Loading ...
The Communist Party of China is considering legally prohibiting clothing that “hurts the nation’s feelings.” While specific details have yet to be publicized, Zhao Hong, a law professor at the Chinese University of Political Science and Law, believes its ambiguity and susceptibility to interpretation could result in violation of the rights of the people. Based on past civilian experiences with law enforcement, she suspects that China will use this law to promote nationalism and anti-Western sentiment, specifically towards Japan. In recent incidents, Chinese citizens have been reprimanded, fined, and detained for wearing Japanese clothing in public. As an immigrant from mainland China, Senior Nina Liu doesn’t believe China’s actions accurately represent the opinions of its citizens. She says, “If I saw [someone] wearing [Japanese] clothing, I wouldn’t say anything or [think much of it].” However, when Liu considers China’s longstanding “history problems with Japan,” she can empathize with those in support of the law.
Zhou Xin, an editor for the South China Morning Post, compares this proposed law to Mao Zedong’s Cultural Revolution of the 1960s and 70s, fearing it will bring greater societal division. Sophomore Sharon Wang shares similar views to Xin. “I’m really sorry that people in China have to deal with this law,” she says, “and I really [hope it] won’t…[be] put into practice.” She believes it to be reminiscent of “laws from the Qing Dynasty.”
Senior Sydney Jasso, a self-proclaimed fashion aficionado, voices her distaste for restricting people’s clothing choices, seeing it as a direct blow to individuality. She thinks that “banning [clothing] is…suffocating” and doesn’t benefit the citizens. “[Clothing] is a really big part of [my life],” she says. “I personally want to go into…fashion and design in college. It’s…how I express who I am.” Unlike Jasso, Junior Sydney Foster has an appreciation for uniforms and “not needing to think about what to wear.” However, on a nationwide scale, she agrees that restricting clothing choices is “irrational.” She compares it to California legislators “banning cowboy hats because [they] hate Texas.” While Foster’s analogy to cowboy hats may sound obscure to citizens of democracy, it carries a truth that prompts deeper discussion into the cultural importance of the clothes people choose to wear.
