Uniforms in schools are about discipline but what about identity?

For decades, school uniforms have symbolized discipline, unity, and tradition. They are often seen as the great equalizer,blurring socio-economic lines and reinforcing a sense of belonging. Yet, for today’s students growing up in an increasingly individualistic and expressive world, the uniform can also feel like a quiet constraint on their identity, self-expression, and even personal growth

There’s something strangely familiar about the click of polished shoes on tile floors and the rustle of stiff fabric on a hot morning. For many students, uniforms are stitched into memory,those same navy blues or greys, that same reminder, you’re in school.

It’s a ritual, really. You button up, tuck in, smooth the creases, and step into a version of yourself that fits the rules. It tells you how to behave before the day even begins. You’re part of a group now. You look like everyone else, so act like everyone else,what about you as yourself? Nope can't be that here.On the surface, that can be comforting. It takes the edge off some of the pressure. You don’t have to think about outfits, or whether you’ll stand out in the wrong way. And in places where class differences are sharp, uniforms can soften things.

But looking the same isn’t the same as being equal. And feeling like you belong because you’re dressed like everyone else??That’s not quite the same as actually being seen.

That’s where it starts to get complicated. For some students, the uniform is a relief. For others, it’s a quiet weight. It flattens their sense of individuality,their own identity. It says, maybe not out loud but clearly enough that there’s a right way to be here. And if how you naturally are doesn’t quite fit that? Then tuck it in. Smooth it out. Keep it quiet, don't express.

We talk a lot about self-expression, especially with Gen Z. People assume it’s about being loud or rebellious, but most of the time, it’s subtler than that. It’s in the way someone wants to wear their hair. Or a piece of jewelry that means something. Or choosing pants instead of a skirt because that’s what feels right. These things aren’t distractions. They’re a  personal comfort.They help people feel real in environments that can often feel manufactured and processed.

When schools insist on strict uniformity, they risk missing who their students are becoming. And that’s a loss,for everyone involved.That doesn’t mean getting rid of uniforms altogether. It just means asking what’s the goal here? Is it discipline? Focus? A sense of shared identity? If so, can that still be achieved while leaving a little more room for individuality?

Because discipline isn’t the opposite of identity. You can show up as yourself and take things seriously. In fact, sometimes that is the discipline.

Maybe the question we should be asking isn’t “Should schools have uniforms?” but rather, “What are we asking students to give up in order to wear them?” And is that trade-off still worth it?

These are my views but let's look through A Wider Lens

There’s also research worth thinking about In this context,A 2022 report by the U.S. National Center for Education Statistics found no strong evidence linking uniforms to improved academic performance. Some schools saw better attendance and slightly fewer discipline issues, but nothing dramatic. Uniforms might bring structure,or the  stereotypical ‘discipline’but that alone doesn’t automatically lead to focus or even success.

Then there’s the question of cultural and gender inclusion. In the UK, a Stonewall School Report revealed that 64% of trans students felt uncomfortable in school because of uniform policies. It’s not just about what’s being worn it’s about who’s being asked to shrink or compromise to fit the code.

And globally, some schools are already rethinking what a “uniform” can be. In parts of Sweden and New Zealand, students are allowed to choose from a range of options, with designs that are gender-neutral or adjustable for cultural needs. Others allow modest accessories,scarves, turbans, even pins,so students can express small parts of who they are without disrupting the whole.

If schools want to prepare students for the real world, this might be the place to start, not by getting rid of discipline, but by making space for difference and individuality inside it which leads to the feeling of inclusivity.

By Aditi Sawarkar