How the Uniforms Give Special Attraction to the Others - Coursework Example

How the uniforms give special attraction to the others -Visuality is a trap The Merriam- Webster Dictionary defines uniform as dress of a distinctivedesign or fashion worn by members of a particular group and serving as a means of identification; broadly: distinctive or characteristic clothing. Ever since human beings developed culturally and into a ‘social animal form’ from the primitive Neanderthal man, they have discovered and invented novel ideas and things in order to make life more meaningful and easy. The development of mankind into families, social groups, cultures and finally into huge civilizations all over the globe necessitated the formation of certain rules and regulations which could make the society function in a smoother way. The uniform is also one of the developments of this cultural evolution which has established an important identity in the present world. The uniform is a modification of the apparel or clothing which aims at visually setting apart a specific group of people form the rest. It starts as early as the birth of an individual when infants are wrapped in distinctive pieces of clothing inside a nursing home to make them look exclusive as ‘new born babies’ so that the attending caretaker or nurse can easily identify the babies. The only difference is the number tag which specifies which baby belongs to whom. Later on in most parts of the world, there are specific uniforms for the school going kids which delineate them from other children belonging to different schools. In fact, one can tell from the uniform itself whether the child is from one particular school or not. As the young child grows into an adult the uniforms acquire serious overtones if one enters a specific profession, specially the armed forces of a country or any organized society, sub group or profession. The pattern of any uniform in a particular profession has been broadly generalized and classified by the different countries, societies and ethno-cultural groups. The onus of a uniform is to impart a certain character to a normal human being and it varies between the two sexes. In males the uniforms are made to make them look more dominating, suave and exude masculinity. Military uniforms specifically aim at imparting the best possible outlook to the wearer so as to appear as the ultimate epitome of a fighter par excellence. The person who wears the military uniform also gains a psychological edge from the common man and it instils a sense of belonging and duty in him or her. Even females who are inducted into the army wear such uniforms which blatantly mask their feminine character. A military uniform makes a person look more aggressive, a combat professional and a person bound in certain rules and regulations attached to the particular wing of the military he or she depicts. In females the uniforms are made to make them look attractive in whatever profession they belong to with the exception of the security, military and police professions. The uniforms of waitresses, nurses, air hostesses, secretaries, front office assistants and receptionists are designed painstakingly to make them look immaculate and pertinent to the profession they are depicting. The use of uniforms in schools has been a debatable issue for a long time. Certain countries adhere to the concept of uniforms and others don’t. Countries which had been under the influence of colonial rule have carried over the legacy of the British rulers and are very strict as far as uniform codes are concerned. The European pattern of boys in shirts and knickers and girls in skirts is being followed in most of these countries with an added adornment of the school logo, a necktie or cravat with different styles of shoes for both sexes. Other countries find the practice too restrictive and allow freedom in the dress code to inculcate a sense of freedom and liberty in the young children. Certain persons (Yahoo Answers) are however of the opinion that wearing a uniform brings a group closer, make them less individual in personal outlook and inculcate a sense of cohesiveness, setting certain standards and protocols. A uniform also has a huge impact on eliminating social inequalities as people who are well off financially tend to flaunt their apparel in diverse social setups including schools. The student also can dress up more quickly and without any fuss because he or she knows exactly what to wear each morning. As the children reach high school and attain puberty, uniforms help them to attain a sense of belonging to the student community and concentrate on their studies rather than dressing up provocatively in order to attract the opposite sex which is an overwhelming emotion in that period of their lives. However in a study conducted by Brunsma & Rockquemore, (1998) student uniforms were found to have no direct effect on substance use, behavioral problems or attendance. On the contrary, a negative effect of uniforms on student academic achievement was found. Professional uniforms in the modern society aim at regularising