EXAMINING THE CAUSES AND IMPLICATION OF INDECENT DRESSING AMONG UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS IN NIGERIA

EXAMINING THE CAUSES AND IMPLICATION OF INDECENT DRESSING AMONG UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS IN NIGERIA

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Dressing is the process of putting on clothes. The purpose of clothing on the body is to protect, beautify, or adorn it. One of man’s most basic needs is clothing. It refers to a wide range of materials that man wears or applies to his body in its broadest sense. Clothing includes things like dresses, shoes, jewelry, hairstyles, and make-up. According to Confidence E, clothing is also used to demonstrate people’s social status and positions in society (Obeta & Uwah, 2015). (2019). They went on to say that the clothing a person chooses to wear influences how others perceive them. It also mentions the person’s relatives. It can also impact a person’s comfort and self-esteem. An

The dressing pattern of an individual is a type of “sign language” that communicates a complete collection of information and is typically the basis for forming immediate perceptions (Omede, 2011), as cited in Confidence E. (2019). However, as important as dressing and clothing are, young people and university students have been dragged to the mud.

Indecent dressing is simply the deliberate display of one’s body to the public.

This practice violates society’s acceptable norms and values. According to Egwim (2010), as cited in Confidence E.(2019), indecent dressing is the attitude of someone, male or female, who dresses to show off parts of the body such as the breasts, buttocks, or even the underwear, particularly those of the ladies that need to be covered. This publicity is clearly a deliberate act to appear sensuous, tantalizing, and stimulating in order to attract the attention of the opposite sex and is more common among singles (unmarried women and men). This type of attire is provocative, inappropriate, and unacceptable. These dress patterns are morally repugnant and reveal the high rate of moral decadence in today’s society. Indecent dressing is the leading cause of various assaults and sexual harassments documented in society over time. In a country like Nigeria, which is endowed with diverse cultures and traditions, it is upsetting to see these cultures and traditions disappear. Indecent dressing is a practice practiced by people of all ages in society. It has been instilled in both children and adults.

It is common among celebrities and university students.

There isn’t a single higher education institution in the United States that isn’t dealing with this heinous issue. The way students, particularly female students, dress seductively on these educational campuses leaves a lot to be desired. The girls’ skirts are only “one inch” longer than their pants. They have difficulty sitting down, climbing machines, crossing gutters, and picking something from the ground when they wear those dresses. Aside from the skimpy and close-fitting design of these garments, they are frequently translucent, exposing parts of the bodies that should be shielded from people’s gaze under normal dressing patterns. Boys’ clothing styles differ from girls’. It Confidence E. makes them appear filthy and unattractive, with unkempt hair and dirty jeans with pockets of holes purposefully made around the knees and the lower part of the trousers allowed to flow on the ground because they go through their heels into their legs as socks (Omede, 2011). (2019). To reveal their boxers, they lower the waist of their trousers and fasten it tightly at the middle of the two bottom lobes (pants). When they walk, they drag their legs and one of their hands, particularly the left one, cupping their invisible scrotum as if they will fall to the ground if they are not supported. Many of them had been victims of rape at some point in their lives as a result of how they dressed.

into prostitution, used for ritual purposes, unable to complete their education or training, and involved in other ancillary social and moral problems such as cultism and lying, to name a few. As a result, this study will investigate the causes and consequences of indecent dressing among Nigerian undergraduate students.

1.2 THE PROBLEM’S STATEMENT

It is becoming increasingly clear that indecent dressing has gradually taken over the dress pattern of students in higher education institutions.

