Journal of Fashion Business Vol. 5, No. 3. pp.35~48(2001) School Uniform: Socio-Psychological Meaning and Future Research Eun Ah Yoh General Manager of Marketing, Wems-C&IT Inc. 校服의 社會心理學的 意味와 向後 硏究課題 余銀兒 企劃市場調査部長, (株)윔스씨엔아이티 Abstract 본 논문에서는 교복의 다양한 요소를 사회심리학적 이론에 적용하여 설명함으로써 교복에 대한 사회심리학적 의미를 연구하였다. 본 연구는: 1) 교복의 기능, 장점, 단점, 의미에 관한 기존 문헌자료를 조사하고, 2) 대표적인 다섯 가지 사회심리학 이론을 통하여 교복의 사회심리학적 의미를 조명하며, 3) 교복의 사회심리학적 측면에 관 한 향후 연구방향과 과제를 도출하는 목적을 가진다. 교복의 사회심리학적 의미 연구에 사용된 이론은 conformity and uniformity, Post-modernism, role theory, symbolic interaction, 그리고 semiotics and informational processing 이었다. 상기한 다섯가지 이론을 바탕으로 도출한 향후 연구과제로는: 1) 교복 디자인 선택에 있어 학교의 가치기 준과 목표 반영 정도, 2) 시대적, 조직적 변화에 대응하는 학생들의 교복변형 행동, 3) 교복도입 전후에 학생들의 역할 수행 변화와 학년에 따른 학생들의 교복행동 변화, 4) 교복 도입이 경제적으로 어려운 학생들의 의복박탈감 과 자아존중감에 미치는 영향, 5) 관찰자에 따른 교복 의미 부여의 다양성 등이 제시되었다. I. Introduction uniforms started to be re-adopted by Korean junior and high schools in 1986, there have been several studies As an increasing number of schools adopt school focusing on diverse aspects of school uniforms in uniform or dress code policies, school administrators Korea (Jeong & Lee, 1999; Lee, 1992; Lee et al., 1997). have tried to investigate appropriate dress and uniform Previous studies stressed the three most important codes for adolescents (Majestic, 1991; “Manual On”, functions of school uniform as: 1) the function positively 1996; “Model Guidelines”, 1992). A few school contributing to school safety through protecting administrators and teachers discussed some benefits students from social crimes and removing motivations and functions of school uniforms (Adami & Norton, for fights for apparel items, 2) the function positively 1996; LaPoint et al., 1992) and studied perceptions of contributing to students’ self-esteem through removing students, parents, and school staffs on school uniform economic status cues from students’ clothing, and 3) adoption (Harnandez, 1996; Stevenson & Chunn, 1983; the function positively contributing to academic Woods & Ogletree, 1992). In Korea, since school achievement through reminding students of their roles. 35 A 제5권 제3호 Although there have been a few descriptive studies becoming more serious problems in Korea. About 46% related to school uniforms, there has been little of all theft incidents and 43% of all robbery incidents research comprehensively exploring functions, are conducted by juvenile offenders in Korea (“Number advantages, disadvantages, and meanings of school of Major”, 2000). In addition, 60% of juvenile uniforms in relation to socio-psychological theories. In delinquencies were done by junior and high school this paper, various aspects of school uniforms are students (“Prevention of Crimes”, 1998). These theoretically discussed with support of the previous situations made the Department of Education in Korea literature. Objectives of this study are to: 1) discuss as well as in other countries encourage junior and high functions, advantages, disadvantages, and meanings schools to adopt uniforms in hopes to reducing crimes of school uniforms based on the previous literature, 2) of junior and high school students (Lee, 1992; Lee et explain issues related to school uniform using several al., 1997). socio-psychological theories, and 3) suggest research Another important reason for adopting school questions and recommendations for future school uniforms is to reduce school fights and thefts caused uniform research. This paper may contribute to the by dress. Many young people view school as a major school uniform literature that is lacking theoretical arena in which to display their latest fashions; frameworks and may serve as a guideline for future competition over appearance can result in verbal research. Further, discussion in this research may help taunts, fights, and thefts (LaPoint et al., 1992). Ray school administrators to better understand meanings Bennett, founder and head of the Public School and impacts of school uniforms, allowing them to better Uniform Project in Baltimore, US, stated that fights over counsel students and guide the use of school uniforms. leather jackets and sneakers led to the introduction of school uniforms in 1986 (Pushkar, 1995). La Point et al. (1992) explained that the youth who II. Review of LIiterature are financially poor, may want to communicate wealth and status to compensate for their actual situations, 1. School Safety and School Uniform increasing motivations to engage in theft. Also, some economically disadvantaged youngsters may be more School uniforms have been increasingly considered likely to engage in violent behaviors because of free- for adoption by schools worldwide. One of the most floating anger toward themselves and others (LaPoint important reasons for uniform adoption is