"Who Are You Wearing?"

Who Are You Wearing?

In today’s society it is much more popular to determine a person’s identity by their reputation, rather than their character. A person’s reputation is based on the thoughts or words that the rest of the world thinks or says about him or her. It is most commonly determined by the crowd that a person belongs to or the way that person expresses their self. However, a person’s character is based on what type of person they believe themselves to be. Their character is their personal perception. It is shaped by their choices, their beliefs, their experiences, their upbringing, as well as their actions. If identity is who a person is, it is also what defines someone. Each day people are constantly judged by their appearance; whether that person looks dirty, snobby, nerdy, gothic, preppy, gay, or rebellious. At first glance, two people who never met may subconsciously prejudge one another before either of them can defend them self based upon what they're wearing.

If you were to walk into a high school cafeteria you would see a variety of groups, also known as “clicks.” For example: preps, jocks, nerds, etc. If you see someone who has glasses, a sweater, khakis, and is rather intelligent, most people would make the assumption that he or she is a “know it all,” or nerd. It may also be assumed when someone participates in sports and dresses athletically, that they are unintelligent, leading to the common labeling of them as “dumb jocks.” Furthermore, if someone wears Abercrombie and Fitch, Hollister, or American Eagle, then they are most of the time considered wealthy. However, many seem to forget that the fashion may have simply been passed down to them or even bought for half price at Ross. Some people only look at the price or label of clothing before noticing how that person is really expressing them self. Which when truth be told you could buy a $100 pair of jeans from Ralph Lauren and look just as good if you were to buy them for $15 from Value Village and cut holes in them yourself in order to add a little of your character to them. In all actuality, it could be argued that if we were unable to see the way someone dressed before we prejudged them, then we may better get to know them based on their personality instead of assuming who they are by the style they wear. However, society will never change their point of view on fashion’s influences within the teenage population, if high school continues to be a vivid reflection of the industrial and professional world.

It seems that when a person graduates from high school, and then college, and finishes their career as a student, that he or she is to know them self. Yet, again, why is it that in today’s society, even entering the professional world, a person struggles with their identity? At any major industrial organization, simple corporation, or even private business establishment, each will have its own high school “scene.” There are those, mainly women, which are said to get ahead in their work, because they have “sex appeal.” Women are constantly stereotyped by their fashion sense. If a woman shows up to work in a short skirt, white blouse, and a black bra and receives a promotion, many of her co-workers would think, “maybe she slept with the boss, I always see her flirting with the men around here.” Yet, had a different woman, wearing slacks, cute colorful shirts, with her hair pinned up, given the same job title with the same responsibility gotten that promotion, would people have reacted differently? Phrases like, “she worked really hard,” “she deserved it,” or “she’s a really great choice” probably would have been the more accurate depiction of that certain situation. So, what is the difference, between fashion in high school and fashion in the professional world? Society today is about what someone is wearing, not who a person really is. Everyone is constantly surrounded by a world of self conscious, judgmental, and scared people. Why scared? Think about our nation’s discrimination towards people of 3rd world nationalities. Even being labeled “American” causes someone to struggle with their identity.

Ever since September 11, 2001, our nation has striven to regain a sense of security. Although, how can the people of our country live peacefully among each other, if every other news broadcast, or Newsweek cover page, tells us that our enemies are among us? It doesn’t matter if that is said directly, or implied by a photo of a child, holding a gun, begging the question of whether or not he will grow up to be the next terrorist that attacks this country. It is a given that in everyday situations, when a person sees someone with an Iraqi ethnicity or “look,” assuming the mental image is clear, that person will most likely be frightened, have a heightened sense of awareness, or maybe even become filled with hate. Why? If people were to look back at the information, the men who attacked the World Trade Centers were more commonly wearing jeans and a t-shirt. However, because these men, although identified as possibly “Iraqi-Americans” or even “American citizens,” came from a foreign country, it is only correct of our people to assume that the rest of their society is out to get us. Is that right? Many say that “clothes are a person’s way of self identification.” During this era, people can no longer get away with the saying, “it’s just what I like to wear.” America has become dependent on defining themselves. People need a place to belong. So where do the fashion industries draw the line? Clothes will affect our reputation, probably for the rest of time, until schools begin handing out uniforms, and offices actually enforce dress codes. Then again, where does America draw the line between equality and restricted self-expression?

For good or evil, it seems that fashion in relation to our identity pervades our daily lives, helping us to shape who we really are. Identity is based upon another person’s initial reaction or thought; even though two people may have never met, it is possible that both people unrightfully took away the other’s ability to define their self. As long as we accept that we are being judged and categorized based upon our appearance and recognize that our forms of self-expression are a reflection of our character, we will become masters at defining our own identity.