Australia’s trade sites love to talk toughness. Yet some rules still feel stuck in the past.
Shianne Foxx, a Sydney landscaper who calls herself the “Bikini Tradie,” says she’s hit a sweaty, unfair wall. On scorching days, the blokes on site can ditch their shirts. Meanwhile, she’s told she can’t. Why? Because it might “distract” the men.
That’s the problem. When the thermometer climbs, comfort becomes a workplace issue. Yet the standard changes depending on who’s overheating.
Same heat, different rules
Foxx shared her frustration in a quick TikTok after work. It was about 40°C, she said. The guys went shirtless. She stayed covered. Then came the kicker: she was warned her body would be the distraction, not the heat.
That’s a fast way to turn a job site into a double standard. It also puts the burden on her to manage other people’s reactions.
Foxx argues it shouldn’t be controversial. Breasts exist. Adults can handle that fact. Besides, if shirtless work is acceptable for men, the industry needs a better answer than “boys will be boys.”
Her post sparked plenty of debate. Still, lots of commenters backed her to raise it with her boss.
And honestly, that’s the point. Respect at work shouldn’t melt the moment summer hits.