According to research, these inappropriate and wrongful dressings of undergraduate students have a high tendency to negatively impact their academic performance, as the output of male lecturers, in particular, can be reduced when they concentrate on watching such provocative dressings during lectures. Female students, on the other hand, spend a lot of money on useless dresses rather than on their academic work. Because of their inappropriate attire, they frequent discotheques, nightclubs, brothels, and hotels, where they can have fun at the expense of their studies. There’s also a chance that some male lecturers, or even female lecturers, will fall prey to such seductive dressings, resulting in sexual favors between the lecturers on one side. This is clearly a barrier to quality education; as a result, students will be unable to meet the expectations of their prospective employers, resulting in revenue loss for the state. Aside from that, poor student performance as a result of inappropriate clothing can be detrimental. linked to unemployment of half-baked graduates. This is because students who dress inappropriately divert their attention away from their studies and are thus unable to receive adequate practical training, which is required for employment (after graduation) by the majority of companies. Because such companies are unwilling to spend extra money training such ill-prepared graduates, they end up joining the ranks of the unemployed. This is not surprising, given the wide gap between policy formulation and implementation that most Nigerian administrators exhibit. Even though it is not considered normal, indecent dressing appears to be on the rise. With this increase in moral decadence, one wonders what society will be like in the future given the caliber of students being trained.

If rules are made for people, they are supposed to be adequately informed about the reasons for such rules. In light of this, the purpose of this study was to look into the causes and consequences of indecent dressing among undergraduate students in Nigeria.

1.3 THE STUDY’S OBJECTIVE

The primary goal of this research is to look into the causes and consequences of indecent dressing among Nigerian undergraduate students. It is specifically set to

To look into the different types of indecent dressing among Nigerian undergraduates.
To ascertain the causes of indecent dressing among Nigerian undergraduate students.
To determine whether inappropriate clothing has a significant impact on undergraduate academic performance.
To suggest possible solutions to reduce the prevalence of indecent dressing among Nigerians.

students 1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

The study is guided by the research questions listed below.

What are the various types of inappropriate dressing in Nigerian universities?
What are the causes and motivations for indecent dressing among Nigerian undergraduate students?
Do you believe that inappropriate clothing has a significant impact on undergraduate academic performance?
What are some potential solutions for reducing indecent dressing among Nigerian university students?
1.5 THE STUDY’S IMPORTANCE

This research will be useful to educational stakeholders in university communities, lecturers, and university students in general. According to educational stakeholders, the study will allow them to develop policies within the student handbook that explicitly prohibit indecent dressing and to establish a task force to ensure effective implementation. The study will be beneficial to lecturers.

They are reminded of the importance of remaining vigilant by assisting management in ensuring that no student dressed inappropriately enters their lecture. The study will open students’ eyes to the short and long-term consequences of inappropriate dressing. Furthermore, this study will add to the existing literature, serving as a resource for both students and academics in related studies.

1.6 STUDY OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this research is to look into the causes and consequences of indecent dressing among Nigerian undergraduate students. It looks into the various forms of indecent dressing among undergraduates in Nigerian universities. It will determine whether inappropriate clothing has a significant impact on undergraduate academic performance. It will suggest possible solutions to reduce

Indecent dressing is common among Nigerian undergraduates. The study is only being conducted at the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) in River State.

1.7 THE STUDY’S LIMITATIONS

During the course of this research, the following factors pose a limitation.

Financial constraint- Inadequate funds tend to impede the researcher’s efficiency in locating relevant materials, literature, or information, as well as in the data collection process (internet, questionnaire and interview).

Time constraint- The researcher will conduct this study alongside other academic work. As a result, the amount of time spent on research will be reduced.

Respondent Unwillingness: Due to the sensitive nature of this study, the majority of respondents were unwilling to accept the instrument, with only a few exceptions.

People who are educated and enlightened accepted the questionnaire and responded appropriately.

1.8 TERM DEFINITION

Respectable or moral behavior that conforms to generally accepted standards.

Dressing is the act of covering one’s body with clothes. Clothing is another term for items worn on the body to beautify, decorate, or cover the body.

Indecent Dressing: Simply put, indecent dressing is the deliberate exposure of one’s body to the public. This practice violates society’s acceptable norms and values.

A college or university undergraduate is a student who is not a graduate student.