The norms are actually arbitrary. There is nothing inherently evil about wearing make up. Just as there was nothing inherently wrong with guys having long hair in the 70s. One could have forced guys to cut their hair in the 70s based on the same argument and of course it would have come at the cost of freedom. Like I said, the government has no business dictating what people can or cannot wear.
How is it an ideology to have reasonable standards? That is not arbitrary. It would be arbitrary to demand wearing pink ball caps every Tuesday.
Sure they do, if what people wear interfers with public order, such as nudity or profanity. In a limited case, such as a school, if what is worn interferers with the teaching mission, then such intervention is the role of local government.
What evidence is there that wearing make up interferes with the public order? I mean who else is harmed by someone’s decision to wear make up?
It’s a distraction and as such it is disruptive, so there is the harm. Can you not see that? “Look at me” is what the kids are screaming with this kind of behavior. Seems to me that there are enough distractions to learning and a line has to be drawn so that some actual learning can go on in school.
Again, is there a picture of the boy with the makeup? It may or may not have been an actual distraction.
Wearing plaid pants and a striped shirt can cause a distraction as well, should schools ban that type of dress as well. To my mind it is not clear that there is really much distraction. No more distraction than long hair or ear rings.
I would think a boy, any boy, wearing make-up would at least be a little bit of a distraction. But, yes, I guess a bit of eye-liner, just the right shade of blush, a touch of color and shine on the lips, a tasteful mole artfully placed on the cheek, nothing too outlandish, that wouldn’t be too distracting.
This is probably true.
Yeah, I’m not sure arguing from the vantage point of distraction is the way to go. That leaves it wide open for people to think up other distracting things that are allowed.
I think the best answer is a dress code that is followed. Boys don’t normally wear make-up and I would guess most don’t wear earrings. So, that should be stated in the dress code. Hair length is normally addressed in a dress code. If a new problem pops up from year to year, it can be addressed in the dress code.
True. And, my solution may not work then either. The dress code might end up being a thick manual if the school had to address every little thing that people could come up with. But, maybe general guidlines would curtail a lot of distractions.
Or school uniforms plus a few simple guidelines, such as “no makeup on boys.” No distraction when everyone is wearing the same thing.
Yes. (I just edited my post above to mention that particular school’s policy for all students on make-up, nail polish and jewelry.)
My daughter’s school has a pretty strict dress code. Its a public school. Any kid that doesn’t follow the dress code is put into in-school suspension for first offense and it escalates for every violation from then on. There is still leeway though for nail polish and some makeup for the boys. Seen some of the boys wear eyeliner to school, nothing real outrageous. Some of the girls and boys have their hair dyed neon colors. There is a little give and take, BUT these kids aren’t trying to push any kind of agenda. They look pretty much like everyone else going and coming out of the school.
Really? So because it’s Goth it’s a more manly type of lipstick?
That’s what they think…personally I think they’re attempting to look scary. I’ve never seen a girl wear black lipstick.