DO UNIFORMS STIFLE
INDIVIDUALITY?
"Creativity typically results from a less restrictive,
open atmosphere where individuals feel they have the freedom to express ideas,
create original works and think critically."-Suzanne Burgoyne
Standardized clothing has become a contradiction as some feel that
uniforms don't meet the purposes they were intended for, while some opine it as
a successful effort to combat negative behaviour and improve overall
performance of the organization.
Uniform is a distinctive outfit that serves to identify members of a group or an organization. And individuality is the characteristic that contributes to the differentiation or distinction of someone or something from a group of otherwise comparable identity.
There are good reasons to mandate dress codes for students and the staff. Uniforms create a sense of identity and unity in an organization. By having all the members of a group dress the same way, it promotes the idea that they are all part of something bigger than themselves individually. Uniforms give individuals visible identity- especially when confronted by people from other organizations. School uniforms ensure that all students attending a school wear practical clothes that are appropriate for both learn and play. It should also be considered that if they were allowed ultimate control of their dress, there's a likely chance that they would choose fashionable clothes over practical clothes. In fairness to me, a uniform is okay. At least it saves individuals from deciding long on what to wear for an office hour or a school day. Uniforms set a more serious tone within the school environment that is more conducive to learning and can improve student performance.
Children are often ridiculed by other children because of the way they dress. Many people use clothing to express themselves and to define themselves. Uniform policies remove the socioeconomic gap between the children of well off parents and that who are not so well-to-do. School uniforms are vital for school safety in the 21st century as they allow teachers and staff to quickly distinguish between students and strangers. This helps to spot the intruders and possibly unwanted stranger to take apt action to protect vulnerable students.
However, it's often argued that making children wear standardized uniform stifles their expression. Self-expression is an important part of human development, with research noting that those who don't wear uniforms have a better understanding of self-perception. Letting students choose, what to wear is giving them freedom and I feel like taking away that is basically taking away their freedom.
Uniforms interfere with students' self-confidence and can stifle the
willingness of an individual to engage in creative activities or his/her
comfort in doing so. Actually a school should be a place where diversity-not
uniformity is celebrated. Uniforms can't please the religious sentiments of all
individuals. Wearing a dress that doesn't obey or follow the values may be
burdensome for the people. For example, if the uniform doesn't allow Islamic
girls to wear burkha, it feels that the organization disregards such students
and their identity.
School uniforms restrict expression of a child's unique individuality. We can't even be ourselves and we wouldn't feel like ourselves because we would have to wear what everyone has to wear every day and I think wanting to be someone else is a waste of who you are. We are so accustomed to disguise ourselves that at the end, we might find it difficult to recognize ourselves. We are quite aware of the fact that "Every cloud has a silver lining." But the standardized clothing policies force unique individuals to throttle their stuff, repress their talents and look alike. George Carlin has questioned “Don’t these schools do enough damage making all their kids think alike, now they have to make them look alike?"
To conclude, clothes don't make the man or woman for that matter. So, I'd say individuality transcends beyond clothes you wear, it's your personality that counts the most.
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