this is probably the most debated topic ever...but think about it ..do they really create an identity? while im at this topic i might as well ask what is an identity? is it your characteristics as a person, is it who you are according to your profession? and are you any less of one if you do not don a uniform?

I don't think so.

Uniforms seem more like an attempt to force employees into the boxes that they want them to fit into. It's a way of taking away identity, not creating it.

I'm not saying that uniforms are a bad thing. There are many advantages to them, but that's not the debate.

Identity, to me, is not who you are but who you think others think you are.

Identity is not your real personality, just an assumed one.

That was wonderful. You said everything I wanted to, only better. Great job. I can't add anything now seeing as how you covered everything I would have said in a seemingly perfect matter. It's great! (Note: in case you are wondering I'm honestly not being sarcastic.)

http://www.homestead.com/rouncefield/files/as_soc_method_9.htm

That's quite an interesting site, any interpretavist/interactionist sociological research about identity in peer groups, notably in reference to deviance and behaviour would also be good to take a look at, which follows on more or less from SinCeRe's comments.

Grant

Stella Splendens
December 22, 1985 - March 27, 2003
RIP
...Always.

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Do uniforms create an identity

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Yes. I wore school uniforms for 10 years. By looking at me in uniform, people knew what school I went to. Of course with this comes assumuption. The wearer of the uniform is placed in a class or a group, based on the school.

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and are you any less of one if you do not don a uniform?

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Honestly? Who I was in uniform, wasn't always the same as when I was out of uniform. While I was in the school uniform, I represented the school. If I did anything wrong, my actions reflected the school. If got in trouble, out side of school, while in my uniform (even outside of school hours), I could get in trouble at school.

I wasn't any less of who I was when I was in uniform, I just payed closer to attention to some of my actions. (though mostly as soon as school was out, my skirt came off, so I was just in boxers and a blouse, hense, not idenified with a particular school (all Cathloic High Schools wore white blouses and skirts).

I think uniforms help close the barrior that some might have seen with the way some people dress. You get to know the person for who they are, and not by what they ware.

In short, to answer your question, yes, uniforms do create an identity.

Life is real--life is earnest--/ And the grave is not the goal:/ Dust thou art, to dust returnest,/ Was not spoken of the soul. (5-8) Longfellow "A Psalm of Life"

"And if anyone says in a loud voice "Bother, it's Eeyore" I can drop out again."

I think uniforms create an identity for the team or group they're made for and not for the individual itself. Makes sense when you think about it, doesn't it?

Edit: Oops, I just read Sinncere's reply! lol, sorry, I didn't mean to be a copycat [hehe I think I should just stick to Poetry and disallow my stupid brain from wandering into DF!]

And this was my first time in around a year, too!! :/ Goodbye DF

--------Sanya--------
Stella Splendens
December 22, 1985-March 27, 2003
Rest In Peace
..lost time is gone forever


[This message was edited by $anya on 03-16-04 at 01:30 PM.]

In school, I dont think there should be school uniforms. No matter what, people are really judged on looks and personality. The dorkiest kid with no friends could wear the coolest clothes, and still not have friends. So uniform or not it doesn't help them. In business though, I can understand them because they give off a professional appearance.

uniforms take the identity away from people. Individualism appears through peoples personality and expression and the clothes you wear are a big form of expression. By wearing uniforms, especially in high schools, it taking away childrens forms of expression and making them all the same. There needs to be a variety of personalitys and clothes otherwise you end up with gradeschool children lookin as if they were in the military with no form of expression or freedom.

I have yet to see anyone define what identity is in here.

Just more useless banter from peanut gallery.

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Language is nothing more than shared normative conception that 2+3=5.

I am here to spread Quoteland Nationalism.
VIVA LA QUOTELAND!!!

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Just more useless banter from peanut gallery.

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Was this sentence intended to be an illustrative example of the point you are trying to make, or is it just a happy coincidence?

Lack of definition does not seem to be a major concern for those involved in this debate. Let them be.

Davdoodles
XXX

Yes, and where I am from .. students get beat up over that.


"It's not premarital sex. If you don't plan on getting married"
From a guy who love his single status.

