Dress code has been a crucial part of public schooling for years. It seems to be growing more strict every year, as it should, with the ever changing clothing trends. How far is too far though? Is it necessary to be so focused on what students wear to school, sometimes more so than their education? Dress code in some aspects is too strict and only promotes negative feelings and judgemental peers. In schools and communities it is an extremely debated topic because there is a broad spectrum of solutions. It is also hard to enforce because rules that may apply to some may not apply to others due to differences in body type and opinions. Students who should be concerned on their education are concerned with how they look to their teachers and peers. This causes stress and makes the possibility of bullying much greater. According to the Grand Rapids Press Editorial Board, “By trying to remove sexuality from school outfits, schools have only succeeded in making it all about sex.” Students are now more so than ever concerned with their appearance because of the increasing strictness of dress code. Dress code is particularly directed at females. Hardly is it heard of that a boy must be pulled out of class and …show more content…
In the article School Dress Codes Have a Serious Sexism Problem it says “Educational energy could be much better spent teaching our children to respect themselves and each other.” Which is exactly what should be happening in schools. If schools took a small amount of time early on in a child's education to teach them to respect their peers dress code issues would vanish. Instead the school system disrupts one child's education because she/ he was supposedly disrupting another child's education with their clothing. Thus making it seem like one child's education is valued over
To some, arguing over student dress code seems trivial and useless. To others, it goes deeper than that. Dress code might seem like the typical “first world problem”, but to the average high school student, gaining the freedom ‘no dress code’ grants is incredible. The fact of the matter is, the rigid enforcement of student dress code has gone too far in today 's society and dehumanizes us as citizens. Although school dress code attempts to promote modesty and protection, it also reinforces gender inequality, smothers individualism, is unconstitutional, and should not be enforced in public schools.
Dress codes are becoming more and more popular throughout the United States; however, this does not mean all administrators agree with them. In fact, there are educators
Have you ever been excluded from learning because of what you wore to school? In most schools, dress codes are set in place to provide a better learning space for all students. Having a dress code can oppress students because students are given the impression that they should not express themselves. Not all families can afford the clothes that abide by the rules. For example, some students don 't have the means to pay for new clothes, so they have to use hand-me-down clothing. Enforcing a dress code can lead to more problems in the long run because of the exceptions made for students who are athletes and cheerleaders. Many school faculty members including teachers and administrators think that keeping a dress code will keep students looking appropriate while learning, but this idea is wrong because it keeps students from expressing themselves and, the dress code singles out women.
It is of no possible argument that some of the most valuable and lasting ideas of life and the world around us are taught and learned at school. Hard work does you well. Cheaters never prosper. Education is the key to success. Girls bodies are a distraction and objects to be inevitably sexualized and harassed. This may sound over exaggerated, but this is the message beings sent to millions of students near and far by the sexist, self-esteem demolishing, unfocused dress codes in schools today. This said, dress codes in schools create a negative environment, putting the focus on the wrong things and ideas, both promoting rape culture and a strong sense of sexism.
School dress codes send a loud and clear message, “Your individuality is inconvenient.” (Rowland 22). The constitution guarantees the right to free speech,which can be interpreted as the right to freedom of self expression, and students use clothing to express themselves. Another message that dress codes send is that “the self identity that you want to express does not belong here.” Self expression is not an inconvenience or a distraction, it is the lifeblood of our nation. (Rowland 22). Schools tell students that they should be confident in themselves, but how can they if they cannot express themselves? School dress codes now are more about shielding the boys then protecting the girls which implies that boys are immature. Calling a girl’s clothes distracting is implying that she is at fault for any disruptions. “That 's like saying that because a store has a cash register, it 's the store 's fault if it gets robbed!” (Menza 1). Students are going to be distracted anyways. Sexist dress codes are like saying that an article of clothing, or a body part showing on a female will distract male students from learning. Dress codes should be simple for both genders, everyone should wear clothing that covers up the same area. With dress codes, students are forced to dress the same as other students, taking the individuality out of school, but schools try to send the message, you are individual. Figure 1 shows a strict dress codes for both students and
This article makes the reader see the dress codes are becoming an issue for school and the student’s education. In a small Texas school district, over 700 students were suspended in a single month (Essex). That is a lot of students getting in trouble and just for clothes. I do believe school are going too extreme when comes to the dress code and how they punish the students who break the dress codes. One-day suspension for the first violation, a two- day suspension for the second violation, and two-day plus loss of school privileges for a third violation (Essex). Missing school or class time don’t really help the children with anything and sometime it will be over something stupid like; the collar bone is showing. Another thing about this article,
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.
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.
For example, in many schools, girls are not allowed to wear shorts or skirts that do not reach a certain length, tank tops, low-cut blouses, or leggings. In the rulebook, restrictions like these are given the explanation “for modesty purposes”, however, there are no similar restrictions on boys’ attire. Girls’ attire is often chastised for being “inappropriate” or “distracting to the boys”, but the opposite never seems to occur. This is why I believe school dress codes are a biased policy. Enforcement of the school dress code seems to be aimed almost exclusively at girls.
“Wow, I’ve never seen a belly button or shoulder before,” said no teenage boy ever. Dress codes have become a big issue in public schools. Teachers are becoming far too strict. School dress codes should not be as strict because, teachers are more attentive to the dress code rather than academics, the dress code is very sexist, and why should girls be punished because boys are too distracted?
Why are schools and work places always so strict about what you can and can’t wear? Depending on where you live and what district you’re in the dress code can vary. If you live in a better school district or private school, you might have a uniform or only be permitted a few things. If you live in a district that doesn’t enforce them as much you might be able to get away with a couple of things. Most people try to break them so they can fit in. Most schools don’t understand that. I think that dress codes should be less strict because they stop freedom of expression, they are bias and they can start bulling; ways that we can stop all of that is if the school understands the current fashion, but if we were to buy uniforms it could potentially
Even though schools in general want their students to prosper and be an ideal adult, the strict dress codes are imposing a threat to that simply based off of how narrow minded they are. Many dress codes are enforced by the administrators in the building; however, each administrator will be different and so will be how it is all enforced. One teacher may see a shirt and think that it falls along the guidelines, but a different faculty member could see the same shirt and believe that it is inappropriate. Hiring a new Vice Principal can also affect how dress code is enforced. How the dress code is enforced leaves room for too many variables to affect it. Schools need to evaluate their dress codes to
Students face challenges with school dress code. Dress code is a huge problem with students. Especially girls and I am a girl. We get in trouble, sometimes even get sent home, because of a dress code. Other schools don’t even have dress code, or at least there school aren’t strict about it.
I would have never thought that what we wear could cause so many issues, but the dress code at school is unsuitable for growing people. The sexual objectification , misogynist, and unoriginal roles that children take are appalling, and we cannot let this continue to
Dress codes can be found in a majority of schools approving of sexual violence through dress. Dress codes also prioritize a boy’s education, and show a lack of gender equality. School administrators believe they have the right to dictate what students can wear. Students should not be forced to follow dress codes at schools; therefore, schools do not have the right to mandate what students can wear.