New Morehouse College Policy Bans Sagging

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by tld221

I'm OK with all except the bolded - so theyre pretty much saying no crossdressing. Seems very "don't ask, don't tell" to me. or am i being a captain obvious?

I disagree. "Don't ask, don't tell" deals with sexual orientation. Sexual orientation and crossdressing (or transgenderism and transsexualism, for that matter) are not the same thing. Therefore, asking young men not to wear women's clothes isn't regulating who they are attracted to.

I agree with the rest of your post, except that the dresscode should pertain to everywhere on campus except maybe inside the residence halls. Laxing the dresscode beyond that will make it impossible to enforce without security measures that will be blasted in the media.

I think the real conflict is that people see college campuses as places of free expression and self-exploration. Most private and public institutions have always found ways, perhaps more subtle than a dresscode, to keep the more "distracting" modes of expression in control.

Morehouse's policy may just have bad timing and come as a surprise to those who enjoyed an all-male atmosphere where they could wear really baggy clothes or a woman's tunic. Advertising the assistance of an 11 year old didn't calm the naysayers, either. Hampton Univ. and other institutions didn't wait for shit to hit the fan to take a critical look at its policies. Give Morehouse's dresscode a few years and it will become ingrained in the college culture with much less hooplah.

[tld221]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

I disagree. "Don't ask, don't tell" deals with sexual orientation. Sexual orientation and crossdressing (or transgenderism and transsexualism, for that matter) are not the same thing. Therefore, asking young men not to wear women's clothes isn't regulating who they are attracted to.

Ok, point taken. To me, i read that particular rule as "you need to present yourself the way society expects a heterosexual male to dress." im not trying to box anyone in on the basis of their clothes, as i know lots of straight dudes who carry purses/totebags and IMO, wear what looks good on you. It just seems to me that if a student decided to wear a tunic and ballet flats, regardless of how he thinks it defines his masculinity or orientation, the institution is within bounds to disagree and enforce otherwise.

[33girl]

I don't think they should have put the no crossdressing part in with the "dress professionally, no saggy jeans" part - IMO they are two very different issues and people are doing them for two very different reasons. Plopping them all in the same code just muddies the waters about why this is being done.

DS - you asked about men's-style clothing. I don't know how Spelman could say no to it since it's become pretty culturally accepted. Vogue and other magazines have featured women in suits and fedoras - or grungy flannel & Docs - but I've never seen GQ do a housedress layout.

And FWIW, I would totally wear a strand of pearls to a club with beat up jeans and motorcycle boots, because I'm a punk like that.

[DaemonSeid]

Originally Posted by 33girl

DS - you asked about men's-style clothing. I don't know how Spelman could say no to it since it's become pretty culturally accepted. Vogue and other magazines have featured women in suits and fedoras - or grungy flannel & Docs - but I've never seen GQ do a housedress layout.

Point taken but I think there is still a large part of of society where saggy jeans is not considered appropiate.

And while yes, certain styles may be seen in magazines, doesn't always translate into being a professional in the workforce, not unless that is what your job calls for.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by DaemonSeid

Point taken but I think there is still a large part of of society where saggy jeans is not considered appropiate.

And while yes, certain styles may be seen in magazines, doesn't always translate into being a professional in the workforce, not unless that is what your job calls for.

This is what I meant about not mixing the two together. You just did it. Spelman could hardly ban something like this as I think it would be acceptable in most workplaces. But it's definitely on the "menswear" tip.

I think the guys wearing dresses to class have ZERO to do with the guys wearing XXXXXXXXXXXL white t shirts and saggy jeans to class. It's two completely different matters and should have been addressed as such. Because, theoretically, a transvestite can be in full dress and look perfectly appropriate in an office situation. As long as you don't know she's got some junk under that Tahari suit.

[DaemonSeid]

Originally Posted by 33girl

Because, theoretically, a transvestite can be in full dress and look perfectly appropriate in an office situation. As long as you don't know she's got some junk under that Tahari suit.

I think that still may depend on what the transvestite is wearing