The Deal with Do Rags

[Sophist08edLady]

Originally Posted by ladygreek

Then how do you reconcile those that do not attend HBCUs and are not subjected to dress codes with the success they still achieve in life?

Actually dress codes originated at Ivy League Schools. Hence the "Oxford" shirt. It was once common practive for students at Yale, Harvard and Princeton to be required to wear a collard shirt, tie and jacket to classes. I don't beleive that everyone should be dresses in 3-piece suits to go to class, but businees casual attire is appropriate. Club-wear should def not be in class rooms. I also don't believe that this should be just at HBCUs, but in all places of higher education.

[ladygreek]

Originally Posted by Sophist08edLady

Actually dress codes originated at Ivy League Schools. Hence the "Oxford" shirt. It was once common practive for students at Yale, Harvard and Princeton to be required to wear a collard shirt, tie and jacket to classes.

I understand that and to me it was pretentious and used to separate the "elite."

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by ladygreek

I understand that and to me it was pretentious and used to separate the "elite."

There is separation in all walks of life. We're (read: within-race) not all the same people when you get to specifics. There will always be some divergence to go along with all of the convergence in experiences.

The cream of the crop isn't just about performance. People will also rise to the top based on their cultural proficiency and that includes style of dress and speech. It's what people in my field call cultural capital, social capital, and human capital. You portray a certain image and are able to network, then you will be given the opportunity to show of your knowledge and skills, as well as develop your knowledge and skills.

The big issue with this is that it is based on dominant group ideals. Cultural capital is about the style of speech and dress that the dominant group values.

[PhrozenGod01]

Unless the student was the one presenting for a class, I wouldn't be suprised if he rebelled rather vehemently. At my alma mater, I would have laughed in the president's face for an order as ridiculous as that. Not only is it my right to wear whatever I want, but it is rather sexist to state that only women can wear scarves or do-rags. Some of the brightest students in my mangement school wore pajamas to class every day if they didn't have an interview or presentation. I find that is more important that the student showed up to class. I wore do-rags in school but still got my work done, always spoke properly, and treated everyone with respect. No one ever hassled me about what I wore and I respected them for that.

Maybe I'm real heated about this issue because I went to a huge public university, with progressive liberal ideas, or maybe I just really have a problem with authority figures who treat adults like children.

[ladygreek]

Originally Posted by PhrozenGod01

Unless the student was the one presenting for a class, I wouldn't be suprised if he rebelled rather vehemently. At my alma mater, I would have laughed in the president's face for an order as ridiculous as that. Not only is it my right to wear whatever I want, but it is rather sexist to state that only women can wear scarves or do-rags. Some of the brightest students in my mangement school wore pajamas to class every day if they didn't have an interview or presentation. I find that is more important that the student showed up to class. I wore do-rags in school but still got my work done, always spoke properly, and treated everyone with respect. No one ever hassled me about what I wore and I respected them for that.

Maybe I'm real heated about this issue because I went to a huge public university, with progressive liberal ideas, or maybe I just really have a problem with authority figures who treat adults like children.

LOL at the thought of folx at the U wearing suits and dresses to classes. Now pajamas are a little much for me, but then I wouldn't wear pajamas outside of my house anyway.

[Lady of Pearl]

It was her campus and her rules, she was just reminding him of the rules. We as a society have gotten rather lax in our standard of dress, be it school, work, or church. I think she was just reminding the student of the standards of her campus and that he must adhere to that standard.

[AKA2D '91]

Doo rags, head scarves, and caps have been a thorn in the side of administrators/teachers at my school, a HIGH SCHOOL for some time. They are not part of the district's dress code (uniform policy), so it cannot be worn during the school day. It has nothing to do with elitism. It's just about adhering to school policies.
Yet, the principal, even before the cool snap came through, had to mention the removal of said items from student's heads EACH morning.