In the social sciences, unintended consequences (sometimes unanticipated consequences or unforeseen consequences) are outcomes that are not the ones foreseen and intended by a purposeful action. The term was popularised in the twentieth century by American sociologistRobert K. Merton.[1]
Unintended consequences can be grouped into three types:
- Unexpected benefit: A positive, unexpected benefit (also referred to as luck, serendipity or a windfall).
- Unexpected drawback: A negative, unexpected detriment occurring in addition to the desired effect of the policy (e.g., while irrigation schemes provide people with water for agriculture, they can increase waterborne diseases that have devastating health effects, such as schistosomiasis).
- Perverse result: A perverse effect contrary to what was originally intended (when an intended solution makes a problem worse). This is sometimes referred to as 'backfire'.
Way back in 1921, american expat Elizabeth Lee, in her role as principal of the private Fukuoka School for Girls, decided that her students should wear a uniform.
However, she also wanted to make a statement. Thus, on one hand, she was looking for a design that would look neat and tidy... but on the other hand she also wanted to emphasize her vision that women should take a more proactive role in Japanese society.
Because of this, she opted for a female clothing style that was fairly popular in the West at the time - but which also signaled a somewhat masculine, self-confident "can-do" and "go-getter" attitude.
Namely, the sailor-style dress.
Little did she know that, in due time, her decision would not only define the look of female school uniforms across Japan but that this dressing style would also become so completely synonymous with "school girl", that it would ultimately re-enter Japanese popular culture in strange and unexpected way.
Log in to comment