Getting Caught With Your Pants Down
How do you feel about the sagging pants trend among teens? My daughter and I were in the grocery section of the local Wal-Mart about a week ago, and saw one young man whose boxer shorts were almost totally revealed. We manged to hold back our giggles until we had rounded the corner into the next aisle, but then we almost collapsed! The guy’s green, blue, and white plaid boxers had us in stitches! I found myself wondering if he had bought them in Wal-Mart, so that at least they were getting some free advertising!
Seriously, if I want to see your underwear, I’ll be bold enough to walk up and ask you! Yahoo! News reports that some municipalities are now “cracking down” on crack-revealing pants and shorts. I had read about this in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and considered myself all for it.
Now comes the news that many people consider these laws racial stereotyping aimed at blacks. One African-American shop owner asked if the laws would also go after plumbers and construction workers whose pants sag. Fine by me. I don’t care anything about seeing their underwear (or anything else they have) either.
Even the ACLU is getting in on this, as evidenced by the following: “In Atlanta, we see this as racial profiling,” said Benetta Standly, statewide organizer for the American Civil Liberties Union of Georgia. “It’s going to target African-American male youths. There’s a fear with people associating the way you dress with crimes being committed.”
I’ve seen plenty of youths other than African-Americans wearing these saggy pants. The issue is the saggy pants themselves, not the color of the skin underneath them. This is just a very unattractive and disrespectful trend. As for associating this with crimes being committed, it’s widely reported that this particular fashion statement originated in prison. What, exactly, does that say?
I’m not so sure new laws are needed though. Don’t most cities and towns already have laws dealing with indecent exposure? Shouldn’t we just be enforcing those?
Personally, I hope the saggy pants trend ends soon. As I said earlier, if I want to see your underwear, I’ll ask. Otherwise, just assume I’d rather see you with your pants on.
teens, teenagers, adolescents, teen fashions, teen trends, saggy pants, teenage boys
September 21st, 2007 at 10:30 am
As a teen, I fear I must admit, I was attracted to the boys who wore baggy pants, but they tended to be skaters and wearing them for ease and comfort. Now skaters seem to wear tighter ones and roll them up a bit, I think because they ride bikes, too, maybe?
But there is a boy that rides my bus that is just ridiculous. He doesn’t wear a long shirt to compensate…and he wears tighty whities!!!
September 21st, 2007 at 4:30 pm
I taught at a, what is considered around here, inner city high school. We made the guys pull up there pants if they wore them that way, no matter the race. Eventually, they could be sent home to change clothes. It was a school policy.
It makes me laugh to see a group of boys running after the bus, holding up there pants.
October 2nd, 2007 at 12:08 pm
[...] by Sally Andersen Rappers’ fashion statements can be so interesting sometimes. Baggy pants, obscenely large jewelry and accessories, and baseball cap trends (flat brim, authentic sticker [...]
June 10th, 2008 at 3:25 pm
The saggy pants “trend” has been going on for almost 20 years. TWENTY. The staying power of this fad is dismaying.
It started out as a symbol of solidarity for the excessive numbers of black men being incarcerated — men are not allowed belts in prison, so men on the outside left off their belts to show support and raise awareness. But I’d bet cash money not one in thirty boys and men walking down the street today with their bums exposed to the thigh has a clue of what it’s supposed to mean.
I’m ready for a new look and a new statement now, please.