A comparison to the Beard Ban issue: I would like to make a comparison of beards to a previous ban in Honor Code history, namely: Women and Levi/Jeans. In the same years that beards were shaved from the student complexion (1971 to be exact) Levis were banned for women as well. This ban was widely accepted by both administration and students. One student remarked at the time, “I didn’t think they would ever be allowed.” In 1978, in response to opposition from the Levi Strauss Company, the word “Levi” was changed to “Jeans”. The rule however did gain opposition as women in jeans became a more prominent style. This began to cause some tension with the Hippie era Honor Code ruling. In 1978 a female student was refused entrance the BYU Testing Center for wearing pants of a “denim material”. This coed promptly left, removed her pants, buttoned up her overcoat, and was admitted. The student wrote about the event to the student newspaper, the Universe: “There is something strangely perverse and incongruous about a dress code which demands that a girl dressed in nice denim pants [be] rejected from a campus facility, while a girl in underpants and a coat is acceptable. Is it that vital that we expose the lower half of our legs?” The rule was not removed, however, until the year 1981 by then president Holland. I believe the jean issue is a perfect comparison to that of the beard. During the counter-culture movement of the 1970’s, Levis on women represented the rebellious spirit of the age. It attacked the proper expression of a women’s gender, among other traditional values. In the meantime, however, the counter-culture of women in Levis gradually became legitimate culture. Once it had reached that status, and the image of a proper woman was not threatened by its introduction, it was allowed.
Posted on: Thu, 27 Nov 2014 04:58:38 +0000
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