It has been a hot topic since MDIS introduced dress code to its students and many were fuming.

So this morning, my colleague shared his views on students’ dressing on our campus. “A lecturer called to radio this morning and said he sees more and more butt cracks around campus.”

I do notice more super mini shorts and skirts around campus these days. But the question is, what is “appropriate” to dress to education institute? Note: Education Institute.

This student here said “As long as you are not too skimpily dressed, I think it’s fine. We wear what we feel comfortable in.”

Pic taken from the Electric Newpaper

And when asked for her reason of dressing so, she answered:“I have a friend who tells me to cover up more, but I see it as a way of reinforcing my own identity.”

Today, I flashed the news on the projector in my class. I was curious of how my students think and what their definition of “appropriate” is. The moment I brought up the picture above, most of them exclaimed:“Wow….SO SHORT!”

I was surprised and glad at the same time. I thought they wouldn’t think that it was inappropriate. Of course there was a handful of mischievous guys exclaimed “HOT!”at the back of my class. -_-

So that brought me to discuss in the class,“What is skimpily to you?” Though I am not TOO OLD for them but somehow, I felt that there could be a “generation gap”.

One of them said,“It depends on the context and environment.” I grinned.

“True. So what do you think of me if I am wearing mini skirt and spaghetti-strap top lecturing now? What will you think of me as a lecturer?”

They laughed, some said “Yer…so slutty”, and I knew I have put my points across.

So what kind of “identity” are we talking here? If dressing up is just to flaunt your identity like the lady said above, what kinda of “identity” or “image” she wants to portray and has portrayed to others?

Of course, one could say:”Why do I have to care what others think about my dressing? As long as I LIKE IT and I AM COMFORTABLE WITH IT.”

Well, there are many things that we also wish we could DO because WE FEEL LIKE DOING IT or WE LIKE IT. But what do you think have stopped most of us from doing it?

Posted under Thoughts & musings | [8] Comments