My Response to Southwest Fashion Flap

Dress codes exist everywhere in the society, but people might not even recognize their presence, especially nowadays people are pushing back the limit line of vulgarity, obscene or patently offensive. Many restaurants and casinos could retain their policies over their customers that Southwest Airlines found difficult to carry out. Like other airlines, Southwest is not the only one that has contract of carriage on customers dress codes, but unlike those high-class restaurants and casinos where people mostly respect appropriate clothing, airports usually have a relaxing and shopping-mall-like mood where every different individual could show up.

Although the rule is here, which the Southwest employees did make it takes, but from the company’s point of view, to enforce dress codes based on personal taste is simply helping rivals by hurting its own business, and it’s the reason why Southwest has to step out and made apologies for offending these people. But do they have to right to force customers change dress? Yes, they have language in its contract of carriage. But did they state their manner requirements clearly when people buy the ticket? No, because it is unnecessary to make too much restrictions when it comes to business, unless it’s illegal.

In reality, dress codes are not national laws but a certain paradigm within the society, but every company, corporation or business have the right to make rules, airlines aren’t the exception. You won’t put into jail if they think your dress code is invalid according to their policy, but they can legally deny service for you if they want. Then it comes to our constitution on “Freedom of Speech” which people frequently use to protest themselves from what they do, what they say, what they write, and in this case, what they wear. Skimpy skirts and “MasterBaiter” T-shirts are not unlawful to sell and buy in this country, nor they are prohibit to wear in the public, but does it mean your freedom rights will end when you assaulted or offended others by dressing these clothing?

I’m only sure some people will think it’s inappropriate to dress like that, but there also people who think it’s fine to pop out from the ordinary, and however, we can’t satisfy every single person’s will. Although Southwest’s enforcement somehow seems trivial and surly, but keep in mind that the flight agents were just trying to keep things on track and avoid further complains that affect their reputations. Anyhow, Southwest had surrendered, which means at the same time that the other customers will have to endure every other’s dressing habits in the plane even though they consider “distasteful”. I wonder what will happen if some one wear bikini next time.

The question is left to benevolence to decide. Average people will have a better judgment to wear “casually” when going to spend hours in a crowded plane with strangers that might give them unfriendly stares if they dress “weirdly”. Plus, there are no big deals to wear something that fit little more into the usualness, and please give some sympathies to other people who might suffer from your outfits but cannot go anywhere else for hours. But what about some few others whom believe “normal” clothing is a torture to themselves? Well, they would fight back with the adorable first amendment for sure, but what does it led to? a label to tell others you are tacky? or lewd? Of course, there’re also some people who don’t matter what others think about them or even gratify for doing so. Human disciplines are changing, and when rules can no longer confine these individuals, the society will then be changed more or less by the influences created by these unusual persons.

We cannot tell if it is a right or wrong answer as Southwest stepped back for easy solution. All I know is that the society is updating for new concepts, and before the society itself gives dress codes a suitable conclusion, controversy is necessary for any results.