First let me define identity: the distinguishing character or personality of an individual. This is from Merriam-Webster.

I would like to next mention an interesting psychological study. This was conducted in the 1970's. It was called the Stanford Prison Experiment. There are numerous references to it on the web, as it is a fairly famous study.
In essence they took a group of college students and randomly choose half to be "guards" and the others were "inmates".

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The prisoner was then issued a uniform. The main part of this uniform was a dress, or smock, which each prisoner wore at all times with no underclothes. On the smock, in front and in back, was his prison ID number. Rubber sandals were the footware, and each prisoner covered his hair with a stocking cap made from a woman's nylon stocking.
It should be clear that we were trying to create a functional simulation of a prison -- not a literal prison. Indeed, as soon as some of our prisoners were put in these uniforms they began to walk and to sit differently, and to hold themselves differently -- more like a woman than like a man.

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This was a quote directly taken from DR. Zimbardo's study. He was not only studying the role of uniforms on identity, but also what effect certain roles, or labels have on identity, and personality. His experiment had to be prematurely terminated because the "guards" began taking their roles too seriously. I believe this study alone is a very good argument that uniforms strongly influence identity.

Now on a personal note, I wear a uniform every day, often for 15 hours or more. I even have a uniform that I sleep in. Wearing civilian attire is a privelige(SP?). I can be made to wear my uniform 24 hours a day. I must say that the uniform I wear is very much a huge part of my identity. Every time I put on my uniform it reminds me of who I am, and what I do. It also reminds me of how hard I worked to wear it. As well, it inspires in me a strong sense of pride. I carry hundreds of years of tradition and sacrifice with me when I wear my uniform. So therefore I nust entirely agree with Eeyore Lynn.

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Honestly? Who I was in uniform, wasn't always the same as when I was out of uniform. By Eeyore Lynn

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I am not just me when I am in uniform, I am representing my country, my Corps, and the millions who have worn this uniform before me. As a woman I also represent every other woman that serves with me, before me, or after me. I have to watch what I do and say when in and out of uniform. So yes my uniform does form my identity. (some may say I am brainwashed, but I assure you I am very able to think for myself) When a person asks me to describe myself, I always start off with; " well I am a Marine".
Thanx for reading the ramblings!
Nunya

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Originally posted by Ladon:

I have yet to see anyone define what identity is in here.

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"The collective aspect of the set of characteristics by which a thing is definitively recognizable or known."

Definition of identity as provided by Dictionary.com. In that same logic, I provided the following in my initial response to this post:

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Identity in the sense of individuality is the emotional, mental, and physical representation and manifestation of yourself.

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I slit my palm open with the pen, and slammed my hand against the pad,
And the letters imprinted from my blood like footprints upon sand...

my suicide.

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Identity in the sense of individuality is the emotional, mental, and physical representation and manifestation of yourself.

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Yup, absolutely obscure and vague.

*********************

Language is nothing more than shared normative conception that 2+3=5.

I am here to spread Quoteland Nationalism.
VIVA LA QUOTELAND!!!

Obscure and vague?

I would say it's more substantial than what the online lexicon provided. Surely a more in-depth description of the term can be provided, but I doubt it wouldn't border the realms of being anal considering the topic at hand.

Maybe you could provide the definition of the word itself, if you're so inclined to have the matter exposed.


___________________________________________________________________

I slit my palm open with the pen, and slammed my hand against the pad,
And the letters imprinted from my blood like footprints upon sand...

my suicide.

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I doubt it wouldn't border the realms of being anal considering the topic at hand.

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That is exactly the problem with QL right now. LAZINESS!

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Language is nothing more than shared normative conception that 2+3=5.

I am here to spread Quoteland Jingoism.
VIVA LA QUOTELAND!!!

That is whole 'nother issue to be discussed at your whim, and it doesn't really contribute to the topic presented in this post. Like I said, you could easily be the "better man" in this forum by defining the word itself.

Then everything would be copacetic.


___________________________________________________________________

I slit my palm open with the pen, and slammed my hand against the pad,
And the letters imprinted from my blood like footprints upon sand...

my suicide.