Dressing Styles And Its Social Impacts In Higher Learning Institutions In Tanzania: A Case Of The University Of Dodoma

ABSTRACT

The study focused on dressing styles and its social impacts in higher learning institutions in Tanzania, a case of Dodoma University. Dressing style is one of the denominations of mankind and dress patterns or adornment is an aspect of human physical appearance which has social significance. This study examined the social impacts of dressing styles in higher learning institutions of Tanzania with an aim of portraying the picture of the way people dress and the social implications of such dresses in the learning institutions environments. The specific objective included to find out the types of dressing styles on study area, to examine negative and positive impacts of dressing styles on the study area, to examine people‟s perception on dressing in Dodoma University, to find out suggestions and recommendations on dressing in study area Data were collected through cross sectional research design using interviews and questionnaires and used a sample size of 100 respondents, which comprised of key informants from Dodoma University. Data gathered were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS Version 16) as well as content analysis The findings indicated that, the leading dressing styles is min-skirts and three quarters, followed by causal skirts and blouse, long-sleeved dressing shirts and trousers, causal dresses, long skirts and blouse, Jeans and T-shirts, Baibui, Model jeans and t-shirts suits, Kanzu Accordingly, the investigation concludes that mass media brought negative impacts in the society because most of the respondents imitate dressing styles from different mass media. Likewise, recommended is that university authority should expose and implement a dressing code policy so as to iron out the informal dressing styles like min skirts and model jeans among others that respondents confirmed to be dressed in the university.