Victoria Nguyen
What's taking it too far?
Ana Saravolac & Sarah Didora
The Downlow on Skanky Clothes
Victoria Nguyen
One hand tugs self-consciously at her music video mini while the other childishly holds a lit cigarette. Her hair is pulled so tightly that her face is taut, screaming and in pain. The blush on her cheeks is amateurishly applied, in two exaggerated clown-like circles of rouge. She is the quintessential freshman at Jarvis Collegiate, wobbling like a newborn calf down the hallways in her knee-length stiletto boots.
On one side, our heart goes out to her. We hope she finds friends and popularity. We hope the captain of the football team asks her to the dance and she is spared from the humiliation of unforgiving graffiti scribbled about her in the girls' bathroom stall. On the other side, we look down our noses at her. We wish this wannabe would take her skanky ass to another school and are willfully blind to our own similar first-year struggles.
The spectrum of blame for this 'barely there' mayhem generally consists of, first, pointing your finger at everyone's favourite Louisianan schoolgirl, Britney Spears; next, the media as a whole perpetuating this image; or finally, holding ourselves responsible for being so willing and susceptible to these accepted ideas.
Whatever the cause, we have had our fill of these tired arguments. Jamila, an OAC student, insists the way a girl dresses has more to do with the individual's personal character and upbringing. "It's about self respect, but more than that, your family values and what you were brought up with. My mom would never let me walk out of the house wearing next to nothing."
Kathryn, a Grade 11 student, explains the widespread trend of sexy clothes does not leave many other choices for girls who opt for a more casual look. "Skanky clothes are all some stores sell. It's all you see." Kathryn, whose style is comfortable and relaxed, pauses and then adds, "JLo and all those other girls don't help either."
Christina, a Grade 10 student who is an active supporter of cling-wrap clothes, explains quite bluntly, "If you've got it, flaunt it." There it is, first hand source. Christina bares all because she's got it; therefore naturally, she flaunts it. Any psychologist would tell us that Christina clearly suffers from low self- esteem and craves attention. This would be a reasonable theory, but if it's attention she wants, she certainly does get enough of it. Both male and female heads turn to check her out as she walks by. Even I catch myself looking at her chest mid-interview, but I can't help it. They're right there.
Aron Koel, an OAC student who personally admits to openly gawking, explains that sexy clothes demand immediate attention. He is most likely to approach a girl like Christina on first impression. "It just catches your eye and," here he takes a few moments to muster up the appropriate expression, "you're like, damn!"
David, a Grade 11 who exclusively seeks out scantly clad girls, explains the attraction is purely animal instinct. "It's natural.and automatically starts my go- nads a rumblin'. " These two guys are more than likely an accurate representation of the demographic that Christina appeals to. If their comments were a direct reflection of their intellect, one may wonder why on earth she would want their attention to begin with.
Her dress seems to have the opposite effect and act as a repellant towards other girls, earning her nothing but dirty looks and hateful whispers behind her back. Jamila owns up to being completely unwilling to walk down the street with someone dressed that way. " Why would I want to put that image on myself?" Christina laughs the negative attention off and declares, "Haters are just jealous they don't look like me." But Ali, Grade 12, finds this ridiculous. "Girls don't like it because it's nasty. It sets a standard for all girls to dress that way, otherwise you're branded a prude." Cynthia, another Grade 12, agrees. "They think that everyone is jealous and they're so cool, but really, people just think they're stupid."
The general assumption at Jarvis appears to be that provocative clothes are a depiction of sexual availability. You seem to surrender all intellectual competence to the masses when you wear racy outfits. Abba, a Grade 11, says, "A girl that dresses skanky is predictable. You know what they are like before you even talk to them." Angela, a Grade 12, is offended by this conclusion. She confesses to the occasional miniskirt when weather dictates, but despises the unwanted attention it brings. "I hate it," she says. "Just because I'm dressed that way doesn't mean I want to be noticed. But some girls like both the negative and positive attention; they like being thought of that way."
Ironically, this new free, self-expressing style is anything but liberating to her. In fact, it has a counter effect. Angela elaborates by discussing the crude comments and barbaric car honks and grunts she receives. "It should be liberating, but because of the way society reacts, it becomes degrading."
Idealistically, girls being able to wear what they want should be something we all cheer on, but it's not. Girls automatically resent a girl wearing tiny clothes; it's just an unwritten rule. Boys, predictably, don't have a problem with it. From both sides however, it seems there is a lack of respect for those who bare all. Nevertheless, these controversial girls appear to be content enough with their own choice of style.
It seems to be a consensus among students that it's probably just a phase and requires no immediate action from the school. At Jarvis, our vague definition of appropriate academic attire, that is laughably enforced, does not really stop anyone from wearing anything. Dress codes and uniforms are futile, seeing as how when the 3 o'clock bell tolls those oxfords get tied up and plaid skirts hiked well above the knee.
Love 'em or hate 'em, they are here, they are slutty, get used to it. Fashion is about self-expression and the individual, therefore it is subjective. A very wise man named Jesus once said, "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone." It is highly doubtful that anyone out there has not made a blasphemous fashion choice at one point or another, so perhaps we shouldn't be too quick to place judgment.
Besides, the skanky girl, with her layers upon layers of bright blue eye shadow, could just as soon kiss her teeth and accuse you of dressing like an uptight prude who has a pole stuck up your-but that's another article.
*Some names have been changed.
What's taking it too far?
Ana Saravolac & Sarah Didora
It's interesting to notice how different all Jarvis students look. From athletic, to casual wear, hip-hop or punk everyone's style is unique. It is said that how you dress is a reflection of your personality. Even your physical demeanor is affected by the clothes you wear. So, should we be judged based on what we wear?
The Jarvis dress code states that we cannot wear hoods or any item of clothing with offensive statements or images. The goal is to promote safety and respect in the school environment. Then the question to consider is what's taking it too far? Is it wearing baggy jeans down to your knees to reveal a pair of red shiny boxers or super low hip-huggers with your purple lace g-string sticking out? Could it be suicide bomber t-shirts and barely-there crop tops?
QUOTES:
"It does matter if they are practically nude because at a place like school it is not really appropriate. This is an educational institute where we are supposed to be here to learn, not to show off how much skin we've got or how good of a body we have."
- Chase Lo (OAC) -
"We live in a society where people can do what they want to do and express themselves freely."
- Eric Lee (OAC) -
"You can have clothes on and still be sexy."
- Margaret Bolinas (OAC) -
"Guys who wear their pants all the way to their knees, it's not cool."
- Nailah Tyrell (Gr. 12) -
"I get bashed for wearing wife beaters all the time. I don't like being criticized, 'cause it's what I'm comfortable with."
- Aron Koel (OAC) -
"The way you dress is no reflection of the way you are"
- Jessika Quinlan (Gr. 11) -
"Being sexy is a mindset."
- Ali Karim (OAC) -
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