A recent study by Lands’ End found that the number of schools with dress codes increased by twenty one percent from 2000 to 2013. School dress code is a very controversial topic in today’s America. Weather they are against or for it; everyone has their own two cents to put in. Some schools force their students to wear uniforms; while others just say do not wear shorts. I think dress code should be more lenient for three main reasons: there in an inconsistency in rules about dress code, it promotes rape culture, and it promotes sexism in our youth. When a sixteen year old girl found the dress of her dreams for the upcoming winter dance, she was elated. She could not wait to wear the beautiful dress, and even altered the dress to meet her …show more content…
Huffington Post reported a story about Lakeside High School in Lakeside, Florida about the school changing their dress code to follow two mottos: “modest is hottest”, and “boys will be boys”. Police do not tell rape victims “boys will be boys, sorry!”, so why should schools tell boys that they can do whatever they want because “boys will be boys.” School dress codes promote the idea that boys cannot help but to sexualize women that boys are just animals that cannot help themselves, that if they see bare shoulders it means she was asking to be raped. What kind of society are we that we let schools sexualize our daughters, our sisters, our friends? Dress codes are telling young impressionable girls that it is their fault that boys are allowed to sexualize everything about them. Dress codes are telling young girls that it is their responsibility to not “provoke” a rape, when schools should be teaching boys to not sexualize everything they see. Instead of teaching girls not to get raped, they should be teaching boys to not rape. 44% of rape victims are under the age of 18 according to rainn.org. This is an alarming number that we could help
Gendered dress codes also lead to the tough subject of ‘rape culture’ and how dress codes are heavily influencing this. Rape culture is the idea of blaming the victim of sexual assault and saying it is their fault because of their actions. In an article the author makes a statement about gendered dress codes, she says, “dress codes deny boys personal responsibility and teach them that their classmates are objects that they are entitled to instead of people they are equal to” (Meehan 1). This quote from the article, “I Can See Your Body”, is explaining how gendered dress codes are teaching males that women are just property and if they do not follow the rules males can do as they please. This also goes with the idea of rape culture in today’s society and treating women as property. In many countries women are considered less equal than men, they are considered as property, but in the US that is not practiced. In the article, “I Can See Your Body”, the author explains how gendered dress codes enforce rape culture by stating, “gendered dress codes and the values they reinforce don’t only hurt girls, but also have a negative impact on boys. By teaching boys that women are distracting sexual objects, that they are not responsible for their reactions around women, we create men who think they are entitled to women’s bodies” (Meehan 1). In this quote she
Any girl that has ever attended public school knows about the struggle of a dress code. On those hot days as the school year approaches, girls pour over their closets trying to find an outfit they won’t get called out for or sweat to death in. All their dresses are too revealing, their shorts too short, and their shirts reveal way too much shoulder—or so the schools say. Girls have been attacked time and time again with dress codes. Policies are almost always directed strictly towards girls; some even specify for girls only. These dress codes are not only sexist towards women, but they limit female’s freedom of expression and their choice to feel comfortable, and they do not teach female’s to have self confidence.
Students have been affected by dress codes for many years. Others, for better or for worse, never had to deal with them. It has been debated for years between parents, students, and school systems alike as to whether or not dress codes are appropriate to enforce. This essay will summarize, make an argument, and analyze Krystal Miller’s article on this subject, titled, “School Dress Codes”.
The argument goes on to express that girls are being humiliated in front of not only teachers and administrators, but also in front of their class mates and peers. The teachers say, “We just want them to respect themselves” (Manicotti). The teachers are referring to the way that the girls are dressed in school. Also with humiliating the girls; schools are indoctrinating a mindset that is “Harmonious with rape culture” (Manicotti). The next argument to address is the unfair rules that are being set and enforced by teachers. For instance, if a boy is not dressed to code, the only punishment he will get is being “Respectfully asked to adhered to the dress code in the future” (Manicotti). If a female is wearing a skirt that is a few inches shorter than the required length, females would be asked to go to the office, or be expelled for defying school rules. Not only are those some of the consequences a female might face when not following school dress code, they may also be singled out at a school assembly, asked to change clothes, or even sent home for the day for not being in proper dress code attire. Lastly, if boys have different rules from girls, they are being told they are not responsible for their actions, because girls are provoking them. “Second, ripping dress-code-violating girls out of class and sending them home prioritizes the rights of the boys (to learn without
The school dress code is a very controversial topic for boys and girls but mostly girls. They treat girl from a young age that we should be ashamed of our bodies and cover up because we're too distracting to the boys. Yes there does have to be some restrictions to the dress code but others that say our sholder is to distracting is taking it to far. Girls should be proud of themselves and really the dress code is tearing down their confidence. If were to distracting to the boys for even just showing a little bit of shoulder that boy should be talked to that girls shouldn't just be seen as an object of pleasure and that there human to. Instead of doing something like that we are told to cover up and should be ashamed for even showing even a little bit of our shoulders or stomach. We do however do need a dress code so people don’t just
For teens, Spring equates to: the rush of liberty in the warm wind breezing through arms and legs, skin illuminated in the sun, and stepping home after a bright school day; ice cream cone in hand. Spring equals paradise...though, in 2017, this image is torn to shreds, by the hand of an important issue: school dress codes. Despite its origin to ensure the physical comfort of all members within the school community; the current shape that the administration of school dress codes has taken is biased and bares menacing messages of inequality, especially to female students across Canada and the United States. Enforcement of dress codes has become subjective to uncontrollables such as geographical location, the beliefs of admin at different schools; and the physical traits of different students. In spite of administrative refutes, that, girls’ attire can reveal a distraction to male students; the true disturbance is the way schools are making assumptions on behalf of the boys on whether or not what they see is distracting them. In the end, it is evident that the real victims of interrupted educations are the girls themselves. Unlike the warming of temperature, the attitudes of schools only grows frostier towards the issue of “dress codes” as the days pass by.
