In defence of the humble hoodie

They've been around for decades. Rocky wore one. So do most of our sporting heroes and a good portion of Hollywood celebrities. Even Prince Harry's been spotted in one - while visiting orphans in Lesotho, no less.

So why do hoodies have such a bad rep?

Oh, that's right - they're also worn by gangster rappers and some criminals. Therefore the fact that you can lift the hood up over your head magically transforms your hooded sweatshirt from a comfy, cosy fashion piece into an intimidating accessory to crime.

A hoodie is just a piece of fabric. There's nothing menacing about it, and there's nothing menacing about the vast majority of people who wear them. And yet the staid, older middle classes have decreed that a hoodie represents a clear and present danger. They're banned in malls and shops around the country.

If we're going to insist that gang members and other louts have somehow taken ownership of the hoodie, and anyone else wearing one is trying to emulate their thug lifestyle, then guess what? That means none of us are allowed to wear red or blue either, because those are known gang colours around the world. Or pants - I'm pretty sure most criminals wear pants. Ipso facto, anyone wearing pants is either a criminal or trying to look like one.

I'll take my tongue out of my cheek now and acknowledge that I understand the common sense of insisting hoods not be worn up while inside banks, petrol stations and the like, to deter potential robbers. But the overwhelming backlash against all hoodies and all hoodie-wearers just smacks of priggishness and prejudice.

I'll be wearing a hoodie tomorrow for "Goodie in a Hoodie" day, part of the celebrations for UN International Children's Day. The idea is to get people thinking about the positive part youth and youth culture play in society as a whole.

The truth is, everyone likes to complain about young people today, as if in "their day" there was no crime and everyone respected their elders. But every community is full of amazing examples of young people who work hard, play hard and contribute a hell of a lot to our lives.

And the best part is that part of any funds raised by Hoodie Day events across NZ will also be going to Age Concern NZ - so you'll be helping young and old in one stroke.