Topic : 01/28 The Baggy Pants Debate

I am truly amazed that this topic is creating such a controversy when most parents allow their teen girl to dress the way they do.The boys don't show actual body parts-I cant tell you how much cleavage I have seen in just the last week.I don't even know where to look when I am speaking to most of  them.I am a mom too,and its a distraction and completely disrespectful to me and themselves.Boy- do we miss the mark.Leave the boys alone ,focus on something that everyone clearly sees,or is it just that the men that were bringing this up enjoy the view of the girls and would never want to touch that topic.Seems pretty sexist to me.I have both sons and a daughter ,my boys do sag thier pants and my daughter does NOT show cleavage ,or any other "private part".

Dr Phil,

I teach 8th grade and have taught for 28 years,  I am concerned about the response to the "baggy pants" issue from those who do not see a problem with it.  As a teacher, I disagree with those who feel the reason baggy pants are unacceptable is a result of prejudice or racial profiling.  I have students of all races who want to wear their pants below the waist.  Some of them want to wear them so low that the belt is actually cinched below the buttocks...and then want to wear their shirt so that the whole of their rear end is exposed.  It is against the dress code to wear the pants below the natural waistline.  I do not want to see anyone's underwear - whether it be boys or girls underwear.  The problem is that it is not a "fad" or common to see girls showing their panties or bra in plain view - with their clothing pulled away so as to see the underwear.  When a girl shows her underwear, it is just as unacceptable as when a boy shows his.. It is just not an issue, since it is not in fashion.  Additionally, baggy pants can conceil weapons since the posckets are so low, no pulges from weapons would show.  Thankfully, we have not had any issues where students have brought weapons to school.  I am supportive of any measures that protect the students in the school.  We do not allow the students to carry book bags or large totes into the classroom because weapons could be concealed in them.  It is the same with the baggy pants, where the poockets hang so low.  As far as away from school, I do not mind the baggy pants so much - however, I do not understand the reasoning behind wearing pants so low that the person wearing them has to walk holding their pants up with one hand as they walk to keep them from falling down or having to walk bowlegged to keep them up.  I have never responded to a show before - but I had to "weigh in" on this one.  Race should not be considered an issue with this debate.  What should be considered is..what is modest dress?  We seem to have lowered our standards as the years go by and I wonder how far we will go before people realize that the general public really does not want to see exposed behinds or cleavage. 

Why is it such a big deal that males or even females are sagging their pants? It's what they think looks good, it's how THEY want to dress, it's not anyone elses business.  People should never judge someone on the fact that they sag their pants, I know plenty of good people who sag their pants because they think it looks good, and they are not criminals in any aspect. Sagging pants is a style that is part of our generation along with mini skirts and mid-drift tops for females. I think it is absolutely outrageous to even think about making pant sagging illegal. There is no way that anyone would obey the law anyways, it's just rediculous. There are so many other issues in the world that need to be taken care of and sagging pants is far from one of them, it's the least of our problems. People need to start worrying about themselves and not about what everyone is wearing. I am sure there are plenty of criminals in the world who don't sag their pants. I read someone elses comment and they mentioned that anyone could hide a weapon in their clothing, not only are the people sagging their pants could be carrying a weapon, but literally anyone could have one and that's so true. Don't judge a book by its cover.

This is silly - if we made laws against this what would be next? The Canadian city I live in is primarily white so here, it's not a racial issue at all. However, many young men dress like this.

I think the style is foolish but if you don't like it - then don't look at it. If everyone dressed the same life would be boring is what my mom always said.

I think assuming that your gay if you wear your pants like that is foolish - I think it's all foolish.

You can not tell someone what they can or can't wear - if we allow this to happen then the whole thing will spiral into restrictions on just about everything which may not affect you now but it will.

There is music which is offensive, there's comedy, tv shows, movies, sayings, lack of hygiene and yes clothes but you can't apply laws to them. Can't believe we're even going down this path - wow.

Baggy pants = Eye Pollution.....

These guys are following a cookie cutter pattern.....no indivualism plus this look is ugly  & makes the guys look stupid. Will they next display their penis's so that we can visually measure their brain size ?

Keep it up guys....

stupid is as stupid does.....

Really i think that baggy pants are just a fad and that people will start to forget all about it, also that its not just about the hip hop industry i also see the rock,punk and pop industry wearing there pants down low as well. I agree with you Dr. Phil where do we draw the line , as a 15 year old feamle i see lots of friends and school mates "low riding" and i just learned to live with it and dont find it bothering but i do find bothering that girls wear there skits really and i mean really short and when i see more skin then clothing. The goverment is mostly made up of men so i think and beleive that they dont want to see guys buts but rather girls brests and buts so what really are they saying,well they are saying that they are sexest i think that he gov't is talking the pants to serisoly.