Everyone knows what getting dress-coded is but why does it happen? Enforcing dress codes is a way to maintain a professional learning environment, however, dress codes desperately need to be updated constantly in order to work. Current dress codes are improperly enforced, as well as improperly targeted toward women. The issue should not be that a woman's shoulder is distracting, the issue is that a boy “cannot learn” because he cannot keep himself under control when presented with the sight of skin. In addition, dress codes teach women that it is their fault when men sexualize them, therefore increasing the idea in rape culture that it is the victim's fault and that "Boys will be boys." The way that dress codes are currently enforced is unfair, sexist, and unjust.
School should be a learning environment, not a fashion show. Students shouldn’t obsess over the clothes they wear. Dress codes are beneficial to schools because they help to prevent inappropriate clothing choices, provide less distractions, and they eliminate social and class barriers. Dress codes put a stop to inappropriate clothing. It puts a stop to students wearing
There are many reasons why dress code should not be a policy at schools. The dress code usually targets girls and is completely sexist. Hardly is it ever the case where the male is getting dress coded. It’s always the girls who have shorts that are “too short” or are showing “too much” shoulders. Dress code is also often saying that it’s a girls responsibility to not distract
Dress codes take part across the world, and many schools have dress codes and many do not. Having dress codes may benefit for the students, and the parents of the children. With all of the students wearing a school uniform students may be treated equally, may cause less bullying, and may cause less problems in the school. Many students judge based on looks, clothing, and how people dress, but with a dress code everyone would dress the same. School uniforms should be in all schools because it would lower bullying rates, nobody would be treated different from the clothing, and everyone would fit into their school better.
Currently, girls still face a strong discrimination on what they wear more than boys in school. Many of these stories are appearing in social media about how unfair it is for many of these young ladies to be sent to the office or suspended because of what they wear is considered inappropriate. According to Times article, “How School Dress Codes Shame Girls and Perpetuate Rape Culture,” Laura Bates quotes a student,
“Why are you wearing that” “Isn’t that a little too short” these statements and many more are phrases students, usually females, hear everyday from their school administrators and teachers because of these horrible, out of date, dress codes.Dress codes are becoming more and more of a problem with the uprising society.While there should be a dress code so students look more professional and looking like they are going to work and not to bed, school dress codes are being sexist against females and discriminating girls through rape culture, discrimination, and body shaming.
Students struggle throughout high school and go through a great deal of stress. Whether it be making friends, or working hard to pass a difficult class. To make things more pressuring, they are not allowed to wear what they want. The administration made the decision that it is best to suspend a student for their choice in clothing. If they go against the rule of dress code, there will be serious consequences. What students wear should not affect their class work. If a student gets sent home for their outfit, it is affecting their grades and attendance. Punishment disrupts the students education more than what they are wearing. High school students should feel free to embrace their individuality without being pressured by dress codes; therefore, it should be eliminated from all schools indefinitely.
Disagree- School dress codes protect people from revealing too much skin in a professional area. Without dress code, students would be rebellious and take advantage of what is appropriate to wear. Given the sexual assaults due to revealing too much skin, gives the school the security to prevent this from happening.
Everyday throughout the halls of Mckinney Boyd High School, females walk nervously and briskly out of fear of being dress coded. Comparatively males walk comfortably and confident while wearing the clothes that please them. Not only Mckinney Isd but schools and districts across the nation view girls as objects and puts blame on their own god given body parts and identify them as a “distraction, Mckinney Isd dress code is very harsh and undermines young women's confidence and needs to be revised tremendously.