enhancing et al., 1992). On the other hand, some youngsters will school safety. Currently, more and more school crimes delay or not purchase books and supplies, but will have been reported in the world. For example, the instead use their money for clothing, accessories, or Illinois Criminal Justice in the US reported that 33% of hairstyles and others may skip school or work long all Illinois school children carry weapons and five hours after school to accommodate clothing percent carry a gun sometime during the year deprivation (i.e., dissatisfaction with dress in relation to (Harnadez, 1996). According to USA Today (1994), a peers or the feeling of not having enough clothing to be survey conducted by the National League of Cities satisfied) (LaPoint et al., 1992). found that one in four schools reported serious injuries In order to solve those problems, an increasing or death of students in the past five years. Although number of schools are trying to adopt school uniforms. these are severe cases in the US, school crimes are Presenting the positive results of school uniform 36 Eun Ah Yoh/School Uniform: Socio-Psychological Meaning and Future Research adoption, school representatives reported that judged by their ideas rather than surface appearances incidents of assault and battery decreased from 319 to among peer relationships. 212, fighting decreased from 1,135 to 554, and robbery decreased from 29 to 10 after uniform adoption 3. Academic Achievement and School (Coffman & Jurta, 1996). School educators hope the Uniform cutting down on disputes and fights related to clothing contributes to the improvement of school environments The positive impact of school uniforms on students’ and students attitudes (Stevenson & Chunn, 1991). academic achievements has been considered in the previous literature (Behling, 1994; Coffman & Jurta, 2. Economic Function of School Uniform 1996; LaPoint et al., 1992; Stevenson & Chunn, 1991). Behling (1994) found that a school uniform positively The use of uniforms allows students in poor family to affected the perception of academic abilities and conceal their socio-economic status, so that students school-related behaviors of the clothed models on the can be judged more by their achievement and ideas part of students and teachers. In this study, teachers than their appearances (LaPoint et al., 1992). Francis and peers predicted higher grades, greater academic (1990, 1992) found the significant effect of economic ability, and greater leadership potential for student stress on perceived clothing deprivation among high models dressed in school uniforms (suits or blazers) school students, suggesting that the students under (Behling, 1994). Clothing conveying messages relative high level of economic stress felt more clothing to intelligence and academic potential has been deprivation than did the students under low level of studied by several researchers (Behling & Williams, economic stress. Further, previous researchers 1991; Behling, 1995). Lapitsky and Smith (1981) found (Francis, 1992; Shook, 1996) found a negative that an attractively dressed person was perceived to relationship between clothing deprivation and social have better writing skills. Further, Morganosky and participation among adolescents. Although benefits of Creekmore (1981) found that physical appearance social participation on adolescent development have influenced students perceptions of the leadership been generally recognized (Francis, 1992), ability of their peers. Based on these studies, Coffman adolescents’ clothing deprivation has served as a and Jurta (1996) assumed that students dressed in barrier to their active participation in diverse social suit-type school uniforms may be more encouraged to events. As an example, Kelly et al. (1974) found that work harder to justify the faith of their peers and high school girls sometimes refused to participate in parents. social activities because they did not have appropriate As an evidence of positive impact of school uniform clothing. Some educators insisted that poor social on academic achievement, Whittier Elementary School competence and poor peer relationships in children in Long Beach reported a tremendous improvement in can contribute to problems such as juvenile school attendance after uniform adoption (Coffman & delinquency, school dropout, and psychiatric problems Jurta, 1996). Accordingly, LaPoint et al. (1992) found (Cowen et al., 1973). As a solution to these problems, an increase in the number of students on the honor roll uniforms are becoming adopted by many schools, and an increase in positive student interaction (i.e., letting parents save money on children’s clothing as decrease in gang-related activities, decrease in well as allowing students more