INDECENT DRESSING AMONG STUDENTS

BY OKPE THANKGOD DAMION

Indecent dressing has become a common practice in Nigerian tertiary institution, a dress is said to be indecent when it has provocative or stimulating influence on almost all those that happen to view it on the user. Egwim(2010) referred to indecent dressing as the attitude of someone, male or female that dresses to show-off part of the body such as the breast, buttocks or even the underwear particularly those of the ladies that need to be covered. This act has shown a sign of indiscipline amongst students of higher institution of learning in Nigeria.

Indecent dressing is not just an act that developed over night, but an accumulated behavioural pattern that could be attributed to the home due to poor parenting. Some parents use their money to buy skimpy dresses for their children which has encouraged the children to dress indecently.

The influence of social media, has also contributed to indecent dressing. The believe that we live in a civilized world and fashion trends on social media has caused a great influence of indecent dressing. There are now new fashion trends on social media that has shown indecency.

Peer pressure and the desire to belong have also contributed to students dressing indecently. Some students wants to belong, they like show-off their skimpy dresses. Also the school administrators have been lenient in administering punishment and sanctions to students dressing indecently and this has helped the growth of indecent dressing.

Indecent dressing has affected students especially the ladies as they expose themselves to sexual violence and assaults, such as rape which is really a big discussion in our society today.

The way some boys dress makes them look dirty and attractive, leaving hair unkempt and sagging trousers. Some even go to the extent of creating holes in their jeans all in the name of fashion. This sometimes makes them to be mistaken for criminals.

Indecent dressing has led to poor academic performance of some students as they focus more on their dressing than academics. Also, skimpy, transparent and body exposing dresses are known in ancient Africa to be the dress pattern of prostitutes. Most ladies found in such dresses are always addressed as sex workers. Most ladies have been engaged in prostitutes in order to sponsor and sustain these forms of dresses. 

In order to curb indecent dressing in Nigerian campuses, school administrators should make sure dress codes are taken with all seriousness. To further complement the efforts of the management of tertiary institutions in reducing the widespread of indecent dressing in Nigerian campuses, the following measures should also be taken:

Parents should be good moral examples to their children, give them attention and nurture them in the right way.

There is also need to regulate the use of internet among youth, because majority of the youth are exposed to different kinds of immoral activities on the internet through pornographic videos, advertisement and fashion parade.The mass media which is one of the agents of socialization must promote good moral values; the display of nude pictures, pornographic movies should be discouraged. Radio and television programmes that promote moral values and the sanctity of sex should always be transmitted. Religious leaders must preach against immorality and indecent dressing in the society.

In addition, there is need for general orientation of staff and student in the Nigerian tertiary institutions on the need for good moral conduct and decency. Students and staff should be educated on what is expected of them to ensure that they do not get used to bad morals and indecency.