There is an epidemic running rampant that has gone unaddressed for too long. The seriousness of the situation has led me to write this in hopes of bringing light to those who might still be unaware of the issue or (shudders) willing participants.
Females all over college campuses in the U.S. are wearing pajama pants to class on a regular basis.
I don’t mean sweats or other active gear, I’m talking full on pajamas with characters. And themes. Now, I am certainly not coming at this from a condescending angle. The truth is, I love you girls. I want what is best for you and I know that we can do better than this. We all have crummy days, sure. We feel terrible and we don’t care what we look like, but those SpongeBob threads are not the answer to life’s unavoidable bad days. Wouldn’t we be a little weirded out if a dude rolled up to class in Superman jammies? Yes, we would. At home, this same attire could potentially be “adorbz” depending on the general mood and whether they are worn ironically or with sincerity. But, I digress.
I don’t know where this started or when it became socially acceptable. Maybe people do this in high school. My high school dress code called for khakis and collared shirts, so I was never allowed the luxury of bumming it. I hated it back then, now I’m grateful. Who knows? Maybe wearing PJs one day is a slippery slope, once you start, it’s impossible to stop. Like heroin. I just don’t know. What I do know is that you would never go to work like this unless you worked as the subject of sleep studies, testing all day in some comfy lab. In which case, carry on. Also, how does one procure this position? Hook your girl up.
I only have one semester left and would be remiss to ignore this any longer. We have to stop this travesty before it’s too late! We could end up a generation of bums too lazy for buttons and zippers, slugging around in velcro shoes and elastic waistbands. Oh, the horror!
Here are a couple tips if you’re feeling the urge to don PJs to class or anywhere else for that matter:
1) Ask yourself what the root of the issue is.
Did you oversleep and leap out of bed in a panic? If so, take a deep breath. Looking for actual pants takes two minutes. If you’re two minutes late on account of wearing big girl bottoms instead of Carebear ones, I’d say, worth it!
If you have plenty of time and simply choose to not look for pants, slap yourself a couple times. Then ask yourself if you want to be taken seriously at all for the next couple hours or for as long as anyone remembers the terrible decision you’re about to make.
2) If you really are feeling poorly, might I suggest Yoga pants? It’s all the comfort with none of the humiliation. Also, a sturdy sweat pant would do nicely on occasion.
3) Buy pants that are comfortable. If you have a comfy option for rainy, cold, or inevitably bad days, you’ll be less prone to go the PJ route.
4) Have an accountability partner. Friends don’t let friends PJ to class.
I’ll take the pledge if you will.
YES WE CAN.
YES WE CAN.
by Shawnie Kelly-You can follow her on Twitter.
Feature image via College Loungewear.
koty ki bachiyan
Parents who wear pajamas to drop off their kids, have been asked to stop wearing pajamas by school officials, like this school in the UK:
“It’s about setting an example and having self esteem.”
Terri Llewellyn-Quinn, 28, whose children Maddison, eight, and Lucas, six, attend Pallister Park Primary School, said parents heading out of their houses in their PJs should be “ashamed of themselves”. “It’s absolutely ridiculous,” she said. “How long does it take to throw a pair of jeans on? I think you are asking for ridicule for your children if you can’t be bothered getting dressed.”
http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/2011/05/20/parents-told-don-t-wear-pyjamas-to-school-84229-28731760/#ixzz1MuT1MBhv
For those that want the proof… Marketing students at Illinois State (I know.. they’re stiffs already) have implemented a business casual dress code:
“The Department of Marketing has elected to move to a business casual attire policy after much study and consideration. Our Personal Selling and Relationship Marketing courses piloted and have utilized a business casual dress policy since the Fall of 2003. In fact, all the courses in the professional sales sequence incorporated a business casual attire policy in the Fall 2006 semester. Inputs from students and faculty alike have been extremely positive. All have indicated that the professionalism exhibited in the class led to a better learning environment, students being better prepared for class, and students being more respectful of one another. ”
http://lilt.ilstu.edu/staylor/mkt_policies.html
Hahah I love that people are defending the girls (namely themselves) that wear pajamas because they might be “depressed” or “sick”. Wearing pajamas to class is just not appropriate. Deal with it. Also, a crazy phenomenon is when girls have actually showered and have put on makeup but still wear pajamas to class. It’s the same as wearing flip flops ev
ery day of your life. Rain or shine. You shouldn’t be taken seriously. Ladies – don’t hide behind “girls being mean to eachother” – it’s not judgmental in the same way that “OMG did you see that she’s wearing last year’s clothes??” is judgmental. It’s just plain courteous to not wear your sleepwear to class.
You might be interested in this film, Pyjama Girls, (or not):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJIldZb3x2c
I know this piece was written as a serious-humour thing but it is kind of offensive. This idea that we need to judge and police what other people (namely women here?) are wearing or look like at all, is discouraging and depressing. Maybe all of the people in pajamas are depressed, maybe they’re tired, maybe the just love their pj’s and don’t give a fuck what other peoples problems are.
