In Sydney, Australia, a woman named Shianne Fox is talking about something important that happens at her job. Shianne is a landscaper, which means she works outside fixing yards and building things. She noticed something that didn’t seem fair: when it’s really hot, men at her job can take off their shirts to stay cool, but women aren’t allowed to do the same.
Working outside in the heat is tough. On one super hot day, when it was 104 degrees, Shianne was told she had to keep her shirt on while the men didn’t. She felt this wasn’t right. She shared her thoughts on a video app called TikTok, where she’s known as “The Bikini Tradie.” In her video, she said, “It’s not fair that I have to wear a shirt when it’s so hot, but the boys don’t.”
Shianne often wears a bikini top to work because it helps her stay cool. She’s worked with men for four years in jobs where there are usually more men than women, like construction. She feels okay about how she looks and thinks women should have the same rules as men. She said it shouldn’t be a big deal if she works without a shirt, just like the men do, because bodies are natural.
Some people agree with Shianne, but others think there are reasons for the rules, like keeping work polite and professional. Shianne believes if people think it’s distracting, they should think differently and be more grown-up about it.
Shianne also shares videos and pictures online, sometimes showing herself working in her bikini top. These get a lot of attention. She even has a website where she shares more about herself. She hopes by speaking out, more women will feel brave to ask for fair treatment at their jobs.
Not every woman who works outside feels the same way as Shianne, but she’s starting an important conversation. She wants everyone to think about what’s fair when people work together, especially on hot days.
