Saturday, April 30, 2011

Appearances

Hello,
           My name is Wintermute and this is your Daily Dose of Dumbr in the Classroom. Some of you may be thinking of working in either Korea or Japan but not sure if you would be accepted for a position based off of your appearances. You might think that because they are Asian countries they are very laxed and light on their rules of display. You are wrong, truth be told they are quite strict and will remain so and have no plans to change. An old Japanese proverb states, “The nail that sticks up, gets hammered down.”

Tattoos: In Korea and Japan tattoos are commonly associated with gangs and their members such as the Yakuza. Brandishing even one tattoo is grounds for denial into almost any position. Of course you can cover up your tattoo, but I wouldn’t even mention the hidden ink scar to your employers. I have one on my back; I deny its existence on any paper work until well after my employment.  I feel I am not in the wrong as the tattoo is not visible so therefore needs no mention on paper.

Hairdo: Hair styles say a lot about you in Asia, more than anything your age and whether you are employed or not. If you are foreign working in Korea they are nowhere near as strict, I have seen Americans with multicolored mo hawks and still hold up a decent job. Japan on the other hand has a huge no color policy, and prefers to keep your hair simple and short, or for women, tied back.

Clothes: One of my favorite things about Asia is the public transportation drivers. Anywhere else in the world you will get a driver who has his neck beard hairs stuck in the zipper of his windbreaker jacket littered with nicotine stains and holes. In Asia on the other hand, they will be dressed in a suit and tie wearing gloves. If taxi drivers wear a suit and tie, what do you think the rest of the country wears? So come prepared and bring a wide variety of your best threads.

So I'll ask, do you think proper attire should be adorned for any given profession, or do you think we will reach an age where we no longer judge others based on how well kept they are? Once again thank you all for your continued support be sure to come back every day for more Dumbr!

The Fashion Police,
Wintermute



31 comments:

  1. I have always been fixated on the eastern cultures. Nice!

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  2. whoa, had no idea they were that harsh with appearance.. I always has the view that they were 'crazier' than most westerm countries.

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  3. I'm going to look like a bum compared to a taxi driver...great lol

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  4. Made me laugh :) You write very well!

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  5. On business trips to Asia I have encountered societies flocked with an immaculate taste for fine clothing, and a real knack for dressing up for ordinary occasion.

    If you want a country to walk the supermarket in a business suit and feel dressed down - Korea my friends.

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  6. That's so interesting, especially the bus drivers.
    People tend to judge others on what they wear and that will always be there.

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  7. They ask about tattoos on job applications. That alone is different, haha

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  8. damn.. I'd have to wear long sleeves all the time over there to cover up my tattoos.. that wouldn't be fun. lol

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  9. Judging people on how well kept they are is called First Impressions. That'll never go away...

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  10. no, we will always judge based on looks. nothing to do but deal with it

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  11. That is one thing I've always admired in the east, everyone wears a suit/dresses up. In the west I feel like I'm the odd-man out whenever I wear a blazer.

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  12. i say japan is too formal, but its good to dress like that for a job.

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  13. useful tips as always! as a teacher are you supposed to abide by a particular dresscode or can you wear whatever you want?

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  14. Thanks for the info. It could prove useful later on. :)

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  15. Great tips there thanks. Great post im following.

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  16. Yeah, I think I'd much prefer taxi drivers and such to look really nice. Might make me more comfortable using them.

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  17. I didnt know that about tatoos!

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  18. @intraman, it depends, at private schools you just have to look nice, blue jeans and a nice t-shirt is good enough. at public schools you have to wear a suit and tie.

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  19. I wouldn't mind wearing a nice suit everyday :D

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  20. I think appearance matters for a career because humans are judgmental creatures. Everyone does a thinslice of someone they don't know.

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  21. I like professional dress. It would be really difficult on a tight budget though.

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  22. wintermute, really? I thought it would be the other way around.

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  23. That's very interesting! I don't think I could go a day without my lucky overalls, though.

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  24. i cant even afford ass wipe paper

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  25. @jamie, totes mcgoates. and it depends on the school, not all schools are the same but generally speaking.

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  26. Sounds like I could not afford to live there and blend in.

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  27. I wish the taxi drivers here wore a suit and a tie :(

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  28. haha @venomlreland, that would be awesome. driving in style

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  29. Suit and tie taxis? I work at a high dollar framing company where they ask we keep clean cut and wear black polos, black dress pants, and all black dress shoes. I thought THAT was having a dress code. I am wrong it seems. However they allow tattoos as long as they're professionally done and nothing stupid/tacky/hateful/etc. My big boss actually has a very nicely done sleeve and I intend to start working again on my floral sleeve soon.

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