Resumo:
Gender inequality in the corporate environment directly impacts the professional lives of
women, especially in Executive Secretariat, a historically female profession marked by
stereotypes that undermine its importance. Women’s attire, influenced by patriarchy and social
norms, often becomes a criterion for professional judgment, reinforcing inequalities and
limiting career progression. This study seeks to understand how gender stereotypes affect
women's dress codes in the workplace, analyzing their relationship with the construction of
identity and professional recognition. This is an applied research study, designed as a case
study, using semi-structured interviews to investigate the challenges faced by women in
corporate settings. The results indicate that, in both the public organization (with a lower level
of aesthetic expectations) and the private one, the interviewees reported that aesthetic
expectations or dress standards influence perceptions of professionalism, requiring greater
effort to be recognized for their technical competence. The findings contribute to the discussion
on gender equity and professional autonomy, highlighting the impact of dress codes on the
construction of women’s professional image and the acknowledgment of their competence in
the labor market.
