Oct 11, 2006

College Classroom Fashion

I love fashion, and I'm glad that I have college students in my classroom, or I would never know what was in style! But let me offer a little advice about dressing for the college classroom.

Now, I'm no prude. I think women should dress in any way they feel comfortable. Nonetheless, I'm sometimes alarmed by the amount of skin displayed by the young women in my classroom.

The thing is, women have fought an awfully long time to be taken seriously in the classroom. Professors often used to assume that women were only in college to earn their "MRS" degrees (i.e. to find a husband), and didn't pay them much mind. Because of this, I think it's important for female students to take a little pride in themselves as serious students.

Unfortunately, it's hard for professors and fellow students to take a woman seriously who is so scantily clad that she may as well be topless. Clothes like this don't convey the message, "I'm a serious and intelligent student." Don't get me wrong, ladies-- go ahead and dress however you want on the weekends-- but when you're in the classroom, do yourself a favor and turn up the modesty a notch.

And guys, I've got some advice for you too. Casual is fine for a college classroom, but if you wear torn jeans and a filthy T-shirt and have a baseball cap pulled over your face, who's going to take you seriously? There's always a few guys in my class who I call the Baseball Cap Boys, because they sit in the back of the room and hide under their hats, and they're always the last ones whose names I learn. If you must wear a baseball cap (especially if it's a Bad Hair Day), wear it so we can see your face.