) 3 inch heels are not appropriate for the office and 2) I can’t walk in the SOBs anymore. I do own a turtle neck in every color and I wear then under my suits in the winter. Gives a very polished look. Besides, what is more covering than a turtleneck? Before I gained weight, I also wore pencil skirts and fitted suits. I’ve had to change my style, but suits, turtle necks, pencil skirts and fitted suits are worn in the office. It seems that the real problem is not the clothing for DebrahLee, this is a cover-up, it’s how she looks in these garments. She’s causing hard ons, lol.

I viewed several pictures of DebrahLee in her office attire, and I agree, she has a hell of a shape on her. Go on girl, strut your stuff. I’m not mad at you.

It seems Citibank’s lawsuits are piling up. Here’s another interesting case, a former employee who is Jewish, Dorly Hazan-Amir, is suing Citigroup for sexual discrinination. The men in the office took bets on how much weigh she would gain while she was pregnant, she was told that she could go a business trips when she learned how to play golf, and her boss stated that Jewish girls were turned on by men with beareds.

In my opinion, this country still has miles to travel on the diversity path and we really need to step up the education in the good old USA. It looks like we really need diversity training in Corporate America too. If this is what’s happening in our corporations, no wonder the country is in the state it’s in. People can’t make good judgements or do their job because they focusing on their erections and how someone looks in their clothing. Would love to hear your opinion on this one.