Standing out from the crowd: personalization of graduation attire

During 1982 and 1983 college commencement ceremonies, a tally was made of students who displayed personal adornment in addition to their traditional academic garb. Degree conferred, sex of recipient, and year of graduation were related to the frequency and forms (political and nonpolitical) of adornment. Bachelor of Arts candidates were more likely to be adorned than were Bachelor of Science candidates, women were more likely to be adorned than were men, and 1982 graduates were more likely to be adorned than were 1983 graduates. The wearing of antinuclear protest ribbons varied as a function of degree but not as a function of sex, and the wearing of nonpolitical forms of adornment varied as a function of sex but not as a function of degree. Results indicate that personalization of graduation attire follows patterns reported in studies of secular dress and adornment. This correspondence between everyday and ritual clothing expressions suggests that the graduation ceremony may be a useful microcosm for future field studies of adolescents' attitudes and social differentiation.