“This was unacceptable, unequal treatment. I am proud to work with Ivana, who, despite this treatment, continued to report the story with professionalism to our audiences in Alabama,” Scott began.
“This was sexist and an egregious breach of professional conduct. And it should not happen to any other reporter again,” she continued.
AL.com has since issued a formal complaint against the ADOC.
Meanwhile, Ivana’s story also shed light on another incident of clothing inspection that a female reporter for The Associated Press was subjected to.
Julie Pace, AP’s Executive Editor, also condemned the “singling out of female reporters”– calling it “humiliating, discriminatory, and simply unacceptable behavior.”
The ADOC has since responded by citing their newly-enforced dress code– which mainly concerns female members of the media– and has pledged to “remind” journalists about the code prior to any future media events.
Still, journalists across the country and the greater social media community have not found solace in this response.
Instead, Ivana’s original Tweet sharing her story has gained over fifty-one thousand likes, seven thousand and four hundred retweets, and countless replies.
“It is exhausting to be a woman,” responded one user.
“Since when does the government tell grown women how to dress? This is not acceptable,” wrote a second user.
“The fact that oversized men’s rain gear and tennis shoes were considered ‘more professional’ than a skirt and heels tells you everything you need to know about how women are viewed in this country,” said a third.