Employees at the Defense Intelligence Agency, which coordinates intelligence for the Department of Defense, received a presentation last week which included fashion advice for women like, “don’t be a plain Jane” and “paint your nails,” U.S. News reports. The presentation came the same week that DoD announced that women would be allowed in combat positions.
The presentation was prepared by an employee of DIA and offered gender-specific fashion advice in order to dress for success. A spokeswoman for DIA said the presentation was not condoned by DIA leadership and said in a statement that it was “inappropriate.”
Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, the DIA director, called the presentation “highly offensive” in a letter to employees. Flynn wrote that he hoped the intentions were “pure of heart and intended to help… but even smart people do dumb things sometimes. That said, no one is going to be taken to the wood shed over this. They’ll require some counseling (to be sure) on what it means to think before you act.”