life in the modern high speed era where a person by a mere glance can tell what profession the person wearing a particular uniform belongs to. This eliminates the necessity of asking needless questions or making queries and the person can straightaway start the conversation in a fruitful manner. For example, in time of distress it is not difficult to find and identify a police person who is the immediate necessity for the occasion. On entering a hotel premises, one can easily identify the bellboys, receptionists, guards and waiters by their uniforms. During an armed conflict the military personnel are easily identifiable by their uniforms. In a hospitable it is not difficult to spot the paramedics, nurses and the doctors because they wear appropriate uniforms. In public offices which have an appropriate uniform code the activities are much easier to conduct than in a non uniform environment. Thus it is clear that wearing a uniform is not only necessary but essential in certain sections of the modern human society. To say that ‘visuality is a trap’ as far as uniforms are concerned is correct to some extent in the sense that a uniform tends to attract one’s attention spontaneously and the brain registers who the person wearing the uniform is and what to expect from him or her. Uniforms are in modern times used in many more spheres of life than in the past when they were confined to certain limited organizations and social setups. Nowadays uniforms are liberally used by music groups, sports personnel, and private organizations as well as by special adventure campaigners. Even astronauts visiting outer space wear a particular uniform incorporating the life sustaining essentials within. Fashion creators and show organizers come up with new and novel ideas about uniforms on a regular basis. Much research and creativity is being input into this area to the extent that it has become a rewarding career in modern times. Advanced software is being used to test and create uniforms for the real as well as the virtual world, especially in the gaming industry. One can see crazy contraptions and characters being shelved out to the young consumers by giant corporations like Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo, to name a few. People are being infatuated with their favourite characters through the concept of uniforms, be they be in the virtual or the real world. In the sports arena especially, people develop love for their favourite clubs and countries based upon their uniforms which imparts an exclusive identity to them. Wearing a particular club or country T shirt symbolizes the faith and love showered on it by the wearer. The sentiment acquires fervent hysteria during sports tournaments when people depict affection for their favourite teams by wearing one or the other components of their playing colours and uniforms. Regular changes are made in the uniforms by the sports clubs to make them look more attractive as well as depicting their past achievements. People clamour to become part of organizations whose uniform they find attractive. Young boys are particularly attracted to the armed forces by the uniforms as it satisfies their fantasies for dominance and power. Young athletes and players work hard to don the colours of their respective states, clubs and the country as it imparts and bestows great honour to the one donning it. Uniforms instil a sense of belonging, togetherness and harmony between people from diverse backgrounds and familial traits. They bring people together under one common umbrella. Fussell Paul, 2002, in his book ‘Uniforms: Why We Are What We Wear’, elaborates that society itself is founded upon cloth. According to him when cloth in the form of a uniform becomes obligatory, regulated and has implied mass value, it becomes an irresistibly fascinating entity. According to him ‘uniforms ask to be taken seriously’. They impart the senses of virtue (in clergy, nuns and judges), expertise (in chefs, airline pilots and naval officers), trustworthiness (in Boy Scouts, Girl Guides and delivery men), courage (Army/Police Officers & fire-fighters), obedience (in school and university students) and cleanliness (in ice cream vendors, beauty salon employees & food workers). According to him uniforms differ from costumes by their explicit assumptions about the way every element must look. According to Paul, “The uniform, no matter how lowly, assures its audience that the wearer has a job, one likely not to be merely temporary and one extorting a degree of respect for being associated with a successful enterprise. The uniform attaches one to success.” References: 1. Brunsma D.L. & Rockquemore K.A., Feb. 1998 The Effects of Student Uniforms on Attendance, Behaviour Problems, Substance Use and Academic Achievement, The Journal of Educational Research.. 2. Fussell Paul, 2002, Uniforms: Why We Are What We Wear, Houghton Mifflin, ISBN: 0-618-06746-9 3. The Merriam-Webster online Dictionary http://www.merriam-webster.com/ 4. Yahoo Answers: Why were uniforms or dress codes introduced in colleges? http://in.answers.yahoo.com Read More