Dress Code Controversy

Ok, I know this will sound like an opinion, but it seems like most dress codes are targeting women and transgender students. Hear me out though, if you ask your school for a copy of the dress codes, you will see that almost all of your dress codes will be pointed towards girls. People always told me to express myself but I feel like I can’t really do that if I feel I can’t wear something that I think is cute because it against the dress code. One of these websites https://youthradio.org/journalism/education/when-school-dress-codes-distract-from-education/ actually

Some people say dress code is causing girls to body shame themselves. It may not seem like it, but this is something that is having a very negative impact on girls. According to the article “Enforcing school dress codes teaches girls to be ashamed, not ‘modest’”, some parents and educators believe young women’s outfits-their bodies really- are too distracting for men to be expected to comfort themselves with dignity and respect. ”Instead of teaching girls math or literature, schools are

Last, girl’s are ruled by boys because boys think of girls as sexual objects and get distracted by them. In the article it says, “When teacher punish girls for wearing clothes deemed ‘too distracting’ for boys to handle, it teaches a damaging lesson. ”(source 5) This quote shows that boys have the power over what girls can wear making girls not feeling confident. Dress codes make girls feel unconfident and

Schools claim that student dress codes are never meant target a group of students. "The notion that girls' clothing affects the way boys learn is not, and never will be, our message," they denied that they acted because leggings distract boys, as has been alleged by some parents (nydailynews web). But on the other hand, here is a quote that sums up the point that I am trying to express, "It's not like these girls are dressing up like street corner gals, right? I mean, it's sweatshirts and comfy pants," says Juliet Bond, an author and professor of women's studies at a Chicago liberal arts

In dress code rules, it seems most of the rules target females. Boys are hardly ever disciplined for wearing “inappropriate” clothing. “I’ve never seen a boy called out for his attire even though they do also break the rules” (Zhou 1).When schools target girls on what they wear, it makes them not only upset, but sometimes embarrassed. “Conflict over these policies has also spawned hundreds of change.org petitions and numerous school walkouts” (Zhou 1). Instead of being a facility for education, dress code turns too much attention towards clothing “distractions”. Therefore, the blame should be placed on the school administration, because the dress code they put together results in students not attending classes. Not only does the dress code distract students from their school work, it makes female students feel insecure about they way they look. “Many of these protests have criticized the dress code as sexist in that they unfairly target girls by body-shaming and blaming them for promoting sexual harassment” (Zhou 1). Most of the time when girls are called out for what they wear, it is said they are distracting boys, or putting themselves out there. Boys themselves even go far enough to say the girls are “asking for it”. The dress code falsely blames girls for being promiscuous, when most of the time they are just wearing clothes that are in style. Situations like this have happened so many times, and are still occurring

For students to have more freedom within school, we need to look at the way school dress codes are set up. In many schools, students can’t have shorts higher than mid-thigh when standing or sitting and they can’t even show their shoulders because it could be considered “distracting” to the student’s fellow classmates. From personal experience, I can remember several times where I have been told that my shorts are inappropriate and not to wear them again because they were higher than mid-thigh, only because I was sitting cross legged on the floor which made the shorts ride up. Every year, I hear my fellow classmates and myself included, complain about these strict dress codes and don’t understand how a shoulder could be considered “distracting”.

Some say men distract men when they don't dress according to the dress code. However, women aren’t the only thing that men should be focusing on in the world. If they have work to do, boys should be able to be mature enough and pay attention. Some might also claim that the dress code is enforced equally for both genders. How many stories do you hear in the news about male students getting sent home for dress codes? I walk around my school everyday and see sagging pants and inappropriate choices of clothing on a large amount of males, but I have yet to witness one of those males being sent home for their clothing choices. Lastly, people may try to argue that dress codes protect women from harm. Statistics say different. 58% of 7-12th grade female students experience sexual harassment every school year (Gordon Claire). Perhaps it’s the culture of disrespect for women’s bodies that causes this harassment, not girls “asking for it” by wearing certain

The dress codes forbid women to wear anything too revealing, leaving the definition of what revealing his to the person enforcing the rules. Girls have been sent home for wearing leggings, full length dresses with spaghetti straps, short shorts among any other clothing choice that brings sexual thoughts to the person enforcing it. It makes you wonder the reason why a teacher or principal would think sexually of a student who most likely is underage. Boys while playing sports are free to take off their shirt, but since their midriffs and chest is not sexualized then it is ok; we shall not distract the boys while the learn so girls must be sent home and miss class because their education is not as important? The article, How School Dress Codes Shame Girls and Perpetuate Rape Culture from Time magazine stated that punishing girls for what they wear due to the distraction caused to the boys, sends a damaging lesson: girls bodies are dangerous and harassment is

