I wondered if I could wear crop tops (shirt or hoodie) in the pits. I am in the FIN district if that matters. Thank you for your help. 
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I think this is dependent on clothing rules. Generally, things like long hair or sweatshirts with strings aren’t allowed as they can get stuck in mechanisms. I guess the best thing to do for this is to ask a mentor about dress code.
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I’ve seen girls in the pits with tops that leave most of their torso uncovered. It doesn’t seem like the best idea from a safety standard, but the only FIRST rule is “wear appropriate clothing” where “appropriate” is left entirely undefined. Individual teams often have dress codes.
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At the very least, the hoodie should be fine as long as there’s a (full-length) shirt underneath it and any strings are tucked in or removed. I’m 50/50 on if a cropped shirt is an issue for safety reasons. Maybe just be extra careful if you have to Dremel something.
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There are no FIRST rules I can find against crop tops. You never know when someone will take it upon them selves to try to make and enforce a dress code. Once at an event we hosted an adult told female students from another team they weren’t allowed to wear shorts. There were many male drivers and pit crew with shorts at the event that didn’t concern this person. If you run into a similar situation, report it to the Event Coordinator.
A bare torso is not a significant safety risk and people should not be forcing their beliefs on others.
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Safety isn’t half of the issue with crop tops, miniskirts, off the shoulder or deep-neckline shirts, corsets, fishnet stockings, and any other number of suggestive outfits I’ve seen young women wearing at competitions. The question is whether you want to present yourself as a capable robot creator and professional woman by wearing revealing clothing? I am a female engineer who goes to offices and factories as part of her job. The last thing I want is people staring at my midriff when I am trying to seriously discuss the technology behind my product.
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Going to have to disagree here in part. If you are moving around in the pits, there are a LOT of sharp edges at waist height (think robot, carts, etc). Especially if you are picking up the robot, I wouldn’t recommend it.
I agree with you, it’s going to be up to the indivdiual or their team since there is no solid rule. But I think basic shop safety should take priority in the pit areas - and I wouldn’t want a member wearing a crop top in a machining / work area.
The stands are a different - and there’s no rule against it as far as FIRST goes. However, it may be considered a school function for your team, so make sure you aren’t violating school policies.
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I mean… I get it. I wouldn’t expect a professional to wear revealing attire, and I agree that we should encourage members to dress professionally. But, they are in high school, and they are expressing themselves. If people get judgey based on attire, then I think that’s more their problem than the person wearing the crop top. I remember all the outfits people wore during steamworks. I wouldn’t expect them in a professional environment, but it’s meant to be fun after all.
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Using that logic, we should see all sorts of interesting outfits for Reefscape … Mermaid attire gonna be OK?
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What about any of the other goofy outfits and costumes teams wear? I’ll have buttons stuck all over me by the time a competition is done, which I certainly wouldn’t wear into work.
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Having a professional image as a team trumps a goofy costume any day. It goes further with sponsors, judges, and alliance partners. My students are covered with pins at the end of a tournament, too, but that’s expected as they interact with other teams in a productive way.
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If it helps, nowhere in the post did RadioactiveTrashcan say they are a woman.
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I cut the back of my calf recently with shorts on around the robot. It will make me think more about what I’m wearing working on the robot. I guess to understand you can easily cut yourself and that some clothes (like jeans) are more protective against accidental scrapes.
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I don’t think there are very many sharp things around waist height in the pits I’ve been in, but when it comes to small scratches and cuts I firmly believe that injuries that take a few days to heal and don’t inhibit your daily life while they do are not the business of anyone else to protect you from.
They can wear what ever they want its not my business or yours. Competitions are the party at the end of a long build season and people can dress how they want.
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Can you explain exactly what the differences between those two are? Personally I have not seen anything insanely inappropriate at a competition, especially if you compare it to regular high schools and the like, and I believe that it would only really be a concern if it it putting someone else or yourself in danger.
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I might give some specific/private advice to members of my own team if I felt they were pushing up against (or past) a line between appropriate and inappropriate.
When it comes to members of other teams and what they choose to wear, I have an incredibly higher bar of keeping my opinions to myself while still ensuring that all attendees are treated in a respectful manner.
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I am not a woman. I have worn skirts to some competitions. I like to wear crop tops outside of robotics
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In my experience its the young men who wear miniskirts at FRC events, but maybe thats just me.
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Sadly, even the king of denim himself couldn’t defend against a soccer ball to the face… They say DEKA is still developing the jaftey glasses to this day…
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A wish that was all it took to heal but maybe just getting older. The place I cut myself would be belly height on the cart.
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