meta_pixel
Tapesearch Logo
Log in
Unladylike

How to Kick Off High Heels at Work

Unladylike

Unladylike Media

Feminism, Gender, Media Analysis, Body Politics, Patriarchy, Intersectionality, Society & Culture, Cultural Commentary, Beauty Standards, Internet Culture, Womens Rights

4.83.7K Ratings

🗓️ 23 July 2019

⏱️ 45 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

After Nicola Thorp was fired for refusing to wear high heels on the job in 2015, she called bullsh*t all the way to British Parliament. Because from banks to bars, it’s not unusual for workplaces around the world to expect women to work in high heels, and it's not exactly illegal. C&C find out how Nicola sparked an international mini-movement, why #MeToo made it possible, and how high heels tread the sexy-professional tightrope.

Unladylike: A Field Guide to Smashing the Patriarchy and Claiming Your Space is available now, wherever books and audiobooks are sold. Signed copies are available at podswag.com/unladylike.

Follow Unladylike on social @unladylikemedia. Subscribe to our newsletter at unladylike.co/newsletter. And join our Facebook group!

Our Pep Talk series is available only on Stitcher Premium. Sign up today to hear episodes on embracing swimsuit season, getting ready for a wedding, breaking out of the gender binary and more! Get a month of free listening at stitcher.com/premium with code UNLADYLIKE.

This episode is brought to you by PROcure [procureheals.com/UNLADYLIKE with code 3UNLADYLIKE on amazon], Bud Light Chelada [budlight.com], Native Deodorant [nativedeodorant.com with code UNLADYLIKE] and the Stitcher Premium podcast Wild Horses.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

Whether it's a barmy day on the beach or a vibrant night in the city, elevate your indulgence

0:08.6

with the new Magnum Sunlava, with thick white chocolate and velvety coconut ice cream for

0:15.7

the day and the new Magnum Star Chaser, with cracking chocolate and popcorn flavor for the

0:23.0

night.

0:26.0

The pleasure is always on. Magnum, true to pleasure.

0:33.0

She's telling me this is I'm like half naked, just stuck in this dress. And I'm like,

0:38.8

sorry what? I said, yeah, you have to wear high heels. All the women that we have on our

0:44.5

floor, they have a certain expectation of appearance and you have to wear high heels.

0:50.0

Can't believe I'm a man, lady, man, I'm a man, I'm a man, I'm a man, I'm a man, I'm a man,

0:58.6

I'm a man, I'm a man, I'm a man, I'm a man, I'm a man, I'm a man, I'm a man, I'm a man,

1:04.4

I can't.

1:06.4

Hey y'all and welcome to Unladylike. The podcast that finds out what happens when women break

1:11.5

the rules. I'm Kristen and I'm Caroline and today we're talking to British actor and

1:16.6

activist Nicola Thorpe. Very important question considering the topic of our chat today.

1:23.8

What shoes are you currently wearing?

1:26.4

Ahem, wearing some Adidas white trainers.

1:31.2

In 2015 Nicola had a very bad day at work and wound up kicking off an international movement

1:37.7

to ban mandatory high heels at work.

1:41.3

Yeah, but you're fuel the gatekeeper to those meetings and you're taking very important

1:45.7

clients to meet besuited guys.

1:48.5

Is he actually sexist for the company to say to you, we'd like you to look fantastic

1:52.8

as well and to look glamorous and to wear heels and really set a kind of, whoa.

...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Unladylike Media, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Unladylike Media and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.

Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.