Uniforms give their wearer high visibility. Policemen or members
of the armed forces stand out from the crowd in their uniforms, often
imbuing the wearer with authority or power. Some uniforms identify
a brand -- "Trust your car to the man who wears the Texaco star"--or
an occupation--waiter, nurse. Uniforms worn by a group of people can
indicate shared beliefs, religious or otherwise--the Mennonite cap
or the Hell's Angels jacket. Other uniforms can identify specific
individuals in a crowd, serving as signs that they are in the wrong
place. Thus, the escaped prisoner must shed his uniform or risk recapture.
When one puts on a uniform, the perception of who one is and what
one believes can be immediately communicated.
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