Sexist School Dress Codes
Today we are discussing the important topic of sexist school dress codes. I am reaching out to you, because we need your help. We want to bring awareness to this issue, try and gather as many advocates for change. And, we don’t just want to talk about it. We want to try and make sure it has attention.
This issue was brought to my attention a year ago, when I began to see many people posting on Facebook, about their daughters being sent home form school for wearing "distracting clothing." These events continued into this year, when I read our school dress code and noticed that only females were singled out in the handbook. There were specific guidelines in which female students must follow, but not males. And know, by definition sexism is
the prejudice or discrimination based on sex, and that is exactly what is happening in schools. Girls are often sent home, causing them to miss class, because there clothing does not fit school dress code. This presents the question, is a man's education more important than a women's?
I started to notice sexist dress codes at a young age. When at 8, I was restricted to wearing tank tops that were at least two finger widths wide. When at 13, I began to be self-conscious in what I was wearing, in fear I would be asked to change. When at 14, my male friends began to categorize girls as "hot" or "ugly." When at 15, a friend of mine was sent home for her dress being "too short," yet mine was shorter. When at 16, my freedom of expression through clothing became limited to the opinions of school staff.
Why has the world continued to be such a sexist one? As I began to read more posts made by parents of children who had been sent home from school for dress code violations and articles on the topic, I saw a reoccurring phrase of "the items were distracting to male students." Should girls have to lose an education because boys cannot control themselves?
School officials will say "no," that girls education is just as important. Sadly, that's not what their actions are telling young girls. And if girls educations are just as important as their male peers, the dress code would not make them measure their shorts my arm length and their tank top straps by finger widths. Those dress code regulations are strengthening male power, while imprisoning female self-confidence.
In the fear of being judged for speaking out, I remind myself, "If I don’t, who will?" Because, I firmly believe in equal rights and that sexism should be refrained form being exposed to children at such a young age. Girls must memorize their school dress code and think twice before dressing for school, in fear that they will be called out and sent home from school because of what they are wearing. Statistically, over ninety percent of girls, ages 15 to 17, would like to change at least one aspect of their appearance. And sexist dress codes are no help to that overwhelming number of teen girls.
In the fear of being judged for speaking out, I remind myself, "If I don’t, who will?" Because, I firmly believe in equal rights and that sexism should be refrained form being exposed to children at such a young age. "If I don’t, who will" teach young girls that being self-conscious about what you wear isn't a way of life. And a male peers education is never more important than yours because of your sex. "If I don’t, who will?"
This issue was brought to my attention a year ago, when I began to see many people posting on Facebook, about their daughters being sent home form school for wearing "distracting clothing." These events continued into this year, when I read our school dress code and noticed that only females were singled out in the handbook. There were specific guidelines in which female students must follow, but not males. And know, by definition sexism is
the prejudice or discrimination based on sex, and that is exactly what is happening in schools. Girls are often sent home, causing them to miss class, because there clothing does not fit school dress code. This presents the question, is a man's education more important than a women's?
I started to notice sexist dress codes at a young age. When at 8, I was restricted to wearing tank tops that were at least two finger widths wide. When at 13, I began to be self-conscious in what I was wearing, in fear I would be asked to change. When at 14, my male friends began to categorize girls as "hot" or "ugly." When at 15, a friend of mine was sent home for her dress being "too short," yet mine was shorter. When at 16, my freedom of expression through clothing became limited to the opinions of school staff.
Why has the world continued to be such a sexist one? As I began to read more posts made by parents of children who had been sent home from school for dress code violations and articles on the topic, I saw a reoccurring phrase of "the items were distracting to male students." Should girls have to lose an education because boys cannot control themselves?
School officials will say "no," that girls education is just as important. Sadly, that's not what their actions are telling young girls. And if girls educations are just as important as their male peers, the dress code would not make them measure their shorts my arm length and their tank top straps by finger widths. Those dress code regulations are strengthening male power, while imprisoning female self-confidence.
In the fear of being judged for speaking out, I remind myself, "If I don’t, who will?" Because, I firmly believe in equal rights and that sexism should be refrained form being exposed to children at such a young age. Girls must memorize their school dress code and think twice before dressing for school, in fear that they will be called out and sent home from school because of what they are wearing. Statistically, over ninety percent of girls, ages 15 to 17, would like to change at least one aspect of their appearance. And sexist dress codes are no help to that overwhelming number of teen girls.
In the fear of being judged for speaking out, I remind myself, "If I don’t, who will?" Because, I firmly believe in equal rights and that sexism should be refrained form being exposed to children at such a young age. "If I don’t, who will" teach young girls that being self-conscious about what you wear isn't a way of life. And a male peers education is never more important than yours because of your sex. "If I don’t, who will?"