Sleeve Gate

• A sleeve gate refers to a controversial situation that results from significant female public or political figures wearing sleeveless dresses to expose and reveal their bare arms. The term "gate" is a reference to the "watergate" scandal of the 1970's, in which former President Richard Nixon was caught in a devastating spy controversy that occurred at the Watergate hotel. As a result, modern stories that involve controversy or scandal are often coined with the subject matter followed by the word "gate" to help reinforce and emphasize the element of scandal associated with the given situation.
  
  

Michelle Obama

• The term "sleeve gate" is commonly used to refer to the First Lady of the United States, as of 2011, in Michelle Obama. When dressing for special events or significant occasions, Michelle Obama often prefers to wear sleeveless dresses that reveal and display the entirety of her bare arms. Michelle Obama has attractive, smooth and strong looking arms, and thus wearing sleeveless dresses accentuates her features. However, many people think that wearing sleeveless dresses and exposing bare arms at special presidential events is inappropriate and thus disrespectful for a first lady. Thus, the term sleeve gate has been commonly used to refer to the controversy involved with Michelle Obama's sleeveless dresses, but the term is also used playfully and ironically to indicate that, although the situation is rather inconsequential, her sleeveless dresses still create controversy.
  
  

First Ladies

• Many first ladies throughout U.S. history chose to wear sleeveless dresses and reveal their arms at presidential events. One of the most famous First Ladies to commonly wear such dresses was Jacqueline Kennedy, who completely displayed her bare arms at numerous events by wearing sleeveless dresses. Because Jackie Kennedy and other first ladies showed their arms, historical precedence seems to establish that wearing sleeveless shirts is acceptable for First Ladies. However, many people disagree with this precedence and maintain the sleeveless shirts should not be worn by first ladies at special events.
  
  

Opinions

• The ongoing controversy of sleeve gate and a First Lady wearing sleeveless dresses consists of people on both sides of the debate arguing their opinions. People who argue that it is wrong for a first lady to expose her arms contend that presidential events are serious and formal occasions, and thus to wear sleeveless dresses and show bare arms lacks the class and formality that should accompany such events. Others that support a first lady's decision and right to wear sleeveless dresses assert that there is no problem with a president's wife wearing such dresses because in U.S. culture showing arms is acceptable, because women have the right to choose their own style of fashion and first ladies have worn sleeveless dresses throughout the nation's history.