We return this month with our series which recaps our favorite (or least favorite) moments in gender equity from news, media, and longreads all over the internet. You’ll see installments for This Month in Gender Equity the third week of each month. If you have ideas or contributions, leave a comment or tweet at us!

The Real Cost of Not Wearing Makeup at the Office

We’ve blogged just this month about what counts as professional appearance for women, and this article takes the conversation a step further. The author starts by reminding us that women deemed unattractive earn 20% less than their peers, but women deemed too attractive are thought to be untrustworthy. Then, she considers the cost of grooming for men and women and—the kicker—why those conversations aren’t featured more prominently in personal finance spaces. Why do we encounter ample advice about what to wear, what to eat, and even what serums to use in our bedtime skincare routines, but less advice about just how much we should spend on those serums? The author suggests that because personal finance is still largely dominated by white men, we are unlikely to see things like the cost of women’s grooming addressed or even questioned. Two conclusions emerge; first, women in powerful positions may have more flexibility in their choices with regard to appearance and then create space for other women to follow suit. Second, these conversations require nuance: lots of people enjoy makeup and grooming, lots don’t. Broader conversations with ample choices are better for everyone.

Bill Gates: Gender Inequality Affects Every Country on Earth

In advance of the UN General Assembly this week, Gates gave an interview regarding a report by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. He expressed concern that the United States is similar to every other country in the world in one important way: poverty and gender inequality are deeply related. Inequality, specifically gender inequality, has decreased but still results in reduced opportunity for one in sixteen people worldwide. As the report states, “No matter where you are born, your life will be harder if you are born a girl. If you are born in a poor country or district, it will be even harder.” There is clearly still lots of work to do.

I Am Not a Distraction

Dress code violations are once again in the news. This time, Fort Mill, South Carolina students and community members flooded a school board meeting, wearing shirts that read “I am not a distraction” to protest the district’s outdated dress code. Critics of the dress code say that it penalizes only girls, pulling them out of class for clothes that are deemed to be a distraction. The time for dress codes like this, which prioritize protecting the “attention” of boys at the expense of the education and inclusion of girls, is over. The incitement for the protest was the school’s decision to dress code a student because they felt her shirt was “too short” to be paired with her leggings. Surveys of students expressed that the current dress code made girls feel embarrassed and uncomfortable, yet the district has not worked to fix their sexist and antiquated policies. Kudos to these parents and students for standing up for the rights of their girls! Keep up the good work!

-Amy and Lauren