Is the teen look singling out individuality or receiving more attention than needed?
Artwork by Kiera Classen
Adults believe spending time with young people keeps them young, but when standing in a crowd of Spartan students they may discover exactly how ancient they appear in comparison to the youth of today. And rightfully so.
From the time when parents are dressing us, to when we began dressing ourselves, the teen look has changed tremendously. This has always been true of every age. Each generation develops a different fashion, so why not allow it? I think it is important for parents to allow their children to express themselves through fashion because it separates who they are as people.
For many teens, hair and clothing is as important to them as food and water. Whether it’s tattooing, body piercing, or the latest look in clothing, teens express themselves through what they wear and how they look. That’s because adolescence is a time when humans are creating their own separate identity, and a large part of that is expressed through fashion.
While in elementary school appearance doesn’t have a profound affect on a person’s social life, but as one grows older, people can see the changes in students’ attitudes towards appearance. Middle school is when fashion becomes a big deal. If it wasn’t getting the latest pair of sneakers and sandals, or the best updo and curls, there was a great desire to have something everyone wanted. In separating the cools from the jocks, the nerds from the preps, the outfit worn played a big role. From a different person’s perspective, Thomas Jefferson High School’s Teacher Effectiveness Coach, Jeff Rimkus, stated his opinion on teen fashion. “It’s a lot different from when I was a kid, always changing. But it’s not better than mine!” Each generation holds their own fashion memories as what defined their own style.
Television is a big thing to most kids, but are the shows broadcast having an effect on students? From the information shown in movies, news, and even by observing their surroundings, teens lack something very important: self-esteem. The majority of teens try to fit in by having the hottest clothing, perfect hair, and perfect bodies, while also trying to be cool and popular. They do this in order to fit in. Are they worrying more about appearance than grades? Teachers believe it’s affecting their concentration on schoolwork. TJ Student Intervention Specialist Waunetta Vann says, “No I don’t think it is affecting students or teachers, as long as the teachers can see through it (sense of fashion).”
Many parents give up on telling their teens what their appearance should look like. Parents believe that their children are going to do all kinds of crazy things to express themselves, or even distinguish themselves as different. As long as they are not hurting themselves or others, many allow it, no matter how one may feel about pink hair, ripped jeans or tie-dye shirts. Is this a good or bad thing? TJ Student Teyawana DeBose wanted everyone to know how she deals with parents telling her about her fashion. “I feel that if I buy my clothes I can express myself and my mood”
Whether it’s fitting in or standing out, express yourself.
