Shame Girls And Perpetuate Rape Cultures Summary

In today’s society young women are required to be mindful regarding the attire worn, to avoid negatively enticing the minds of young men. While girls may appear to dress provocatively, young men should exercise self-control in all environments, rather in school or their home setting. Looking throughout our community, you can see the double standards that exist, and what young women have to endure in school. One such article that shows the struggles of young women is in Laura Bates “How School Dress Codes Shame Girls and Perpetuate Rape Cultures.” In this article she covers many topics including society’s views on what is considered acceptable apparel for young women and sexism. The article states that society gives boys permission to sexually harass women because of articles of clothing or the lack thereof. The world we live in today perpetuates a culture where girls cannot simply wear clothing of their choice, due to the fact boys may find them irresistible. This makes it extremely difficult for young women to be treated without bias, dress
She mentioned how a student was given three specific reasons for a female dress code: “1) There are male teachers and male sixth formers [high school seniors] 2) Teachers feel uncomfortable around bras etc. 3) Don’t want the boys to target you or intimidate you.” (40) Bates uses these reasons to make one of her most powerful assertions of yet; one that she believes perpetuates the sexual exploitation of girls’ bodies and at the same time systematically wires boys to harass and idolize them. She goes on to claim to the audience that this behavior prepares them for college life, where one in five women is sexually assaulted on college campus. Bates statement regarding sexual assault on college campus should be thoroughly researched to determine whether or not her claim is true; she offered no evidence to back up this