A blog that was recommended by James Zachary at The Next Chapter is called “Julie on Politics.” She does not publish every day but I am finding she has some interesting things to say. Recently she posted a piece about Oklahoma considering a law involving a $500 fine on people hiding their face with a hoodie. I battle these things every day in class, along with knit caps and backward baseball hats. Teaching social norms is hard when you deal with people who feel like the only norm is to look like a thug or a fool.
However, I think it is a bit too far to start demanding conformity on the streets. Historically the elite classes kept people in place with sumptuary laws. You could tell someone’s place in society by how they dressed. You had penalties for stepping out of bounds in material, color and style. I have no trouble with laws dealing with nudity and such. I have no problem with dress codes at school and work. Telling me I can’t wear my hood up to hide my face on the street is 1984 in the making. I hate hoods. I would hate even more being forced to wear one in sympathy for those who think their identity is draped in them.
Oklahoma laws on dress codes are not high on my list of things to research but such a law would be a step in the wrong direction.
homo unius libri
I agree 100%.
ReplyDeleteNext thing you know I will be defending saggy pants.
DeleteGrace and peace.
Time was when the hood on a jacket was to keep your head warm (and attached so it couldn't blow away)
ReplyDeleteWhen I was a kid the first sweat shirts came out with hoods but I don't remember anyone obsessing with them. We certainly didn't wear them up indoors. Of course we also didn't use the alphabet words, F-, N-, B-, S-, etc.
DeleteGrace and peace.
LOL! I'll be waiting!
ReplyDeleteEw.
ReplyDelete