Dress Codes In High School
As we all know, the seasons change year round, but we experience most of these weather changes during school. Summer to fall is the beginning of a new school year, as spring to summer is the ending of the school year. With the temperature changes during these seasons, they seem cause havoc in high schools, sometimes even in middle schools. Most people celebrate the weather change from winter to summer, yet teenage girls seem to dread this change because high schools treat dress codes like a “23-19” from Monsters’ Inc. Yet we constantly only see schools directing this dress code majorly at girls; when have we heard of a boy being sent home for his pants being too low? Never. Which is why many see reevaluating the dress code in public schools
as important, with its unfair ways that seem overly sexist, and the negative effects it can have, specifically on young girls.
Dress codes unfairly target girls over boys, deeming them as a “distraction” to the learning environment for their male counterparts. But it's not just the dress code in general that's the problem; it’s the message behind it that is discriminatory to young girls. Constantly telling them to cover up their shoulders, legs, and collarbones, while boys are allowed to wear muscle shirts and pants below their butts sends out a pretty clear message. “I've never seen a boy called out for his attire,” said so and so, from wherever, “even if it breaks the rules.” But this unfair enforcement of the dress code doesn't just exist between the opposite genders, it exists between the different types of girls too. More athletic girls can get away with wearing a lot of different things, compared to curvier girls. From yoga pants to athletic shorts, especially cheerleaders. Who's uniforms, break the dress code, with shoulders exposed and skirts that come nowhere close to mid thigh. Yet if a girl came to school in a nice, well put together outfit, with shoulders uncovered and skirt longer than her fingertips, she'd still be dress coded. Where's the fairness in that?
as important, with its unfair ways that seem overly sexist, and the negative effects it can have, specifically on young girls.
Dress codes unfairly target girls over boys, deeming them as a “distraction” to the learning environment for their male counterparts. But it's not just the dress code in general that's the problem; it’s the message behind it that is discriminatory to young girls. Constantly telling them to cover up their shoulders, legs, and collarbones, while boys are allowed to wear muscle shirts and pants below their butts sends out a pretty clear message. “I've never seen a boy called out for his attire,” said so and so, from wherever, “even if it breaks the rules.” But this unfair enforcement of the dress code doesn't just exist between the opposite genders, it exists between the different types of girls too. More athletic girls can get away with wearing a lot of different things, compared to curvier girls. From yoga pants to athletic shorts, especially cheerleaders. Who's uniforms, break the dress code, with shoulders exposed and skirts that come nowhere close to mid thigh. Yet if a girl came to school in a nice, well put together outfit, with shoulders uncovered and skirt longer than her fingertips, she'd still be dress coded. Where's the fairness in that?