The Deal with Do Rags

[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.

[DSTdimepiece]

I say kudos to making the man take off the doo rag. Anymore, it seems as if people aren't being taught a time and place for everything. To me, doo rags are fine around the house, working on the car, nothing truly public. Then Kels and everyone else has one on with suits and it's supposed to be business/club attire.

I know this wouldn't have happened at most PWIs but it should. We can't get mad and fight everytime someone tells us to improve our appearance. Especially when we aren't repping in a good fashion(women do this too, too short, too low, too tight or just not dressing period). In the workforce, they tell you what to do more than just appearance, but we aren't fighting them.

[PhrozenGod01]

Originally Posted by DSTdimepiece

I know this wouldn't have happened at most PWIs but it should. We can't get mad and fight everytime someone tells us to improve our appearance.

I honestly have to disagree. If I was told to not wear a do-rag at my school, I would only do it if every single student attending the school had to adhere to the same policy. That means, I wouldn't want to see a single turban, yarmulke, scarve, burka, or piece of attire that would be worn above the neck. I'm not saying a do-rag has any sort of cultural or religious significance at all, but if I am having a bad hair day, I should be able to cover it up. I try my best to dress for the occasion, but I feel as though my wardrobe is my business. If I want to wear something that isn't the most fashionable, that's my problem. As long as I am not distracting anyone else, I have every right to wear what I am going to wear. I can't apply that too much to the situation mentioned however. I don't know if the school was public or private. If it was the latter, they could make the guy do whatever.

The president of the school, in the first post, acted out of line too. Admonishing an adult in public is unprofessional and does not build good relationships. If the president had whispered in the young man's ear, or took him aside so no one else would hear, that would be much more appropriate. I mean, I guess that's why I chose the school I did. A ban on do-rags would have to be in my syllabus for me to actually care what other people think about them.

[06pilot]

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?

At my school we were allowed to be comfortable in our dress. That did not affect what we learned about life after college. Nor did it negatively affect our academic prowess. Not to mention that in corporate America today, many industries have relaxed dress codes anyway. For example, my daught who is a senior brand manager for Frito-Lay does not wear suits to work.

I see dress codes at HBCUs as being rather pretentious and separating the haves from the have nots.

Now if that do rag was covering up a conk, then that is a whole 'nother issue - LOL.

How do you equate a dress code as seperating the haves from the have nots? Youare assuming that the haves will dress a certain way and the have nots will dress a certain way. I know plenty of upper class rich people that have kids that where do rags baggy pants and what not. I know people inth ehood that dress very professionally and try to dress like they are about business. SO wher eyou come from has nothing to do with your dress.

On the subject. I agree with a dress code. It sets a precedence. The reason predominantly white schools dont enforce it is porbably they dont care or are afraid of offending students since we live in a sue happy society these days. But like the previous poster said college is about more than just an academic education it prepares you togo into the professional world and workforce. SO you might as well learn to look the part.

[firecracker08]

At my PWI, I wore whatever I wanted including pajamas and the occasional headscarves. Depending on the school's mission, it may be within their policy to have people take off doo rags. But honestly, there must be other problems/issues at a school aside from dress codes.

[h2omoccasin]

http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5...-australia.jpg


Do rags in public are the same as hair rollers in public. The practice communicates that the individual has not completed grooming themselves and that they are not to be taken seriously. Note the link-- it just looks trife. Boo!

[Honeykiss1974]

Originally Posted by 06pilot

How do you equate a dress code as seperating the haves from the have nots? Youare assuming that the haves will dress a certain way and the have nots will dress a certain way. I know plenty of upper class rich people that have kids that where do rags baggy pants and what not. I know people inth ehood that dress very professionally and try to dress like they are about business. SO wher eyou come from has nothing to do with your dress.

On the subject. I agree with a dress code. It sets a precedence. The reason predominantly white schools dont enforce it is porbably they dont care or are afraid of offending students since we live in a sue happy society these days. But like the previous poster said college is about more than just an academic education it prepares you togo into the professional world and workforce. SO you might as well learn to look the part.

Just wanted to say "ditto" to your thoughts. And I agree with the poster that stated that do-rags are the male equivalent to wearing rollers outside in public IMO. Just because you "can" do it, doesn't mean you "should". Appearance does matter in our society. Now I'm not saying that every campus should have ladies/men stepping out in suits, high heels and dresses (although some do on various campuses) but at least be presentable.

I'm glad that universities are now starting to take into account dress codes (I believe it is Hampton's business school that is now requiring its students to dress in business attire a few days a week) because thats how it is when you work for someone else and if this is what you're going to college to prepare for, you should be learning all the skillsss you need to suceed, both academically and culturally (in terms of working for someone else).

[AKA2D '91]

Originally Posted by firecracker08

At my PWI, I wore whatever I wanted including pajamas and the occasional headscarves.

Since you said a PWI, I can believe it, but why? (rhetorical)
And... aw nevermind! (sigh)

ETA: The above is not limited to PWIs. Over the years, I've seen the way folks walk over to the cafe in their headscarves, pajamas, and slippers. (sigh)

[PhrozenGod01]

Originally Posted by AKA2D '91

Since you said a PWI, I can believe it, but why? (rhetorical)
And... aw nevermind! (sigh)

ETA: The above is not limited to PWIs. Over the years, I've seen the way folks walk over to the cafe in their headscarves, pajamas, and slippers. (sigh)

At home I tend to eat in my pajamas, so if I'm at school hundreds of miles away, I wouldn't want to feel homesick. I am old enough to know that it wouldn't be appropriate to wear pajamas on a date or to a job interview. I just don't see the need for someone's subjective view to be forced down my throat. If I have an intramural football game after class, I should be able to come to class in sweats if I want. I'd make sure they didn't stink or anything like that. If people don't like the way I look, they don't have to look at me.

