History Main / SkirtsandLadders

* In ''Manga/{{Bastard}}'' (the anime), when Dark Schneider goes off to rescue Tia from a ninja along with the royal army AND the Royal Princess, they run into a problem like this during the assault on the tower. Since the ground-floor is a battleground, DS has to go up last to protect the ladder, but the princess refuses to go up first since she's wearing a rather short skirt. (She originally wore it under a rather fancy set of armor, but DS had her take it off once it became clear that it was completely useless and very encumbering.) DS rolls his eyes, throws her over his shoulder, and climbs up the ladder with her hanging there. Thus, instead of him potentially looking up her skirt, she winds up having her boobs bouncing off his back and her hips grinding against his face all the way up. Judging from her expression, she'd probably have preferred it the other way around.

* In ''Literature/{{Maskerade}}'', Walter Plinge insists that Nanny Ogg precede him while descending a ladder, so he can't look up her dress. If any other man had mentioned it, he'd probably be due a thumping (as Nanny's in her seventies easily, and rather plump to go by official art), but he's sincere and more than a bit daft so it's clearly honest concern. As the series' [[DirtyOldMan Dirty Old Woman]], Nanny just contemplates that this may be the first time anyone's said that to her...

She's not always successful. But if she's lucky, [[AllMenArePerverts not all men in-story are perverts]]. If it's the ''cameraman'' who does this, then it's MaleGaze. Of course, this is often a RealLife concern for women and part of the rationale behind ModestyShorts or SkirtOverSlacks, or even ProperTightsWithASkirt.

* [[{{Parody}} Parodied]] in ''Film/TheNakedGun''; when Jane goes up a ladder, Frank stares up and comments, "Nice beaver!" Jane then ''produces a taxidermy beaver'' and says, "Thanks, I just had it stuffed."

* A lifesaving variation in''Literature/CiaphasCain'': While on a set stairs, he pauses and lets Colonel Kasteen pass in front of him so he can admire the view. This is turn allows him to spot a flicker of movement where there shouldn't be any, so when the weaponized servo-skulls swoop in he can give the alarm, foiling the assassination attempt.

** This ends up happening in the first chapter of ''VisualNovel/DanganronpaV3KillingHarmony'' where Kaede Akamatsu climbs up a ladder in the library to examine the top shelves, only to realize that Shuichi Saihara is stood below her getting an eyeful.
--->'''Shuichi:''' Ah! S-sorry!\\
'''Kaede:''' Oh. So you did see them, huh... ([[InternalMonologue Well, whatever. He can't unsee them]].)

* ''WesternAnimation/CodeLyoko'', "Is Anybody Out There?": In a GettingCrapPastTheRadar moment, Odd and Aelita have to rush to the Factory in their nightwear. And when they're climbing down the ladder to the sewer, Odd's gaze is firmly set toward Aelita's pantless nightgown.

* Matsuri of ''Manga/AyakashiTriangle'', [[GenderBender having only recently been living as a girl]], often [[DifferentForGirls forgets]] how a skirt can end up showing off his underwear. This comes to a head while SkySurfing above Soga, providing a view that [[DefeatByModesty sends him running]].

* Parodied in one of ''Film/TheNakedGun'' movies. Priscilla Presley climbs up a ladder.
-->'''Leslie Nielsen:''' ''[looking up]'' Nice beaver!\\
'''Priscilla Presley:''' Thank you, [[InnocentInnuendo I just had it stuffed]]. ''[Hands him a stuffed beaver]''

* In ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfHeroesTrailsOfColdSteel'', [[BadassGay Angelica]] orders the boys to first go up, then the ladies, and finally her. Crow was the only one who got it and got pissed at Angelica for getting the good stuff while the rest of the girls aren't pleased when they finally climb up the ladder.

[[caption-width-right:235:Theti-Cheri: By Isis! What a horrible sight!\\
Papyrus: Not from where I'm standing!]]

[[quoteright:236:[[ComicBook/{{Papyrus}} https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/9e50bfa5c178012ea90846535947ae60_papyrus_amazing_art.jpg]]]]
[[caption-width-right:236:Theti-Cheri: By Isis! What a horrible sight!\\

* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'', uniforms for both sexes are skirted, which leads to a scene with [[FanDisservice Zapp Branigan climbing a ladder and Kif looking away]], but [[{{Squick}} not out of respect for his captain's modesty]].

** In ''Manga/DragonBall'' {{Filler}}, Bulma wants to watch the Preliminaries matches of World Martial Arts Tournament and has Oolong give her a boost, Oolong at first annoyed suddenly realizes this a golden opportunity to perv since she's wearing a mini-skirt but he is soon caught by Bulma who stomps his face. However this causes Bulma to lose balance and fall over exposing herself to a crowd of nearby men.

* In ''Discworld/{{Maskerade}}'', Walter Plinge insists that Nanny Ogg precede him while descending a ladder, so he can't look up her dress. If any other man had mentioned it, he'd probably be due a thumping (as Nanny's in her seventies easily, and rather plump to go by official art), but he's sincere and more than a bit daft so it's clearly honest concern. As the series' [[DirtyOldMan Dirty Old Woman]], Nanny just contemplates that this may be the first time anyone's said that to her...

* During an extended sketch on ''Series/TheBennyHillShow'' taking place on a cruise ship Benny is standing next to a ladder/stairway when a few lovely birds in short skirts go up. He gets his eyeful, then calls a buddy over so he can peek too. As the buddy arrives and sets himself up, a ManInAKilt starts his way up the stairs, giving Benny's buddy a glimpse of what they don't wear beneath the kilt.

** In a ''Manga/DragonBall'' {{Filler}}, Bulma wants to watch the Preliminaries matches of World Martial Arts Tournament and has Oolong give her a boost, Oolong at first annoyed suddenly realizes this a golden opportunity to perv since she's wearing a mini-skirt but he is soon caught by Bulma who stomps his face. However this causes Bulma to lose balance and fall over exposing herself to a crowd of nearby men.

* Gunther, the criminal fencer that Meleka ComicBook/{{Fray}} works for, is a [[FishPeople mer-man]] that lives in a water tank whose roof is the glass floor of the room Fray goes to meet him, so Gunther expresses disappointment that Fray never turns up in a skirt. This becomes a BrickJoke when ComicBook/BuffyTheVampireSlayer meets Gunther.