Having spent nearly 30 years in the Navy, I know my views have been shaped by my conservative past. Some of my views are also my own personal biases and some have been shaped by being 'political correct,'the environment, and organizational culture. The Navy has a dress and behavior code-there is no doubt about how one is to look and behave. In doubt in the military? Not a problem, there is a manual , instructions, or regulations for practically everything!
Now working in academia, I was beginning to think my thinking was the 'oddball' one. Does academic freedom means that anything goes? As a woman, I have felt embarrassed by viewing the demonstration of too much 'flesh' by some of my female students. Sometimes, I just look away; it is really too much. I was beginning to wonder are mothers today teaching their daughters how to look like, 'ladies?' Some of my female colleagues have been talked to in loud voice tones, as if they are nobody by male students. I am in the next office and the walls are thin. And once I found out the next day as Program Director that three angry female students in my program were shouting at a male faculty member the previous night, because they were 'upset' by grades awarded on their written work. Oh yes, profanity was good English for that group. They came to me as Program Director to insist that their papers were 'A' work. Unfortunately for them, they found out from me that this professor had been generous in grading; I was not F writing is just that F writing. Appearance in the classrooms, there is a great variety. Some know how, others could care less.
In fact, in my management class, I now talk about grooming, effective communication skills, business attire and how to get a job. No, some of that is not in the course syllabus. I think they should know how to conduct themselves and dress appropriately for a job interview. I tell my students that it is my generation who may hire you and if you are so different in appearance, that difference may be a determent. Making an A in a management class is meaningless if one does not know about how the organization expects a manager to look. Who ask about theories when hiring? Tatoos and body piercing are a turn off to some doing the hiring in a conservative environment. So are low cut blouses and pants hanging off the waist , being held with a belt on the hip. Do some young men today know when and how to wear a tie? Flip flops are a hazard for one's safety.
Then on the other hand, some may argue that it is not our job to tell students how to look and behave. I believe that depends on certain factors. I do believe that in HealthCare management and health services administration that the culture of these organizations are well established. All one has to do is to visit the place of interest and look at how the top leadership and its employees look. I believe that we owe it to our students to make them aware of possible expectancies in the workplace.
Some of our students are from back grounds that survival everyday does not include how one looks-it all about where is my next meal coming from?, and where do I sleep tonight, and how can I get from point A to B if I do not have a ride or bus fare? I believe if we impart such polices mentioned with the professionalism and kindness that we do so well, our students will be well prepared as health care professionals for leading our various health care organizations.
Jackie (Jacqueline) E. Sharpe, RN, CHES, PhD
Old Dominion University
(Disclaimer-the views expressed are those of this writer and not of the university)