I went to an all-girls uniform school, and while most girls opted to wear the skirt, we were allowed a lot of options (comparatively), like khaki pants. Sure, they were fug and I never wore them (itchy polyester), but lots of girls did, and I appreciated the fact that we weren't only allowed to wear skirts and skorts. #dresscodes
All this with school pictures always makes me wonder what my school would have said if I'd asked to wear the tuxedo for my senior portrait. I could have definitely worn one to prom without anyone saying anything. Our administrators selectively enforced rules (skinny girls could get away with wearing tank tops but heavier girls like me would get yelled at and told to put on our sweaters or go home whereas since I generally kept my nose clean, the assistant principal told me exactly what class I wasn't allowed to knit in anymore when someone's mother complained) and I strongly suspect I could have worn the tuxedo shirt, but a boy asking for the drape would have been in trouble. #dresscodes
I'm a disappointed at this statement from Morehouse College, if not shocked. There are some interesting dynamics going on in Atlanta right now on several fronts. Atlanta is divided on racial lines, as indicated by our current race for mayor. We also have large populations of athletes, soldiers and conservatives (fields not known IN GENERAL for openness towards those of alternate sexual preferences) as well as a large gay population. People seem to mix well on the surface, but there is an underlying tension that is threatening to come to a head when nobody is looking. #dresscodes
"No wearing of clothing associated with women's garb (dresses, tops, tunics, purses, pumps, etc.) on the Morehouse campus or at college-sponsored events."..."The image of a strong black man needs to be upheld."
I think someone who wears clothes that may not conform to society's gender norms because he feels said clothes represent him the best, despite outside pressure and hostility is pretty damn strong in my opinion. #dresscodes
"The image of a strong black man needs to be upheld." Yeah, better worry about that image. That's part of the reason why the HIV epidemic is so bad among young black men. Can't be facing up to the fact that you're gay, gotta uphold that image of a strong black man.
An administration might argue that cross-dressing was, by its nature, distracting. I'd say, maybe for the first week. But then you get used to it.
Yup. But here's the thing I've never, ever understood as an adult (though as a child I would have protested it to the death): Why aren't uniforms just common practice? Polo shirts, khaki pants for all I say. It's insane. Considering the amount of crazy I think being a parent entails, I would be advocating the hell out of a policy that would make my life easier (a morning without fighting over clothes)! But that said, it's also good for other reasons, like eliminating class issues and taking the equation of clothing out of education. #dresscodes
@Trulymadlyme: I agree, I would also have hated it as a kid but it makes so much sense to have them in schools (especially public ones). Give the kids basic options and some wiggle room for any religious reasons kids would need an adjustment (ie a girl in a khaki skirt if her religion dictates pants a no-no) and done! I know the underprivileged school i attended would have been helped by uniforms. #dresscodes
@RubyPenelope: It's just odd. As an adult, I don't see a reason why this isn't common place unless there is a secret cabal made up of Hollister, Abercrombie, American Eagle, and the GAP fueling money to school board elections. I mean. Seriously?! #dresscodes
@Trulymadlyme: I'm sure uniforms help obscure class issues, and make it harder for kids to be teased about their clothes, but there will always be ways for the rich to showcase their wealth--whether through accessories, cars, or just mentioning their pool.
The problem isn't that some kids have ratty shoes and get picked on--it's the people who are doing the picking. Teaching kids that bullying and teasing is wrong should be the priority--not making us all look the same. #dresscodes
@Trulymadlyme: Agreed. I had school uniforms growing up and it made things a LOT better. Of course, the rich kids always find a way to show that they're rich, but at least you don't get constantly made fun of because you're not wearing genuine Abercrombie and are wearing the Walmart knock-offs instead. And as far as I can tell, I don't have any stunted creativity from not being able to express myself through the clothes I wore to school. #dresscodes
@Trulymadlyme: While I'm a total clotheshorse and love being able to dress however I want now, I loved having uniforms in school just as much-- it took me fifteen minutes to get ready for school, and it was awesome. #dresscodes
Work stole me away from Jez today, so I'm just getting around to reading this, and... ugh. As I clicked on the article, I held my breath and chanted, "Not Snellville, not Snellville, not Snellville." And then, when it wasn't my hometown, I didn't feel a bit better. Goddamnit, how is this still happening? And administration-sanctioned prejudice? Not only does this look like a lack of progress, but it feels like regression.
@KATE!: I dunno. Speaking anecdotally, clothing was much more OMG-WHAT-ARE-YOU-WEARING distracting when I was at a Catholic school with a strict dress code than in a public school where it was a wardrobe free-for-all. When somebody above you, whether it be your principal or mainstream masculine culture, is making an issue of what you're wearing, it's easier to get caught up in it as a student. But I can only speak from personal experience.
