The Importance Of Dress Codes In Education

Dress codes in middle and high schools are a form of discrimination against teenage girls in today’s society. Parents and students all over the country argue that dress codes are directed mainly at girls and are a blatant example of gender inequality. The idea behind the strict enforcement of a dress code is that it will teach self-respect and raise moral standards for the students. However, when the reason for many dress code violations is questioned the rationale is often to prevent distracting the male students. Young women across the country are being shamed and punished for wearing what schools consider immodest and being a distraction to their male peers. This discrimination against female students results in their clothes being strictly regulated and dress coded more often than male students’ clothes are. The enforcement of these discriminatory dress codes has become a form of public humiliation for female students. Theoretically, a dress code makes sense and should be effective. In reality, it does not affect how students dress but causes a distraction and interruption of a girl’s education.

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.

As the temperature rises, so do hemlines and the suspension rate. Students get suspended for violating school dress codes by wearing outfits that ‘show too much skin.’ One can argue that revealing clothing is distracting, but some families and students agree that school dress code implementations end up just shaming girls. Dress codes, the epitome of high school, teach girls to act ashamed, not modest. According to most school boards that come up with the dress code, the outfits young women wear come across as too distracting for their peers, especially men, and make it unable for women to be viewed by the public with dignity and respect. Everyday, school dress codes target females—especially females that are more developed.

Is there anything more embarrassing than being dress coded at school? Enforcing a dress code among children is unfair because it not only discriminates against people but it destroys someone’s whole day. Dress codes and school uniforms are meant to increase student achievement and make everyone equal but instead it only hurts people. Most school dress codes are unnecessary and are sexist. Enforcing dress codes is suppose to boost student achievement but instead is racist, sexist and unnecessary. Schools should take into consideration their student 's feelings before they establish rules for dressing.

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.

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.

The controversy about dress codes asks an important question: are dress codes targeting girls and transgender students? Several sites including:https://www.adl.org/education/resources/tools-and-strategies/table-talk/what's-fair-and-unfair-about-student-dress-codes, stated that when they spoke to girls they said they feel shamed and judged by dress codes. Are dress codes limiting students creativity. Should these girls really feel harassed men and boys at their school?

By having the dress code, bullying can be prevented. Some students are insecure about themselves and get bullied because they are trying to impress someone. with their clothing. These young adults need some kind of dress code to be enforced so they won’t get sexually harassed either. Unfortunately, sexual harassment and bullying are a big issue in today's society. Others might say the students should be able to dress as they wish because it is their right. It is their right to wear what they please, but these rules need to be enforced to ensure these students are

The author penned, “there’s also the disruption and humiliation that enforcing the attire rules can pose during school. Frequently, students are openly called out in the middle of class, told to leave and change, and sometimes, to go home and find a more appropriate outfit. In some instances, girls must wear brightly colored shirts that can exacerbate the embarrassment, emblazoned with words like, ‘Dress Code Violator’,”(Zhou).

This is not your call.” presents strong arguments on why the dress code is degrading students by the way it is being enforced. Following these arguments, there are many things addressed about each one of the points made in this analyzing. Due to the things addressed, Manicotti wants support on not sexualizing female bodies on the dress code. Along with making male students responsible for their actions, teachers and administrators need to fairly enforce the dress code policy. Not only were there facts to prove all of these points, but there were specific details supporting the evidence. This article would make for a good read if there were more statics, facts and clear cut evidence supporting the argument. It might still be an intriguing read if people actually believe schools are abusing the dress code

Dress code is a controversial subject in a lot of schools. Dress code is a set of rules put into place to promote school safety and encourage a positive learning atmosphere where students are not distracted by their peers’ outfit choices (Daniels). This set of rules allegedly is put into place to stop the sexualizing of women by keeping them from wearing “suggestive clothing,” but what is suggestive clothing? Who defines what clothes are seen as “suggestive?” Dress code does more harm than good for students, therefore it should not be present in public schools.

In the article, “The Sexism of School Dress Codes,” Li Zhou discusses how school dress codes regulate students. Zhou takes a point of view looking at how school dress codes affect students in school. She talks about the effects on female students, as well as LGBT students. She points out that clothing is a self expression and identity for students. Zhou believes one of the problems creating the discrimination among students is the misunderstanding between students and administration. She goes on to talk about a possible solution to resolve the conflict between students and administration. Zhou builds her arguments using quotes from students. Zhou overall thinks that dress codes are given their power from school authorities, and that the dress codes discriminate against students. Although Zhou brings awareness to the discriminatory standards of female students, she uses more anecdotes than actual facts to support her claims, and her conclusion loses its power as she tries to provide a solution to the problem.

It is their authority that has the results that recognizes to be a misdemeanor on students’ freedom of expression as it also restricts students on their choice of clothing. Students at more than 20 percent of public schools in America were required to wear uniforms in 2014, claims the National Center for Education Statistics. The National Center of Education also report that 60 percent of the schools in America may not require a school uniform, but do require a strict dress code. School Districts argue that the restrictions on school dress code increases school safety by prohibiting clothing associated with violence. It allows the students to increase their learning without dispensable distractions from displeasing or unpleasant clothing. “Schools also argue that it is necessary for students to comply with certain standards to prepare them to change from school to work.” Dress code restricts clothing with certain words or images that appear on them like symbols or images associated hate groups or criminal organizations. The inspiration for these restrictions are mostly safety related (“School Dress Code”

Students have a wide variety of reactions to the appointed dress codes. Both boys and girls react to how the dress codes restrict students’ choices of clothing. A senior boy from Palo Alto, CA, believes the dress code restricts the students at his school. Jackson Brook concludes, “The idea that a visible bra strap or a pair of leggings will prevent a teen boy from learning is absurd to me. And I should know, I’m a teen boy!” (Menza, 2015). This boy believes that clothes distracting guys from learning makes a joke out of teenage boys’ maturity, as his learning does not change if a female’s bra strap shows. He also goes on to tell how he feels about calling a females clothing distracting. He believes dress codes have a way of blaming girls for causing any distractions because of what they wear (Menza, 2015). Girls do not distract the other students the clothing does, but according to most people the girls distract, because they choose what to wear.

There has always been something up with the rights and roles women have in society. They receive objectification for almost everything they attempt and are told to fit into these roles that men aren’t even asked to try. We are told and taught from a young age to act a certain way or receive certain consequences. We fear cat calls for trying to look good for our own confidence, and are shut down for trying to dress the way we want because of a “lack of modesty”. The way women dress is highly criticized, and it doesn’t only go for older women, but for younger girls as well. Regarding dress codes, although some see it as a means to keep “drama” down and students concentrated in class, most to all school dress codes limit a female’s ability to express herself through her clothing. This is a matter that needs to be changed.