School Dress Codes

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.

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”.

America, the “land of the free, and home of the brave.” Unfortunately, this doesn 't mean “land of the free to wear whatever one desires.” In fact, school dress codes are taking away American students’ self expression, infringing on their freedom of speech, and enforcing sexist discrimination all over the country. A recent case, that occurred at Tottenville High School in Staten Island, New York, blatantly displays the negative effects dress codes are having on students, especially females. In the first couple of days of the semester, this high school managed to give 200 detentions to students for violating the dress code. Ironically enough, 90 percent of these students were girls (Swafford). The discouraging part is that schools are easily able to get away with this kind of discrimination. This is made possible by state laws that give school boards the power to enforce whatever dress codes they think are necessary to promote a distraction free learning environment, maintain discipline, and to push students to dress similarly in order to create a uniformity in the schools (“School Dress Codes”). The purpose of dress codes may be to create a distraction free learning environment; in reality, however, they produce an environment where students feel discriminated against and aren 't free to express themselves.

First and foremost why schools should have a no-strict dress code is because it brings girls self-esteem down. When girls get dress coded they might feel: sad, angry, annoyed and upset. And especially body shamed. “As a women, I know almost no women who like their body, who feel good about there body, almost none, but you don’t know how it got there,” Perlman said in an interview. As a result, Dress codes are body shaming girls from when they were in their teens, to adulthood. The average number of girls getting dressed coded has increased by 20% in the past year! That’s crazy! About most of the dress code, girls feel body shamed! One 15-year-old girl said, “I feel bad because it's my body... and there's no reason for the school to be telling me to cover up,” she said. Lastly, if schools had a less strict dress code with the excuse of girls showing too much skin, we would all be more confident with our

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

How many times have you heard of a child being sent home due to their outfit? In so many towns and cities there is ridiculous dress codes. Most of the dress codes are directed towards females. These rules somewhat make them feel as if they have to hid their bodies so they won’t distract men. High school dress codes are detrimental to all student’s confidence outside and inside the classroom.

These dress codes only create problems for students. Fashion, style and kids taste in clothing is changing every day. Limiting a student's freedom of expression proves to be detrimental to students mental health and development. These changes in style should not dictate whether a student should be allowed in school wearing such attire. Detentions and suspensions are not the answer to breaches of dress codes. Allowing kids freedom of expression through clothing will make students happier and more self confident in how they act and what they do. The sooner kids find confidence in what they do, the better. It is high time for schools to revise these dress codes to be more suitable for kids of

Dress codes has been apart of the educational system for many years. Administrators have struggled to find effective ways to deal with discipline problems. The creation of the dress codes has been a common solution for many educational system to help decrease the number of disciplinary issues that are dealt with on a daily basis. Things such as gang activity, bullying, increasing violence can all be traced to the way people in school’s dress. The dress code policy is considered to be a "fix all" solution in many public schools, but has failed to resolve the big issues. Dress codes should not be instituted to fix a particular problem, but should be looked at to help overall school reform. This why most private schools have a particular uniform that students must wear every single day. To try and resolve the issue. However, a school uniform policy does not carry enough weight that produces a safe learning environment or helps students achieve their goals at being successful. A student's role is to come into school everyday to learn, without having to worry about gang activities, being bullying or having someone start a fight with them because they are wearing a particular color.

School's rule some clothes as too distracting or inappropriate because they believe some clothing items are too short or goes too low for example. There are only dress codes because they want to "promote a safe, disciplined school environment, prevent interference with schoolwork and discipline, and to encourage uniformity of student dress "according to https:education.findlaw.com. What they don't realize is we don't need rules for that. Dress code at school is a violation of not only American rights but human rights. I believe that everyone has a right to dress how they wish unless if they are in a serious or business matter. There should not be dress codes at school because it violates rights. Dress codes are mainly sexist, and it put stress on teachers. "A dress code is a set of rules, usually written and posted, specifying the required manner of dress at a school, office, club,

Many people still believe a dress code is the answer to most school problems, but they’re wrong. I think that schools should stop enforcing dress codes. There are so many reasons and instances that prove that dress codes are completely unnecessary. One reason being that restricting student expression is against their first amendment rights. Another being that dress codes can be sexist. Also, contrary to popular belief, dress codes don’t prevent bullying.

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

Most importantly, a dress code policy in schools promotes equality rights and acceptance with one another. Many students in high school are willing to do anything to be accepted, therefore if a teen feels like they don’t belong it may lead to serious mental or emotional problems. Some students get so upset that they start isolating themselves from others like family, friends, school, which means that their grades start to drop and they become very unfriendly. A bug part of dress codes is that students don’t have to worry about peer pressure when it comes down to what they wear. When every individual in the school is dressed the same, others won't have to worry about what you look like because it isn't that important. This helps students because in todays society many students tend to worry about other students and about the latest trends. This also helps student from bullies because its hard to make fun of someone if you're wearing the exactly

“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?

School dress code is possibly one of the most enforced rules in today's school system. Despite the issues of drugs, alcohol, or dangerous weapons on campus, the dress code system is clearly the most important issue in schools today. Who cares about the fighting, the bullying, or the education of students? A teenage girl's shoulder being shown is obviously much more distracting and dangerous to the school environment than kids throwing punches left and right.

Adjusting the School Dress Code School dress codes are shaming female students into hating their bodies and the way they look. The message that is being sent to young girls, who are already struggling with self-confidence, is that hiding their bodies makes them more attractive. It is establishing a sense of shame in these young, developing minds and bodies. A human has the right to wear whatever they feel comfortable in.