Restaurant that denied entry to woman over revealing dress wasn't prepared for her reaction

Despite all the conversations and steps taken to addressbias and establish gender equality, there are still elements in the society that'll police women for what they wear. When a Louisiana nurse named Y'Mine McClanahan faced unfair treatment at a restaurant, she decided to call them out publicly. McClanahan, who goes by Miney M Mac on Facebook, shared a post this July about a discriminatory dress-code at Stabs Prime Steak and Seafood in the Baton Rouge area. Despite having worn the same dress to the same restaurant several times earlier, the woman was denied entry this time because it was "too revealing."

In her post, McClanahan attached a video of her donning an off-white tube top paired with a matching skirt. She pointed out that she had worn it on multiple visits to the establishment and never had a problem. She also caught the restaurant owner explaining that McClanahan's outfit was too revealing on the top and she either had to cover up or leave. But the nurse was quick to notice that the restaurant's waitresses were wearing similar outfits. When she pointed the mini skirts and fishnet stockings worn by the waitresses, the owner said, "I'm telling you that we have buckled down on our dress code. It's been like this for a while now."

McClanahan was frustrated because the restaurant's recent focus on the "dress code" policy was clearly biased. "The craziest thing about Stab's is the hostess was just about to seat me until the 'owner' stopped her from doing so," the nurse pointed out in her post. She emphasized how her outfit was too revealing while those of the waitresses were not for the "atmosphere they were trying to create." Many in the comments criticized the restaurant's actions.

"What atmosphere? And not a soul is in there? The nerve," said Janae T. Jones. "Very much targeting. They will lose so much support," added Breshea Wheeler. "They're ridiculous. That's why it's empty in there now," Jessica Mccray chimed in.

Though McClanahan had a better experience at a different restaurant that day, she felt "mortified, violated, ashamed and really humiliated," as reported by WAFB. "It's just very disheartening that there's no accountability and there's no remorse for what's been done to me," the nurse told the outlet. According to the restaurant's website, their dress code doesn't allow gym wear, sweat pants, tank tops, clothing with offensive graphics or language, exposed undergarments, revealing clothing, cut-off shorts, flip flops or torn jeans. "Their policy says no tank tops, but there she (Stab's owner) was, telling me that I had to leave, standing there in a tank top. I just have no words for it," McClanahan said.

In response to the post, the restaurant issued a statement to the news channel saying, "We spoke with a guest yesterday about her attire and she pointed out that we have waitstaff dressed in a manner that might not meet the standard of our attire policy. For the last several weeks, we have actually been working on a different uniform so that we are not asking a different standard for our customers than we are requiring of our staff." But McClanahan wouldn't let this slide. Little did the Stab's owner know she was messing with the Baton Rouge area's Vice President of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). So, condemning the restaurant's actions towards McClanahan, the NAACP called for a meeting with them, demanding a valid response for what they did.

This article originally appeared 2 months ago.