Judging by the Cover

As adults, we are sometimes denied service based on external trappings. “No shoes, no shirt, no service’ is probably the situation with which we are most familiar, and we occasionally run into high class restaurants or events with a dress code of sorts (well, those who can afford such places do, anyway). But, for the most part, adults are not judged by their appearance.

The opposite is true with teens. For them, the world is a place that feels justified in assuming things about them based on how they chose to express themselves. I’ve been in debates with adults who vehemently assert that if a young person chooses to dress like a gang banger, they probably are trouble – and if they’re not, it’s a good lesson for them to learn that there are consequences for how they choose to appear in public.

Many young people attending a recent conference in England learned that lesson. About 20% of them reported being harassed or denied services or entry into businesses based on their appearance. Mostly it was the kids with skinhead-like hair styles (or, more accurately, lack of hair styles) and those wearing baggy clothing like gang-bangers.

The conference, called “Find Your Sense of Tumour” was for teens living with cancer. The bald heads were from chemotherapy, and the baggy clothing was special loose-fitting clothing design to avoid irritation.

This is a good reminder that we should give teens a break on how they look and take the time to get to know who they are.