Category: Unit 5

Growing up, I attended a private school for elementary and middle school, where uniform was worn daily, and where the term free dress day was almost as special as snow day. First through fifth grades wore khaki pants or shorts with dark red shirts, and sixth through eighth grades wore khakis and navy blue shirts. Each shirt had to be stitched with the school logo, and there was certainly no going around that. Girls were also allowed to wear skorts, comparable to a skirt, but with a pair of built-in shorts. Needless to say, this was not the most flattering look for younger girls and boys who were just beginning to figure out exactly who they were.

A great amount of criticism came from outsiders who claimed that school uniforms impinged upon individualism, but at the time, I really didn’t know any better. In response to these claims, I can remember school officials stating that a uniform kept things more formal, and because our school was located in an area with a high incidence of crime, uniforms made it easier to keep an eye over students at recess or when passing between buildings. In my opinion, safety is a greater priority than individualism, but limiting the development of individualism is never ideal. Certainly, we found other ways to express ourselves, for example, through hairstyles or shoes. In addition, requiring uniformity of dress code left little room for judgments of students’ economic class, of which I think wardrobes are often indicative.

Aside from school uniforms, I have always been interested in dressing and presenting myself well and in an attempt to stay up-to-date with the latest fashion trends, reflecting my value of awareness. I would certainly say my look is on the more conservative side, which reflects my introverted character. I do not often wear bright colors because I do not like to have much attention drawn toward myself, and I simply think that neutral colors are easier to match. I have never tried dying my hair because I have always felt content with its natural color. I do enjoy experimenting with new hairstyles, which I find to be a more subtle way of expressing individualism through hair. Long hair has always been my forte, and I think this consistency is representative of the consistency I prefer in everyday settings.

Once in high school, and relinquished of my private school uniform, I enjoyed a greater degree of customization in my dressing and body adornment. I balanced days spent in sweats and hoodies with dressier days that included outfits pieced together more deliberately. I preferred wearing clothing that was somewhat fitted to show femininity, but that was loose enough to preserve dignity. I enjoyed wearing T-shirts, sweatshirts, and sweatpants from various volleyball teams, which seemed to represent my valuing of athleticism and physical health.

Personally, I am not a fan of excessive body piercings or tattoos, but I can understand why so many people are keen about them. This diversion, I think, is the result of growing up with parents whom were always very vocal in their disapproval of tattoos. The values of both of my parents, along with my two sisters, have had an immense effect on my personal values. If I were to ever get a tattoo, it would have to have great significance and deep meaning for me. When I think of objects or people who have such a great impact on me, I think of my family, and I know that not one of them would want me to celebrate them with a tattoo.

In the peer community I am surrounded by today, values certainly vary, but a few can be specified as core values. Among these are fitness, comfort, acceptance, and diversity. It seems that workout fads are coming and going more quickly than ever, and I think the prevalence of workout clothes in the fashion industry accompanies this movement. My peers, for the most part, are heavily concerned with their physical health, and as a result, basketball shorts and yoga pants seem to be in just about everyone’s wardrobe. Comfort is just as prevalent, in terms of material and fit, as well as feeling comfortable with one’s appearance and self. Along with this comes acceptance. For the majority of young adults, acceptance is always being strived for, and this is reflected in personal presentation. There exists an unspoken competition to stay up-to-date with the latest fashion trends and hairstyles. One day, it is the high-low skirt and the next is the ombre hair coloring. Lastly, diversity seems to be heavily sought-after. Just as much as we want to be accepted, we also want to diversify and differentiate ourselves as unique from one another.

For this week’s discussion assignment I chose to observe three different people during a physics lecture. Yes, I am a part of this class section, but I found people-watching to be a bit more entertaining than the actual lecture.

 

Subject #1

If I had to choose one word to describe the physical appearance of this woman, I would choose athletic. Like most other majors, you seem to run into the same familiar faces each day in class, and this girl was no exception. I knew who she was, but was not too familiar with her personality or background. During class, she was focused on completing another assignment, along with the couple friends sitting around her. She had very little, if any, makeup on, and she was wearing bright blue yoga pants. I think both of those adornments, or lack-thereof, say a lot about her values and beliefs. I would guess that she is comfortable with her own natural beauty and doesn’t feel the need to put on makeup for class. I think her bright blue pants were indicative of another form of confidence – her being okay with drawing a bit of attention to her legs. I think it is easy for me to make these assumptions because this is how I feel when I go without makeup or wear a brighter piece of clothing.

 

Subject #2

Next up is yet another familiar face, but I know much less about this man and where he has come from. He is tall in stature and always seems to be wearing very baggy and loose fitting clothes. In contrast to Subject #1, I think this man probably feels much more comfortable in this type of dress, rather than anything more form fitting. His clothes are always dark in color, and today is no exception. I think this may be a reflection on his emotions and personality – perhaps he does not enjoy being the center of attention and is maybe a more introverted person. He also has tattoos covering the majority of both of his arms. He is wearing a long sleeve today, as he does most days, but his sleeves are partially rolled up, revealing his colorful arms. I think sleeve tattoos are much more common in our generation, rather than any older generations, so it is safe to assume this man is near my age.

 

Subject #3

Lastly, is a woman with a less familiar face. She is shorter in stature and seems to be very happy and eager to see her friend sitting next to her. She is wearing glasses and has a beaded and feathered hairpiece in. She quickly sheds many layers of clothing before getting settled at her desk. The sweater she has on is bright yellow and seems quite tattered. She looks more unique than the majority of the students in the classroom. I think that these characteristics indicate a woman who is very comfortable being different than others and may even choose personal adornments and wardrobe choices that set her a part from others. Maybe she likes wearing these somewhat funky glasses as an accessory, or perhaps she wears them everyday for practical reasons. Her hairpiece is artsy, which I think is a quality she probably possesses. Again, I think I come to these conclusions because they are representative of what I would see in myself if I were to dress and accessorize in the same way.