Last night I was at a restaurant bar after work and happened to look up from my computer when a family was walking out. I did a double-take because there was this boy, probably 16 or so, all limbs, wearing heels. Everything else, skinny jeans, top, were "boy" clothes. He couldn't even walk in them, and I thought it was fucking cute as hell.
Transgriot has a post with a video of the student here: [transgriot.blogspot.com] Monica reads the student as trans, but it's unclear to me if Escobar identifies that way, so I'm going to try and avoid using pronouns. (Hell, at 16, Escobar may still be figuring out an identity.)
The problem with a school dress code that bans "disruptive clothing" is that what counts as disruptive depends on mainstream social mores, and could be seen not just as an article of clothing that provokes conflict (a confederate flag T or a shirt with an abortion message, for example),but as anything that makes administrators or other students uncomfortable. And when it comes to people not measuring up to cultural standards of masculinity or femininity, our social mores have a long way to go to even reach "tolerant". There's a difference between an article of provocative clothing (a "message" T-shirt that someone would wear one day) and someone's gender expression (how they feel comfortable dressing day-to-day).
No, this student should not be allowed to come to school in a Vegas showgirl's pants-less outfit. But the blame-the-one-who's-different tone in some of these comments is disturbing.
So some kids are made uncomfortable by someone assigned male at birth wearing make-up and skinny jeans? Maybe we should put a little more effort into teaching them that it's okay to be different (even wildly different) in terms of gender expression, than in telling the one who's different to be uncomfortable on our behalf. Someone's going to be made uncomfortable in this situation -- Could someone explain to me why it should be the kid who's challenging gender norms instead of the kids being challenged? Because from where I'm standing, it shouldn't.
@PhillyLass: Sadly, that's rarely how it works. When I was in high school, the kids who bullied me were all athletes. Guess what? The administrators (prinicipal included) were the coaches of those kids teams. No one ever got reprimanded.
I taught eighth grade social studies for three years, and now, whenever I see these kinds of stories, sadly, I always side with the school. It is unreal how hard it is to get a group of 30 teenagers to concentrate on a subject for 50 minutes straight, and to recognize the value in ACADEMICS rather than socializing/constructing personal images/etc (these of course are important, and developmentally appropriate, but they need to learn about concepts and places OUTSIDE if their own small bubble). And while the violence (physical or emotional) directed at this kid needs to be STOPPED (and the kids responsible need to be disciplined) the emphasis of a lot of these students needs to be redirected towards their MINDS and their SKILLS and not their fierce personal style or their identity explorations That's great that this kid wants to express his style and identity. But everyone of these kids needs to learn how to express themselves in writing and verbally, using critical thinking skills
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I think someone who wears clothes that may not conform to society's gender norms because he feels said clothes represent him the best, despite outside pressure and hostility is pretty damn strong in my opinion. #dresscodes
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I think his idea of strength is markedly different than mine. #dresscodes
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See "Prevention Challenges / Stigma": [www.cdc.gov] #dresscodes
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Yup. But here's the thing I've never, ever understood as an adult (though as a child I would have protested it to the death): Why aren't uniforms just common practice? Polo shirts, khaki pants for all I say. It's insane. Considering the amount of crazy I think being a parent entails, I would be advocating the hell out of a policy that would make my life easier (a morning without fighting over clothes)! But that said, it's also good for other reasons, like eliminating class issues and taking the equation of clothing out of education. #dresscodes
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The problem isn't that some kids have ratty shoes and get picked on--it's the people who are doing the picking. Teaching kids that bullying and teasing is wrong should be the priority--not making us all look the same. #dresscodes
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10/09/09
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The problem with a school dress code that bans "disruptive clothing" is that what counts as disruptive depends on mainstream social mores, and could be seen not just as an article of clothing that provokes conflict (a confederate flag T or a shirt with an abortion message, for example),but as anything that makes administrators or other students uncomfortable. And when it comes to people not measuring up to cultural standards of masculinity or femininity, our social mores have a long way to go to even reach "tolerant". There's a difference between an article of provocative clothing (a "message" T-shirt that someone would wear one day) and someone's gender expression (how they feel comfortable dressing day-to-day).
No, this student should not be allowed to come to school in a Vegas showgirl's pants-less outfit. But the blame-the-one-who's-different tone in some of these comments is disturbing.
So some kids are made uncomfortable by someone assigned male at birth wearing make-up and skinny jeans? Maybe we should put a little more effort into teaching them that it's okay to be different (even wildly different) in terms of gender expression, than in telling the one who's different to be uncomfortable on our behalf. Someone's going to be made uncomfortable in this situation -- Could someone explain to me why it should be the kid who's challenging gender norms instead of the kids being challenged? Because from where I'm standing, it shouldn't.
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/sarcasm
10/08/09
I also want to apologize for my unnecessary and rather arbitrary use of capitals. WHO AM I? KANYE?