Social Class and School Uniforms: A Zimbabwean Case

Uniforms function as a means of identification—that is, one can be identified as belonging to a particular body or organisation by the kind of uniform they wear. However, it must also be recognised that uniforms are not just a means of ordinary social identity; they can also be associated with other social factors, such as political power, economic status, military authority and cultural identity. This chapter discusses the place of uniforms in schools as viewed from a social class perspective with a particular focus on postcolonial Zimbabwe. Power dynamics at work within the monopoly of school uniform supply provide a focus to understand the social class tensions currently within educational provision in Zimbabwe. The discussion takes a conflict (Marxist) theoretical perspective of social class and links this to the social role of uniforms in schools in general, and particularly to school children, school authorities, parents of school children and society at large.