Tie One on

A colleague and friend recently commented to me, "There's too many damned ties running around Kroc!" It does seem a little weird in that context that people wear ties so often. I mean, shouldn't we all be wearing tie dye t-shirts and hemp-macramé headbands? Not to mention that the whole institute is ensconced in an academic institution and we all know that academics are slobs--it's part of our cultural heritage!

There is a more substantial argument behind the critique though, that has to do with power, posturing, paying homage to the system and its patriarchal under-pinnings, etc. I do identify with that argument. When I work with students, I resist dressing up too much because I think it reinforces a false status boundary between us.

On the other hand, people who see me from day-to-day will realize that I dress up quite a bit more than the average academic. This is because of the many administrative activities in which I'm involved. The expectations and norms for dress are different in those situations--and I conform (although with a bit more style, I like to think!). One can argue that instead of being a suit-sheep, I should buck the trend and try to change the norms. That's a fine argument, but I also think about what I am trying to accomplish by being involved in those administrative environments in the first place, and I think that violating norms about dress, while having value, gives away power in the interaction environment. It's a choice I'm making about whether my short-range agenda or my effect on the longer-term culture is more important. In many situations, I just think I'm getting more accomplished by putting on the tie than I would be by leaving it off. I could be wrong, but that's how it feels at present.

I would like to point out that if you don't wear a tie, you also lose the ability to use the "loosened tie" look. I love this look because it sends a message: "I had to dress up for something important today, but it wasn't YOU!" That's a message some people I meet with need to hear!