Cons Of Uniforms

Uniforms are the dress code that encourages uniformity among peers in an educational or professional institute. Uniforms are present all across the globe and are frequently touted as tools of similarity and socialism but what people forget is that every phenomenon has more than just one facet. And uniforms are not immune to this rule. Even they have an impact that is undesired and uncalled for. While there are western countries like U.S. and eastern ones like Japan who have abolished the uniform system, the erstwhile colonial superpower, UK, and eastern nations like India and Sri Lanka still swear by the uniform system. Though there are many institutions which have promoted uniforms time and again, it is the school uniforms which get maximum leverage in the discussion. However, the pointers given below don’t single out institutions; it states the cons of uniform – in general – as an eye-opener. 

 

The freedom of expression, which is a fundamental right according to the constitution of India and one of the first rights to be accepted by the UN, is not chracterised just by our verbal expression; it also includes our attire. Some sociologists believe that by curbing individual expression, uniforms drive people towards more inappropriate ways of expression, such as improper use of make-up and jewelry. 

The religious sentiments of individuals differ depending upon their upbringing and include dressing as an essential ingredient. Uniforms can never appease the religious sentiments of all individuals. Their individualities are better reflected in clothes of their choice. 

Discomfort
Uniforms also tend to cause a lot of discomfort to people, especially when made out of outfits that do little to add to a person’s comfort. 

Every individual’s body type is different. What is perfect for one body type may embarrass other body types. Hence, people tend to have a low self-esteem, especially kids. 

Uniforms follow a standard procedure of tailoring and getting them made to the accepted standards can be quite an expensive affair. 

Uniforms are not like regular clothes, which keep coming back in fashion. Their utility ends when the individual’s tenure in the organisation comes to a close. Some professional institutes have a tendency of changing their uniforms from time to time to avoid monotony, which increases the expenses, while school kids tend to gain height every year, thus making their uniforms redundant each passing year. 

 

Uniforms do not promote style and can often be an embarrassment at times with their out-of-the-worldly looks and designs. They may make people ill at ease. 

These days the basic purpose of the uniforms is getting defeated. At work places, senior team has a different uniform than the junior ones. This difference clearly picks out the junior team from the rest of the employees and the chances of gelling in with the others are nullified. 

Since people spend most of their time in educational institutes or workplaces and follow a dress code almost all their lives, they inadvertently lose out on their individual style and the dressing sense suffers. 

Wearing the same dress daily tends to make people weary overtime and their inherent brightness and zeal are dimmed by their prolonged exposure to monotonous clothes. 

The notions that people have about a company or a school are unintentionally transferred on to the person wearing the uniform of the particular institute. The subjects do not get gauged for their abilities or inabilities; they are rather subject to the notions that their institute instigates among common people.