Dress code for women
Written by Rachel
     

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Equal but different

In class, women have to follow more or less the same dress code guidelines as men. However, I have sneaked in a couple of differences... Tights and a boob shield (martial students only).


Monday night uniform for women

White cotton crew-neck T-shirt
Black cotton martial arts trousers
School badge sewn onto the T-shirt
• Flat footwear; preferably not training/sports shoes
• Thin tights

• Boob shield (optional)
• No jewellery

 

Sexist?
 
When a woman undertakes traditional forms of dance such as 'tango', she wears a costume that is entirely different to that of the man. And would she want to dress the same way as the man? No. It would defeat the entire nature of the art.
If you were studying classical ballet, you'd be required to wear tights. And so would a man!! There'd be no discussion. Think of tai chi as being along the same lines. They are an Asian aesthetic.
Modern ideas and modern values have their place, but it is also important to respect traditional arts. Nothing in a traditional art was designed to subjugate women. Rather, the differences between the sexes are acknowledged, and often celebrated.


Contradictory attitude
 
Many women choose to wear exceptionally tight fitting leggings which reveal crotch and buttocks, leaving nothing to the imagination. Yet, these same people refuse to wear tights. This makes very little actual sense. Clearly, their objection to tights is 'political' in nature rather than comfort, modesty or aesthetics. And as such, has no place in a tai chi class.


Demeaning?


In the 1960's there was a very popular TV show called Star Trek in which the female cast wore minidresses and thin black tights. Many modern feminists have complained about the costume, regarding it as exploitative. This is ironic, since the female costume was not suggested by the male producer or costume designer, but by a young female cast member and embraced wholeheartedly by all the female actresses. It was seen as empowering, fashionable and forward-thinking:


In later years, especially as the women’s movement took hold in the seventies, people began to ask me about my costume. Some thought it “demeaning” for a woman in the command crew to be dressed so sexily. It always surprised me because I never saw it that way. After all, the show was created in the age of the miniskirt, and the crew women’s uniforms were very comfortable. Contrary to what many may think today, no one really saw it as demeaning back then. In fact, the miniskirt was a symbol of sexual liberation. More to the point, though, in the twenty-third century, you are respected for your abilities regardless of what you do or do not wear.

(Nichelle Nichols, Lt Uhura, Star Trek)


Asian aesthetics

If you're wondering why women studying an Asian martial art are being asked to adopt Asian aesthetic standards, surely the question answers itself?
Would somebody in a football team expect to play football wearing long trousers? No. They'd adhere to the aesthetics associated with the game; which would be short trousers...


History
 
When it comes to the dress code, you might want to bear in mind that Rachel has designed the uniform with the purpose of encouraging specific Asian attributes in women.
Rachel has studied clothing, style, hair, lingerie, hosiery, martial arts and Asian culture extensively. She likes to read about the history of clothing and the reasons behind specific fashions and styles.


5 excellences

Tai chi is considered to be highly refined; alongside painting, classical literature, calligraphy & medicine. Bare legs are not considered to be refined. In Asia, not wearing hosiery is seen as being 'rough'.


Arrogance
 
In Asia, a woman who parades her bare legs is considered to be arrogant because it assumes that her legs are so beautiful and utterly flawless that they don't warrant hosiery. How many women can genuinely make such a claim?


Dress like a girl and you will fight like a girl

The absolute worst thing that a woman can do in combat is to emulate how a man operates. Our muscle mass/fat distribution is different, and we're not prey to testosterone and aggression.
You need to feel and function as a woman - hence tights - a physical reminder that you're not a man?


Why wear tights?

Asian women adopted the practice of wearing thin tights/stockings centuries ago. How come? Modesty, leg health, protection, improved circulation and aesthetics.
Tights to serve to accentuate your femaleness...


Modesty

In Asia the saying is "Only a monkey shows it's feet". This means that a 'lady' does not reveal her bare legs and feet. You will see this with most Asian women you encounter, even girls in shorts.
They usually wear hosiery; even in warm climates.
 

We (women) are training 'as normal' with men of all sizes, which wouldn't happen in any other martial art setting (as I understand!) so we have an opportunity not afforded other martial women.

Equal opportunities...


(Julia, retired NHS Director)

Boob shield

Female tai chi students are encouraged to purchase a 'boob shield' when they start the tai chi syllabus. Students can be clumsy. They will think twice about punching your shield.


Are you sexist?


A lot of women nowadays are quite sexist about dress codes...
Picture this: a man in a suit wearing smart shoes? If he wears thin socks in navy, grey or black they will probably look smart. Thick hiking socks would look stupid. Red socks... Oh dear. White socks? No.
Bare feet? Uh, no. If a man had bare feet with smart shoes and suit trousers, he'd probably be sent out to buy some socks.


Double standards

Now consider a woman at work. She is wearing a smart skirt and dress shoes. Is she wearing hosiery? Often not. So, consider the male example. What is the difference? Why is there a double standard?
Thick tights can look as bad as no tights and jazzy/patterned tights often look inappropriate for work.


Asian equality

In Asia, men and women adhere to the same dress code standards; which is why Asian women are widely known to be the best dressed female professionals on the planet.
If a man is required to wear thin navy, grey or black socks, then a female worker must also follow an equivalent code. Usually it is low denier hosiery; either natural, light tan or black.
The denier is never above 15. The hosiery is never patterned.


A lady of tai chi

I seek to encourage tai chi ladies to follow the dress code outlined above and look as smart as the male students. Please make an effort.


Personal expression?

If you're looking for personal expression, you might want to consider a yoga group rather than a martial arts class. Traditional martial arts aren't a forum for vanity and showing-off
Martial arts are about quashing the ego. We focus upon the attacker, not upon our own 'image' or appearance. Egotism just gets in the way...


Missing the point
 
When somebody starts tai chi, they lack any sense of 'context'. What is important? Why is it practiced? What dos it mean? What purpose does it serve?
It is very common for modern women to make judgements without criteria. There is simply no way for a new starter to know what is important and what is not.

In fact, the only way they can make any sort of evaluation is to draw upon personal experiences, memory and comparison with other things. None of these will help the individual to determine what is what in a tai chi school.
Fixating on a minor issue and blowing it all of proportion is inane. If you want to get off to a good start, just follow instructions and commit to learning something new.


Workshop/boot camp uniform for women

Cotton crew-neck T-shirt
Black cotton martial arts trousers
• Thin tights
• Boob shield (optional)
• No jewellery


Please note that 'leggings', yoga attire and T-shirts with pockets are not appropriate attire for workshops.
 

I remember when Rachel explained that a woman’s strength is in her legs, it made complete sense but I’d actually never even thought of this before, this is where the muscle mass is, so anything that makes you conscious of your legs can only be good, and like you said, hosiery gives you great feedback on that muscle mass.

(Karen)
 


Can I just wear socks?

If you have some sort of medical problem that prevents you from wearing tights or a mental health issue/hang-up about tights, then wear socks. It isn't the dress code though.


Trainer socks
 
Please don't ever wear trainer socks for tai chi. These are aesthetically hideous. They are supposed to be invisible but typically they're quite apparent and ugly.
If you want to learn something about 'aesthetics', please consider reading Which Aesthetics Do You Mean? Ten Definitions by Leonard Koren. It may help you to improve your grasp of design, style, elegance, grace and purpose.


Further reading


Dress code
Dress code & ego
Female feet
Hosiery
Female martial artist
Women in martial arts

More...


school database


Page created 26 November 2007
Last updated 09 November 2023