Influential factors of residential area on tertiary female students’ dress code

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International Journal of Development Research

Influential factors of residential area on tertiary female students’ dress code

Abstract: 

Dress codes vary widely, and many cultures have different and strong “modesty codes”. Many people have certain clothing expectations and, or thoughts about what is reasonable or justified for people to wear. When the majority of people share the same expectations in a society, standards form, and standards are guidelines and principles that set forth what’s appropriate, or suitable to wear. Dress is seen as a visible symbol for fundamental beliefs that can be influenced by several factors, therefore, resulting in various types of clothing styles that are worn. Swaziland media has published stories on girls deemed to be inappropriately dressed with concerns expressed on female students’ dress code at the University of Swaziland (UNISWA) graduation ceremonies. This descriptive study therefore, attempted to ascertain factors that influenced female students’ dress-code; and, also to determine types of clothes students perceived as modest. A closed-ended questionnaire was validated and thereafter pilot-tested with UNISWA students, at Mbabane Campus and a reliability coefficient of 0.881 obtained. Questionnaires were distributed to ninety six 3rd and 4th year female students resident at Luyengo Campus, UNISWA. SPSS version 17.0 was used for data analysis. From results, students’ dress code was mostly influenced by self (64.4%), media (59.4%) while relying on trends (always) was least influential (26%). With reference to pants, a majority of respondents perceived wearing pants as proper (76.0%) with close-fitting pants highly preferred (93.8%); and, close-fitting skirts (83.3%) highly favoured. Results further showed that students’ perceptions on clothing depended on their residential area e.g. urban, suburban, or rural; with region having little influence, while location of the residential area in the region had a significant influence on respondents’ perception of modesty and immodesty. Thus, it can be concluded that environments of upbringing played a significant role in respondents’ perceptions of modest and immodest clothing.

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