Because everyone’s wearing the same thing, the line between the rich and the poor is blurred and the distinction isn’t as obvious as when students are free to decide on their own outfits. This, supposedly, discourages the formation of cliques based on social status and gives the underprivileged more self-confidence as they’re less prone to discrimination and bullying. With the absence of personal style, fashion-reinforced stereotypes are also out of the equation. Since school uniforms are mostly more formal in appearance than regular street clothing, prescribing them is said to train students to dress appropriately for the academic setting (which, in turn, prepares them for business dressing).