In the corporate world, some companies have stricter dress policies than others. What is considered business formal at one company, might not even qualify as casual at another. In a university setting, students should be free to find themselves. It seems rather scary to have administration telling students how to look. What's to stop faculty and staff, then, from dictating how students think and feel? Most college students are adults and should be accountable for their own actions. They should learn, themselves, that dressing a certain way yields a certain type of treatment. It should not be up to the top brass of the university to "teach" that.

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by PhrozenGod01

If I have an intramural football game after class, I should be able to come to class in sweats if I want.

Not the same thing as walking around campus in pajamas.

Originally Posted by PhrozenGod01

What's to stop faculty and staff, then, from dictating how students think and feel?

They do, to an extent. There is no such thing as complete free will and free thought. In many regards, academia is anti-creativity and many people who were once open-minded and artsy become drab and concrete when they are in school. Education is one of the premier methods of controlling a group of people through discipline and rule-establishment.

[pinkies up]

Originally Posted by RedefinedDiva

I see that some of you have never been on the Souhtern University campus on "Pretty Wednesday" LOL!!

I SWEAR that I have seen more breasts, butt, legs and thighs on a COLLEGE CAMPUS than I would see in a strip club! I have seen guys walking around with their pants to their knees. It's utterly ridiculous!

While I don't agree with a dress code, per se, I do believe there should be some sort of regulation. Though everyone should be able to express themselves freely through their dress, some folks take things too far. If you are "evolved" enough to be attending college, it's about time to modify your dress to match your vocational aspirations. One should not come to class like they have just finished their shift at the Nasty Kitty Gentlemen's Club, nor as if you and your homies are "riding dirty."

Tighten up that appearance!!!

Co-sign. LMAO (Nasty Kitty Gentleman's Club...)

[PhrozenGod01]

Originally Posted by DSTCHAOS

Not the same thing as walking around campus in pajamas.



They do, to an extent. There is no such thing as complete free will and free thought. In many regards, academia is anti-creativity and many people who were once open-minded and artsy become drab and concrete when they are in school. Education is one of the premier methods of controlling a group of people through discipline and rule-establishment.

Now I can't get Pink Floyd's The Wall out of my head.

We don't need no education,
We don't need no thought control...

Seriously, that made me think.

[BlueReign]

If you are in college then you are in the business of getting an education. Therefore, you should LOOK like you are about the business of getting an education. I can remember myself in the mid-80's with the big hair standing straight up on my head that changed colors every other week (blue, purple, etc.). I used to dress in the classic "Flash Dance/I've been raped" look with the torn up shirts and all. BUT you never know who is visiting campus and who you might run into. You only have once to make a first impression.

I used to think that the students who dressed up were trying to separate themselves (haves from the have nots). I used to hate on this girl who wore suits and carried a Coach briefcase to class. Dam, who was she trying to be? I didn't realize that even though I thought it was my right to walk around looking anyway I wanted it really didn't make a whole lot of sense. I wish that we did have strict dress code back then and that someone actually had told me to look better.

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by PhrozenGod01

Now I can't get Pink Floyd's The Wall out of my head.

We don't need no education,
We don't need no thought control...

Seriously, that made me think.

Yep.

So people need to stop pretending that how we look doesn't matter. We are essentially told how we should look all of our lives. This doesn't mean that grown adults can't still do their own thing if there aren't rules against wearing doorags on campus, but people are still free to judge you and treat you based on your choices. The fact of the matter is that white people can get away with being carefree with their appearance in more settings than black people can.

[PhrozenGod01]

Originally Posted by DSTCHAOS

Yep.

So people need to stop pretending that how we look doesn't matter. We are essentially told how we should look all of our lives. This doesn't mean that grown adults can't still do their own thing if there aren't rules against wearing doorags on campus, but people are still free to judge you and treat you based on your choices. The fact of the matter is that white people can get away with being carefree with their appearance in more settings than black people can.

Okay, I thought about it some more. Dress codes in colleges (with the exception of military institutions) are just plain silly. I was beginning to agree with some of the posters who advocated strict standards of dress, but to me, it seems rather elitist. Not everyone can afford a nice haircut every two weeks or have the resources to dry clean business attire when there is no interview that day. If I see someone with a wrinkled shirt, frayed cargo shorts, and sandals, that's his or her choice. As long as the person has a good personality and isn't a distraction, I let them be.

If I'm not comfortable wearing something, my performance will probably decline. If I have to worry about ironing a shirt before class, my head obviously isn't focused on the actual class. It's focused on ironing. If I pay to take classes, I can come dressed in a hoodie and pajama pants if I want. Unless someone is paying me or furnishing my wardrobe, I'll wear whatever I choose. The people I respect aren't superficial. And to be honest, my education actually liberated me more than it did control me. I grew up going to schools with dress codes and thought that everyone should do that to be great college bound students and all that jazz, but once I got to college, I realized that appearance isn't everything. People who judge others based on appearance are usually insecure themselves.