School dress code in the United States originated in private schools in the year 1994. One of the first schools to mandate school uniforms was Long Beach Unified School District in California. Schools requiring a dress code experience increased school spirit and attendance; it prevents students from flaunting their wealth and spending money on clothing, and it stops students from associating with gang related activities. By 1995, 51 percent of school fights decreased and 69 percent of drug use diminished in schools all across the United States. Reports from the school board for attendance rates expanded and the number of suspensions decreased by 33 percent. From the years 1994 to 1995 and 1996 to 1997, most public schools require students to wear a standard dress code. By having a dress code or

One issue often presented in public schools are dress codes. Each school has a variety of different policies for both boys and girls, yet they are more biased against what girls wear. We often find in a student handbook the amount of sentences for what girls aren’t allowed to wear compared to boys. These dress codes are seen as sexist because they require girls to cover anything that seems to be “distracting,” but mainly it is made for boys to not be distracted. The regulations include like nothing revealing, as for the exposure of shoulders, shorts or skirts have to be a certain length and often yoga or leggings are banned. When girls violate the dress code they are often sent to the office to change or suspended because they didn’t follow the rules. The policies also take over school events like prom It is such an issue because they limit a girls freedom of what they want to wear. Also, it is sexist because most of these regulations are for boys to not be distracted on a girls clothing. These dress codes are problematic at public schools and girls are more targeted on these policies. Throughout the years they have faced discrimination and the effects, yet some agree that these dress codes serve a purpose.

Are shoulders too sexy for school?; why dress codes sexualize girls from a young age.

Implementing dress codes should not be allowed in educational institutions of any level. The debate over enforcing dress codes in school environments has been a controversial subject in the educational institutions for years. Administrators have struggled to find effective ways to decrease the number of disciplinary issues. The primary solution that they have implemented is the introduction of dress codes. While the introduction of dress codes has been a common way to help decrease the number of disciplinary issues, topics such as bullying, gangs, violence, and freedom of expression are thrown into this conversation, causing controversy within educational institutions. Overall, the implementation of dress codes is discriminative towards female students, however the policy also causes students to abstain from freedom of expression and freedom of speech.

Contrary to the popular belief that dress codes are good and provide a “safe” environment, they are restricting to self expression. As females in high school, we are taught to cover our bodies and not to wear anything that might be distracting to the male gender. Our dress choices are blamed for a mass majority of the distractions in the classroom and if we are out of “dress code” we are told that we are the problem. As “the problem” in the classroom, I would like to know why the hole in my jeans is not okay, but certain organizations are allowed to wear short skirts “because it’s their uniform”. If we are going to have a dress code, it should not be biased to certain organizations or genders. Schools are not “work environments” they are “learning environments”. Schools are the place where students figure out who they are and learn life skills. How are they supposed to do this if they are told, that they are the problem and are taken out of class and sent home for

“ ‘School is telling us female bodies are distracting, and it’s wrong,’ Virginia said, countering that the actual distraction is when teachers interrupt class to send a student away to change.” This statement was in Los Angeles Times. Dress code has become a big deal with schools today. The dress code has become more and more restraining and is causing more of a detraction the clothes being worn! Dress code is becoming sexist and needs need to be less constraining to make us more comfortable, focused, and able to express ourselves more.

Females are often targeted for dress code because the dress code lists more restrictions and allocations for females instead of males. “Dress code violations include baring shoulders, wearing a tank top, or exposing a bra strap.” Schools can be petty when getting on to girls for dress code issues. Neatoday.com says, A female Kentucky student was sent home for showing her collarbone… her Mom brought a scarf to put around her neck and they still deemed it inappropriate. I personally do not think showing your collarbone is worth getting in trouble for in school. “A Texas honor student gets sent home for wearing yoga pants and an oversize tee shirt.” I honestly do not see how yoga pants and an oversized tee shirt would be seen as a distraction. Kids come to school to learn not to be in trouble because of what they wear. Although there are several examples of females being singled out based on their attire, there are many instances of females purposefully dressed