This is such a sad, negative, judgmental idea to encourage. One persons pj’s is another persons half pony tail or not wearing makeup. stop judging. let it go.
i went to a few universities in australia (plus one in america) and i saw HUGE differences! most australians make a small effort – even if it mean clean tshirt and jeans (and not jeans with heaps of holes). my american housemates, on the other hand, were shocked when i came out in a skirtand tshirt one day and were like “you’re dressed up!” dude, that outfit was easier to put on than my pjs!
wear a dress ppl, you throw it over your head and you’re done!
The Australian answer is ‘trackies’- as comfy as PJs but not socially restricted to sleep. (A link for those who need illustration- https://ghanda.com/store/cart.php?m=product_list&c=17 I have no idea what they are called overseas.
But whilst we are on the topic of what not to wear to college/uni may I add high heels? P.Js may be too casual, but high heels for a day of sitting listening to lectures is a bit of overkill, especially when you are struggling across campus in the rain.
I think seeing people out and about in their PJs is one of my pet peeves. I HAAAAATE seeing teenagers at the mall with their PJ pants tucked into their Uggs and their hair knotted into greasy, messy buns. I’m by no means a fashionista…if I feel like being super casual or comfy outside I’ll wear yoga pants and a hoodie. It grosses me out seeing people rolling around in their PJs bc it makes me think those people haven’t showered in a few days and, therefore, stink.
In my senior year of college there was a girl who came to my English Lit class in her PJs every single day. She would wear a Hanes v-neck T without a bra to boot, which was lovely. She even wore her slippers to class which made her ensemble all the more classy. That girl would come into class, put her feet up on another desk and fall asleep. I couldn’t stand her bc I felt like she was so disrespectful to the professor and to her classmates by showing up looking like that and falling asleep each and ever day. So, the reason I share this memory is that every time I see someone walking around at the grocery store or the mall or wherever in their PJ pants, it makes me think of that rude, greasy girl from my English Lit class.
The end!
I remember the wearing pj pants out in high school that was 95-1999! During finals week everyone wore pjs. On trips like choir trips for me we all spent hours and hours traveling, therefore wore pjs etc. I think id feel weird doing it now. However I did live in Santa Cruz Ca for 10 yrs after high school and NO ONE cares what you wear there. Eh there are worse things.
I’m with you, Julie! LEGGINGS AREN’T PANTS. I’ve got the Fug Girls to thank for that reminder.
Oh, I love this!! I vowed before I started college to never, ever go to class in pajamas, and everyone thought I was nuts for going to 8:30 AM classes in a dress! Of course, I lived an hour away from my school and commuted, so there was no going back to bed after an early class for me!
I went to an women’s college for my undergrad and most girls wore PJs to their morning classes. I think, on our campus at least, most girls did it because there were no boys around, but now it’s turned into laziness. It bothers me when I see women wearing their PJs to the store or on an airplane. The only excuse you should have if you’re at the store in PJs is because you’re picking up medicine because you’re sick. On a plane – I know it’s a comfort thing – but there used to be a time when we’d dress in heels, gloves, and a hat to travel.
Never seen this before. It never happened at my high school (well we had a school uniform so if someone turned up in pj’s they would be sent home to change) and thankfully I never saw anyone at Uni come to class in pj’s. Maybe it’s more an American thing. Hoping it doesn’t catch on here.
Ha ha i love this and totally agree thats why its called sleepwear.
Wow this is nothing new. Both guys and girls wore pajama bottoms to college back in the 90′s. Fashion is highly overrated, sure I love to dress up and look pretty and I would never consider going out in Pajamas to work or somewhere where it wasn’t appropriate but come on what does it matter if someone is just sitting and studying in classrooms? Quit judging other people.
It’s like a fad or something, I’m much too self conscious to ever do it, and I honestly couldn’t wear them all day, I like to have somewhat firm pants, but if other people like to do it, kudos to them, I think it looks cute sometimes. However I don’t think anyone around where I live does it. I’ve never seen it at high school unless it was “Pajama day”, nor have I ever seen it at colleges. I’ve only seen it in Grocery stores like Walmart, but it’s usually really late at night, and it’s just a teen with a punky style or a mom.
I’ve never worn pajamas to class…but then again I’ve never really been all that bothered or distracted by those that did to care. I was there to learn…not to check out the fashion blunders of my classmates. Maybe they learn best in an environment where they are completely physically comfortable. I’m sure these girls won’t be showing up at their office jobs in their My Little Pony flannels or anything. Now I’ve seen people out in public with stained up, nasty, faded, tattered jammies and looking like they haven’t showered in days…and that’s pretty sad…but a young girl in clean PJs and a ponytail aren’t exactly on my public enemy #1 list.
The only time I wore pj bottoms to school was in marching band, and I’d keep them under my band uniform pants. It gets cold later in the season, you guys!
I have a degree. Not one day with PJ pants. Pretty sure I deserved extra credit for that.