Dress codes remain controversial
By Abby Crawley
November 22, 2017
By Abby Crawley
November 22, 2017
From experience, I am aware that many girls have been sent to the office in regards to their clothing violating the school dress code. The teacher who reports them always stays anonymous and the girls’ names are either called over the loudspeaker or a note comes down for you to be sent to the office. That’s not embarrassing at all, right?
As for me personally, it was in eighth grade: I was wearing my new ripped jeans and my favorite top. I had just bought the jeans and was so excited to wear them, until it was sixth period and I was in reading class, I had been called down to the principal. Walking through the door of one of the most intimidating places for a taciturn middle schooler, I didn’t know what to expect. I walked into the back room and the vice principal notified me that the holes in my jeans were “too distracting” and directed me to the nurse for an alternative pair. I then arrived at the nurse to be further informed that she did not have any spares in my size so my options were to either wear boys sweatpants or to stuff and tape the holes with gauze, and that’s what I did. Just like me, girls are sent home, told to change into gym shorts, sweatpants, t-shirts, sweatshirts, etc; all taking time out of their school day and education just because they wanted to wear their favorite outfit to school and others surrounding them have trouble getting their head out of the gutter. As fashion is continuously changing, school dress codes get harder and harder to follow. It is clear to see that they mainly restrict and target females.
Shoulders cannot be shown. Straps of any kind should not be seen. If you are to wear shorts, they must be fingertip length when your arms are resting at your sides; those are not even sold in an average store, especially in the juniors sections. And lastly, yoga pants and leggings used to not be permitted unless a shirt went to your thighs, but somehow that is not a rule anymore and it would be interesting to know how or why.
An article from the East Side News states, “Fashion and clothing styles are generally shorter and more revealing. It happens to all types of fashion trends. Girls can’t be expected not to conform to modern day ideals. Everyone else is assumed to follow social norms as they come and go; why single out teenage girls?” Yes, this is true and it is one way to look at it, but it is also understandable that some clothing choices are inappropriate for school and it is hard to pick rules that appeal to all generations.
On the contrary, many teenage girls are already insecure in their bodies/appearance so with their higher authority figures always critiquing them, it does not make it any better. A lot of times, choice of clothing is a form of self expression for those who have a hard time expressing themselves in any other way.
Why is it the girl’s fault for dressing in clothing that she likes herself in? I’m sure everyone is aware of the commonly given explanation of it being a distraction to the boys, but more specifically it can go to the extent of not wanting to embarrass them for “not being able to control their emotions”. Here is where the question lies of, why is that someone else’s fault rather than their own for not having self control? Also, this statement makes it seem like the only reason that girls dress the way they do is because they are trying to impress the boys, just like how people try to say girls wear makeup for boys. These two arguments are related because they are false statements. Yes, there is no doubt times when that is the case, but on an everyday basis is usually because the girl just wants to feel pretty and that is what makes her feel confident in herself. Why does that always end up seeming like such a bad thing?
Yes, again I agree there are boundaries: but, where is that fine line drawn? If dress code is restricting the daily attire anyways then why does the school not just implement uniforms? What is the difference?
As for me personally, it was in eighth grade: I was wearing my new ripped jeans and my favorite top. I had just bought the jeans and was so excited to wear them, until it was sixth period and I was in reading class, I had been called down to the principal. Walking through the door of one of the most intimidating places for a taciturn middle schooler, I didn’t know what to expect. I walked into the back room and the vice principal notified me that the holes in my jeans were “too distracting” and directed me to the nurse for an alternative pair. I then arrived at the nurse to be further informed that she did not have any spares in my size so my options were to either wear boys sweatpants or to stuff and tape the holes with gauze, and that’s what I did. Just like me, girls are sent home, told to change into gym shorts, sweatpants, t-shirts, sweatshirts, etc; all taking time out of their school day and education just because they wanted to wear their favorite outfit to school and others surrounding them have trouble getting their head out of the gutter. As fashion is continuously changing, school dress codes get harder and harder to follow. It is clear to see that they mainly restrict and target females.
Shoulders cannot be shown. Straps of any kind should not be seen. If you are to wear shorts, they must be fingertip length when your arms are resting at your sides; those are not even sold in an average store, especially in the juniors sections. And lastly, yoga pants and leggings used to not be permitted unless a shirt went to your thighs, but somehow that is not a rule anymore and it would be interesting to know how or why.
An article from the East Side News states, “Fashion and clothing styles are generally shorter and more revealing. It happens to all types of fashion trends. Girls can’t be expected not to conform to modern day ideals. Everyone else is assumed to follow social norms as they come and go; why single out teenage girls?” Yes, this is true and it is one way to look at it, but it is also understandable that some clothing choices are inappropriate for school and it is hard to pick rules that appeal to all generations.
On the contrary, many teenage girls are already insecure in their bodies/appearance so with their higher authority figures always critiquing them, it does not make it any better. A lot of times, choice of clothing is a form of self expression for those who have a hard time expressing themselves in any other way.
Why is it the girl’s fault for dressing in clothing that she likes herself in? I’m sure everyone is aware of the commonly given explanation of it being a distraction to the boys, but more specifically it can go to the extent of not wanting to embarrass them for “not being able to control their emotions”. Here is where the question lies of, why is that someone else’s fault rather than their own for not having self control? Also, this statement makes it seem like the only reason that girls dress the way they do is because they are trying to impress the boys, just like how people try to say girls wear makeup for boys. These two arguments are related because they are false statements. Yes, there is no doubt times when that is the case, but on an everyday basis is usually because the girl just wants to feel pretty and that is what makes her feel confident in herself. Why does that always end up seeming like such a bad thing?
Yes, again I agree there are boundaries: but, where is that fine line drawn? If dress code is restricting the daily attire anyways then why does the school not just implement uniforms? What is the difference?