Women wear the trousers

We used to call them 'slacks' when I was young, and women only wore them on very casual occasions such as on holiday. Of course our service women were provided with them during the war, but generally women wore skirts and for me and many other women, especially office workers, this continued into the early to mid 70s.
I was working in the MAFF office in Truro at the time, where it was accepted that the female staff who  visited farms might wear trousers, but female office staff wore skirts, with stockings or tights underneath. I don't know that this was a MAFF ruling but it had always been so and nothing had ever led anyone to believe this would change.
When new seating was provided, covered in a rough plastic material, it was soon found it snagged clothing until even the men started to grumble.  This snagging soon made our stockings and tights look untidy, or  run, consequently those of us who took pride in our appearance were having to buy extra tights every week.
A co-worker and I decided to write to management (Estabs) to ask if chair covers could be provided for the seats and quickly received a written reply to the effect that if we had problems with the seating provided we should dress in more suitable clothing.
I had (and still have) a bit of a rebellious character and decided to test the attitude which then prevailed that  'men wear trousers and women wear skirts', and the following day arrived at work  wearing trousers. This was not hardship for me because I liked wearing them.
That morning many of my co-workers looked at me askance especially the women, but said nothing, expecting perhaps that the management would have something to say, but they remained silent.
Within weeks I had bought a couple of trouser suits, which were just coming into fashion, and before the year was out several of my female co-workers began arriving at work in trousers.
Eventually the seating problem was recognised and seat covers provided, and how very annoying it was then to hear some of the female staff claiming they had been the first to wear trousers into the office. I'm telling them now - no, it was me!
This was a time when women were still being ridiculed for their belief in equal rights, which I supported (and still do) and for me, this was one little skirmish which I began and won. The fight still goes on.
Since that day I have hardly ever worn skirts and have no regrets because they are comfortable to wear, warm in winter, suit my way of life and cover up my dignity when the wind blows.