Cities across the U.S. are considering passing a law that would ban people from wearing baggy pants that show boxer shorts and thongs.
I too am tired of teen boys walking around with their boxers showing and teen girls with their bum crack hipsters. But, if you ask me this is kind of insane.
I can see if schools wish to make teens pull up their pants, but banning them all together in public is ridiculous.
In other news a ban on ‘hoodies’ has sparked debate. Hoodies are no longer just a fashion statement, because they can hide the face. Some school state that hoodies can be worn, but the hoods must be off inside the building.
My children was discussing this tonight with my husband and I. My son stated that made sense for the reasons that they disguise the wearer and could pose a threat in school. True!
What are your thoughts? Is it right to ban hoodies and baggy pants?
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8 responses so far ↓
Wrote: Sep 6, 2007 at 12:22 am
I agree that schools can (and should) dictate dress codes within their walls and on their grounds during school hours (and after hours school functions). My kids attend a school with mandatory uniforms.
However.
I haven’t heard that this ban is in cities across the country. I’ve actually only heard it from one crank down in Arkansas (I think). Whatever it is, it’s a ridiculous thing to try and make into law. What’s next, the government coming into my bedroom and telling me what I can or cannot do in the privacy of my own home? What blogs I can read?
I guarantee that in the EXTREMELY unlikely event a statute of this sort is passed that it will (a) not be enforced; (b) probably be overturned by the courts; and (c) make the jurisdiction the laughing stock of the country for the fifteen minutes in between parts of the latest Britney/Lindsay/Paris faux pas.
Telling people how they must or must not dress is censorship. And I’m vehemently anti-censorship. Anyone who censors others ought to be shut up for their own good. Oh, wait.
Ian
Wrote: Sep 6, 2007 at 12:45 am
Some parts of Louisiana are criminalizing the act according to Foxnews.
“Three towns and parishes in the Pelican State have just passed an “anti-sagging” or baggy pants law; three others are currently considering the same ban.”
Atlanta is debating an amendment that would ban baggy pants.
They also tried to ban them in Stratford, Connecticut.
You should really read the news more. It is very educational.
Ian, just who are you implying censors?
Wrote: Sep 6, 2007 at 9:34 am
Rose, If they banned them in a town I lived in and it wasn’t overturned, I would do my best to move. I hate looking at it, too… but if they banned everything one of us didn’t like looking at — we would all be naked — and heck they’ve already banned that.
I suppose if they pass that one and the right person gets in power there will be no shirts with buttons or v or u neck blouses because they expose cracks, too, but then I guess to many people like that view….
I do believe schools have the right to create their own dress codes, though I do think they go overboard at times. Personally, I prefer uniforms for school — and parental guidance otherwise.
Wrote: Sep 6, 2007 at 11:03 am
In my opinion, I don’t think it is right to ban an article of clothing. While I agree that I think the school should be permitted to pass a rule that the hoods cannot be up inside the school or that pants must be pulled up, I think it is a stretch to ban the article of clothing completely.
If a school wants that much control, simply institute a mandatory uniform. Otherwise, I don’t think it is there place to dictate what wardrobe a student must purchase to attend school.
When I was in high school, we had a rule enforced that you could not wear hats in school. The rationale was due to gangs. Likewise, if a student was found to be wearing a shirt with an offensive slogan, they would be required to turn the shirt inside out or change.
Wrote: Sep 6, 2007 at 3:15 pm
http://timesunion.com/ASPStories/Story.asp?storyID=612472 Hoodie ban in Albany (NY) school district.
Wrote: Sep 7, 2007 at 1:34 am
I think in school a dress code is expected and it’s not unreasonable.
In cities, unless someone is exposing something obscene, I don’t think that it’s right to ban a particular fit or type of clothing.
I agree with you that hoodies can conceal a person’s identity; however, so can a ski-mask or bandana but it’s not illegal to own, carry or wear either of those. I’m sure people would be suspicious of you, but I’m not aware of laws preventing you from doing it. Please correct me if I’m wrong..
Hoodies are a comfortable staple in a lot of people’s wardrobes. Baggy pants, it has been argued, is a cultural thing and the race card is usually played when arguing against the laws that criminalize wearing them. I don’t want to see underpants in public, but I think making it a crime is a bit outrageous.
I don’t like seeing butt-crack either but plumbers have always gotten away with it!
So, what’s next? What if my jeans are too tight and people don’t like the look of denim stretched across my butt? Make it a crime? Maybe the fashion police, but I just can’t wrap my brain around serious laws against certain types and fits of clothing when no body parts are exposed.
Wrote: Sep 7, 2007 at 4:45 am
I think it is a little extreme.
Although I think removing ANY headgear in shops, schools, etc should be made necessary for safety. CCTV needs to be able to see everyones face to protect innocent employees etc.
Then it goes onto “well what about the safety of people on the streets? surely they matter too?”
Yes, I agree, but banning clothing isn’t the solution. It’s really an attempt at a “quick fix”.
The REAL fix would be to have more “police presence”. A higher police rate on the streets would increase street safety. More patrols is what we need, not telling someone to take off their hat.
Wrote: Sep 7, 2007 at 12:13 pm
I think that the whole pants thing is totally outrageous. Hoodies I can understand under some circumstances, but banning them altogether is entirely ridiculous.
I don’t understand the rationale behind not having head gear. I wasn’t allowed to wear hats in high school either, never really understood why. It’s not like someone’s going to hide a gun in the hood of their sweatshirt.