School Uniforms

School uniforms are a highly debated topic in countries across the world. With it being compulsory in some, and not in others, there's a wide array of benefits and drawbacks one can see with these.

The main benefit of a uniform is that a uniform helps promote equality. Ensuring all students wear the exact same outfit removes the possibilities of bullying or mocking due to a less privileged student's clothes as compared to a more privileged one.

However, the drawback severely outweighs the benefit. Uniforms in most countries are highly gender-based, with boys wearing trousers and a shirt and girls wearing skirts and a shirt. Add on a tie and a belt and this makes up the average uniform across several schools globally. Adding on restrictions, primarily for the girls such as the length of the skirt, tightness of the shirt, etc. makes it that much more uncomfortable to wear.

Let's look at uniforms in some countries across the globe.

India

30 years ago school uniforms were made compulsory by the Indian government. Many times children find it better to wear colourful attires to school more appealing than uniforms. However, I do find a sense of uniformity and oneness in uniforms.

Each school has their own patterns, colours, school logos as well as designs that show the individuality and difference of each school. Some schools have girls wearing divider skirts while some have pinafores and some have track pants and t-shirts as their sports uniforms whilst boys wear shirts and pants. Some schools make it compulsory for students to wear blazers while some do not.

However, although I like uniforms and the concept of uniformity in schools I still find it unsettling that girls are not given the choice of wearing what they feel most comfortable in. For example, as plain white skirts might be smart and attractive to one's eye it is stressful for a girl to maintain and keep track for particular reasons or how irritating it is to keep adjusting the skirt due to growth in an individual during the academic year or the school logos being right on their chests.

I would love if we girls were too given opportunities to either wear pants and shirts and the tie with the colour coordinated to the logo with the school logos on a blazer or a jacket that should be compulsory to wear during the morning assemblies or the if we get to wear track pants, a t-shirt which has the logo stitched and a school hoodie. As it would be easier for us to not be worried and walk, sit and play a bit more freely.

Sweden

School uniforms in Sweden is not the norm. In most European countries, you might notice that children who go to school do not have a uniform.

A few reasons why Sweden prefers not to have uniforms in school are that they want to encourage students to have the freedom to express themselves. Swedish schools are required to comply with the Swedish Education Act. According to the act, school uniforms are a violation of student rights. The School Inspectorate determined that “Dress and appearance should be considered an individual expression, decided by students themselves. How one dresses is a matter of the individual’s freedom and integrity.” The Inspectorate maintained that freedom must be respected as part of the fundamental values for educational activities required by both the Educational Act and the Educational Plan.

Students may not have uniforms, but they have dress codes that they have to strictly follow dress codes vary from school to school. Some schools may have a stricter dress code than others. This depends on what the school thinks is right for children of a certain age to wear.

A few schools also do have school jackets, jerseys, and t-shirts, which the students wear. Students are also encouraged to wear clothing that the school has provided when they compete with other schools or host events.

Of course, some schools prefer to have a uniform. The reason these schools choose to have a uniform is that children can be dressed equally since no one wears branded clothes. Uniforms are provided to the students at the start of the academic year. If the school is a public free school, the uniform is free of charge as the funding for public schools is entirely covered by the government.

USA

School uniforms are a highly debated topic in the United States. All private schools have them but rarely do any public schools enforce rules for them. Both sides have very strong arguments for whether or not all schools should have them.

People supporting them state that they increase student safety. For example, students won’t be able to conceal weapons, drugs, and other bad things under baggy clothes. It would also be easier to spot an intruder because they will be wearing something different than the uniforms required. Uniforms have also proven to keep students more focused on school than on deciding what clothes to wear. When all students wear the same thing, they are less worried about how they look and fit in with their peers. There is less distraction and drama as well. Along with increased focus and safety, there is also more school/community spirit. Studies have shown that students feel more belonged and become more respectful, caring, and trustworthy. Everyone is included in a larger “team.”

While many argue that uniforms are beneficial to students, others say that schools without uniforms are better for kids. One reason they give is that if students can choose what they wear, they can express themselves freely. Their clothes can show what they like, their mood, and other factors about their personality. Another point critics point out is that uniforms tend to be more for conformity. Most uniforms consist of girls wearing skirts and boys wearing pants/shorts. However, those who are non-binary or gender fluid may not have an option and feel uncomfortable wearing clothes they prefer not to. Finally, uniforms can increase the divide between socioeconomic classes. Wealthier families have the money to afford cleaner and higher quantities of clothes. On the other hand, those who are poorer may only have one or two sets that are tattered, ripped, and dirty. It shows a clear line between the students who come from higher class families compared to those in the lower class.

The debate between enforcing uniforms or not hasn’t come to a conclusion yet, and won’t anytime soon. As of now, private school students will continue to wear uniforms while public school students will be able to choose their clothes freely.

Taiwan

In 2015, protests against uniform regulations pushed controversies to the forefront of gender equality and youth rights participation in Taiwan. Organizations including Free Your Uniform, Taipei First Girls Shorts Alliance, Yellow Shirt Movement of Jingmei Girls High School, and National Taichung Girl’s High School (TCGS) took off their skirts and showed the shorts they were wearing underneath during the assembly to speak up against the school rules.

In April, President Tsai met with the student activists regarding the skirt mandate policy in schools, Tsai replied, “One of my campaign videos shows students replacing their skirts with shorts. As you can see, I totally support you.”. The Minister of Education also replied in their official announcement: “This is to protect students’ rights of self-determination in terms of body and personality development. It will also encourage them to manage themselves well," The new regulation was then established including the relaxation on restricting students’ hairstyles and zero punishment applied to students regarding uniform. Conversations and opinions on gender equality enjoyed a thriving bloom as schools and governments are willing to amend the country’s uniform policy and value the voice of women and students.

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Authors

• Siya Heda

• Ananya Ajith Kumar: India

• Adithi Natarajan: Sweden

• Shivika Varshney: USA

• Nicole (Wei-Tung), Ling: Taiwan