The 3 Biggest Problems With School Dress Codes | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Sports

The 3 Biggest Problems With School Dress Codes

If these outcomes do not cross over the minds of administrators and schools, these problems will not go away.

14655
The 3 Biggest Problems With School Dress Codes
My City Web

It seems like all of my articles have a trend, and they always link back on why I believe in feminism; the reason is it mind boggles me why this kind of stupidity and irrationality still has some sort of existence in the world around us, and maybe, just maybe, someone will read my words and understand a little bit more about themselves and their world.

I absolutely positively hated, loathed, despised high school.

The reason being I never felt like myself, or like I could be myself — unless it was in a classroom where we discussed statistics, literature or math, high school was overall uncomfortable.

But the one thing I hated the most about high school was the school dress code. I am pretty sure that everyone else hated it too. Today I am going to narrow it down to three main points, because otherwise I will be here all day. And I am talking about all dress codes, not just my experience in particular, as it seems that radical dress codes permeate many schools in the United States

So here are the three problems I found with school dress codes.

1. The sexism behind school dress codes

We all know the basics — you can't wear this because it will be distracting to my classmates and even my teachers. Say what? Thinking back to my teenager self, that sentence alone is telling me — a child — that my body is sexual; it will be only seen as sexual, regardless of what I wear, and no boy or man can look at me and think of a million other things other than sex. That sentence tells me that I am not entitled to respect or basic human decency because fractions of my skin are showing. This is called female objectifying, as it is only placing my body as an object made for sex, in which others are placed as the consumers of our bodies. These rules are not only offensive to girls, but, beneath the surface, are also offensive to boys — saying boys will be boys and they can only think about sex and girls, but not about school or their friends. "It's OK, boys, we understand you and your inability to control your mind." Making excuses for boys at these very early stages of their development leads to the rape culture we live in today, which is what I find most disappointing.

2. School administrators place the school dress code above anything else.

My problem is not that there are guidelines to dress appropriately, since there will always be guidelines and uniforms that follow us all throughout our lives; there are dress codes for jobs, parties and get togethers. And some of the rules within dress codes do make sense, like don't wear an overwhelming number of gang-related colors, or don't wear shirts that have naked ladies on them or drug-related content. But how I see it, dress codes disproportionately target female students as well as blame them for their body development, making their bodies symbols of sexuality and, therefore, distracting. And what boils my blood the most is that these girls have to be pulled out of class, shunned and sometimes even sent home for showing their shoulders, arms, legs and even collarbones. When did it become a rule to place someone's education below a set of rules? It is truly disappointing. As someone who places her education above anything else in this world, it enrages me to know that there have been schools that have set up assemblies made just for girls in order to amplify their dress code, schools that have suspended girls out of school for wearing leggings and skirts, and schools that will make girls look for clothes and change into them in the middle of their school day in order to be less distracting. Oh don't worry, I don't have a test to study for or a lunch to eat or anything. Humiliation and shame is what will haunt teenage girls throughout their education, and I do not stand for that.

3. The outcome of school dress codes

The outcome is that girls begin to see their bodies as something that must be hidden away — or the opposite, that their bodies are only there for consumption and pleasure of others that can be linked to female self-objectification. Girls will no longer look and strive to be what they want to be but what they perceive others want them to be.

Another is one that girls see everywhere — girl on girl hate. On television, on the Internet, in books and even within their own home, girls are taught from a young age that they are not supposed to love each other and support each other but instead put each other down and envy each other. So now in school, they are taught that it is OK to slut shame one another and look down upon one another because their wardrobe is seen as sexual by their own school. I hear a plethora of comments from actual classmates saying, "That girl should be dress coded for her shorts," "That girl should get dress coded because of her big butt," "Not all dresses look good with certain body types."

And if these outcomes do not cross over the minds of administrators and schools, these problems will not go away.

Instead, I hope for a school system that teaches girls to feel empowered, regardless of what they look like to others, and feel comfortable within their own bodies, leading them to dress for themselves.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Relationships

11 Things Summer Nannies Can Relate To

There are plenty of obstacles that come when taking care of kids, but it's a very rewarding experience.

112
11 Things Summer Nannies Can Relate To

As a college student, being a nanny over the summer is both enjoyable and challenging. Underneath the seemingly perfect trips to the pool or countless hours spent playing Monopoly are the obstacles that only nannies will understand. Trading in your valuable summer vacation in return for three months spent with a few children less than half your age may seem unappealing, but so many moments make it rewarding. For my fellow summer nannies out there, I know you can relate.

Keep Reading...Show less
girl

If it hurts now, it'll hurt again. Not because you're gullible or naive, only because you fall fast, hard, and you do it every time.

We fall each and every time with the complete and utter confidence that someone will be there to catch us. Now that person we SWORE we were never going to fall for has our hearts, and every time we see them our palms start sweating. The butterflies in our stomach start to soar and our hearts are entirely too close to bursting out of our chests.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

10 Things Only Equestrians Understand

Yes, it IS a sport. Yes, I fall all the time. No, I do not ride in jeans with a cowgirl hat on.

599
horses
Barn Pros

Growing up I have always wanted to own a horse. My grandparents own a well known equestrian facility in Georgia, so I have been riding since I was born. A bond between a person and their horse is a bond so strong that it cannot be broken. Everywhere I went I wanted to be around horses, even forcing my family to go on trail rides during vacations. Horses have been a part of my life for as long as I can remember has taught me great responsibility, as well as 14 things that all equestrians can relate to.

Keep Reading...Show less
man wearing white top using MacBook
Photo by Tim Gouw on Unsplash

College is super hard. Between working, studying, and having a social life, it feels like a struggle to just keep afloat.

I understand. When you feel like your drowning and there's no way to stay afloat I understand that it feels like everyone else is doing just fine. I understand all the frustration, long nights in the library, and that feeling that you want to just throw in the towel. I understand that sometimes it's too hard to get out of bed because your brain is already filled with too much information to remember. I understand because I am also feeling pretty burnt out.

Keep Reading...Show less
No Matter How Challenging School Gets, You Have To Put Your Health First — A Degree Won't Mean Anything If You're Dead
Photo by JESHOOTS.COM on Unsplash

Some of the best advice I've ever received was from my social studies teacher in sophomore year of high school. He stated, "If you don't know it at midnight, you're not going to know it for the 8 a.m. exam, so get some sleep."

It's such a simple piece of advice, but it holds so much accuracy and it's something that the majority of college students need to hear and listen to. "All-nighters" are a commonality on college campuses in order to cram in studying for an exam that is typically the next day.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments