Hats: It's a choice

Living in American we all grew up knowing we live in "the land of the free" and for the most part this statement is true, we are very free when compared to people living in other countries. Knowing we have this right to freedom, as Americans we like to test it and question it to make sure it stays strong as our right. The social norm of hats is a freedom that is not questioned to often. As American's we have created this social norm of restricting the wear of hats in certain circumstances to display respect. 

Most people put on your hat when they want too, and take it off when they want too, usually with no
strong thought behind the action. When we stand up for the national anthem we take our hats off. When we go into a church we take our hats off. When were walking down the street we keep our hat on. These are social norms most American people act on because it has become a part of acting in our culture. We were hats whenever we want, and are expeted by society to take off our hats in certain curcumstances inorder to show respect.

This idea has made me raise the ethical questions:
Is being told to take off your hat in certain circumstances limiting your freedom of expression?

A hat is a piece in fashion that exceeds much further than just an accessory of style. A hat can be worn for style, to block the sun, for protection, for religious reasons..and so on. A person wearing a hat for style puts a lot of thought into it. Then there are other people who just throw on a baseball hat with the logo of their favorite team because its a sunny day. Or the people who wear their grandma's favorite hat because it's sentimental and it brings back memories. Whatever the circumstances everyone wearing a hat has a reasoning behind it. As a result, society may have judgements on these people's choices to wear hats. Besides soiceties normal instinct to form a judgement, when it comes to hats there is a more specific judgmen that is formed about people wearing them. This judement is respect. There are certain places and circumstances society expects people to take off their hat to show respect, and if you dont remove it society views you as disrespectful.  

The two common locations where society has restricted the wear of hats is in churches, class rooms meeting the president. In addition to the moments when the national anthem or pledge of allegiance is sung, we are expected to remove our hats.
Lets take a look at when and why society views hats as disrespectful...
Church is a major factor here. It may not be always respected, but it is known by society that a hat should not be worn in church; so people ask the question, Why? Church associates and believers of this concept believe that it is a sign of disrespect toward God if you wear a hat in church. They hold this belief stronger towards men, and view it as more acceptable for women to wear church hats. From my research, as far as the internet goes, the evidence they hold to back up their beliefs, are excerpts from the bible that suggest God view hats as disrespectful in church. Here is a quote which most strongly suggests this belief,
 

"Corinthians 11:1-34 : Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ. Now I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I delivered them to you. But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God. Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head, but every wife who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, since it is the same as if her head were shaven.". Here God suggests that men must never cover their head in church, and women must alway cover their head. And for those who have been in a church, most times you may see a women sitting in church with a hat on, but spotting a man with a hat on in church is like seeing a dog without its tail.

The same concept follows when it comes to classrooms, it is believed to be disrespectful to the teacher if you wear a hat in class. However because there is not religion involved in this, the rule may vary depending on the school or teacher. A school may create an all around rule that hats are not allowed to be worn in class, but if a rule is not created there is no law that a teacher must have their students remove their hats if they don't want too. The rules about no hats in school come from authority rule and respecting authorities.  

Again, the same concept of disrespect when it comes to hats is applied when it comes to the National Anthem and the Pledge of Allegiance. Most people who saw a person with a hat on singing the National Anthem would view it as a sign of disrespect. When we stand up and sing these songs we all face the American Flag and sing our pride to our country. This act is displaying our respect for our country, and taking off our at goes along with this act of respect. Those who take part in these songs, view American as honorable and as a result show respect for it. Same goes if you were to meet the President, you are expected to take off your hat to show respect.

There are religious reasons that backup the concepts of hats in church is a sign of disrespect. But those religious reasonings don't follow through outside of church, and many people don't even believe or follow in this religion. So we wonder how come this social norm has still maintained in these other circumstances through out American history to modern day.Whatever the reason is, this is a part of American culture that has carried on till today. And I dont view it as a negative part our culture. Every country has parts of their culture which they use to display respect. And as American’s we have created the culture of taking off your hat as a sign of respect. However there is an important aspect to this point which I believe makes this ethically ok; to make sure that we continue to optain this part of our culture as a choice. Keeping this concept of taking of your hat to display respect, as a choice we are not limiting anyones freedom. It is not right for society to punish you if you to respect something and keep your hat on. Removing or keeping on your hat is a choice which expresses your freedom. We can’t control what people view as respect, but we can still have the freedom of expression to choose who and what we choose to respect.