Is School Dress Code Sexist? What is the biggest ‘hot” topic in society right now involving education? Dress code in schools. Is school dress code becoming more sexist than ever or is school dress code not sexist at all? Many have voiced their opinions into this topic including school officials, parents and students but in the end who really is in the right and the wrong? Throughout history we have had many rules change in our schools; who is allowed to attend, what behavior we should have, etc.. but really the one which has always adapted to what is going on around us, is the school dress code. There has been many arguments with parents and students with schools on what they approve as “correct” dressing on the student(s) and/or their child(ren). …show more content…
A kindergartener from Georgia was pulled out of class and was changed without the parents knowledge or consent because her skort (a skirt with shorts connected underneath the skirt) which is not skirt was “distracting” but what really got the parent mad was that the kindergartner was also wearing leggings under the skort, so she was showing no skin other than her arms. Though really what kindergartner boy is going to be distracted by a kindergartner girl wearing a short sleeve shirt, leggings and a skort? None that I know of that’s for sure. If anything those kindergartener boys are going to be more distracted of what is in the classroom and what is outside the windows than a kindergartener girls clothing and same goes for the girls. A lot of girls get distracted in class either from a cute guy to their girl friends in the class. Which is why when school officials like to say “it is a distraction to boys,” it is a lie to a point because we all know boys are not the only ones getting distracted in class and it is not always because of an outfit a girl is wearing. It is time for them to find a better excuse to get the girls to change their clothes because if they sat in a class for even five minutes they would see how distracted everyone is in the class and it is for sure not only because of clothing …show more content…
We tend to listen and follow the rules for everything else but when it comes to dress codes we do not? So is school dress codes really sexist or is it just complaints from those who get dress coded all the time? A student from New Milford, CT had been asked if school dress codes are sexist and she disagreed saying, “No! While they often focus more on girls’ clothes rather than boys’, that is just because girls have more clothing options—which include more revealing choices too. Dress codes should be simple: Everyone has to wear clothes that cover the same areas. Shirts should cover shoulders, shorts should reach the knees, and so on. It is not misogynistic to enforce that code for girls if you require the same of boys!” So even though women/girls are mainly targeted it is because girls have more clothing choices, which in return tends to be more revealing than needed. Which is not what the schools want. School's put dress codes in places to teach us what is okay and not okay to wear in a workplace or in place in general. Which is why they are all so strict with making sure that their dress codes are followed even if some of them seem ridiculous to the students and/or
Both Male and Females have complained that the dress code is “sexist and “biased” toward young women. One teenager said that the school should be an all-boys school. Since the code only applies to women. Another student said that “it was humiliating to be pulled aside like an object” to be told that her outfit is inappropriate.
According to greatschools.org, “Enforcing a strict dress code can place the focus of school on clothing and rules, rather than on education.” Most schools have specific uniforms that a child must wear in order to attend. Many children that go to school, have single parents and / or more than one ...
Web. 18 Feb. 2016. In this article, Bates argues that today’s school dress codes are sexist and leave a lasting impression on young girls. Bates explains that there are several cases where girls are being punished for their adolescent bodies being distractions to boys. Also, it can teach a young girl that her body is dangerous and that a young boy automatically has the right to sexually diminish and harass adolescent girls in schools.
In the 2015 article on The Atlantic on The Sexism of School Dress Codes, stating that "Many of these protests have criticized the dress codes as sexist in that they unfairly target girls by body-shaming and blaming them for promoting sexual harassment. Documented cases show female students being chastised by school officials, sent home, or barred from attending events like prom." (Zhou, l.) There are more dress code policies for the females compared to the males. For example, girls should not use backless shirts, no spaghetti tops, no crop-tops that exposes the stomach, no short shorts, no miniskirts, etc. Boys on the other hand have no specific dress code policies. Dress codes may come off as sexist for women and they get insulted by it. An article on the problem with dress code from The Daily Princetonian stating "- women are policed so that they are no longer distracting to men, while men, if policed at all, are never told to change for the benefit of the opposite sex. The most prominent example that comes to mind when thinking of male-specific supplements to dress codes relates to sagging pants, an urban trend where pants are worn low to expose many inches worth of boxers. Efforts to ban these practices have never once mentioned how visible boxers would tortuously distract nearby females. Rather, they focus on visible underwear being inappropriate for a learning or work environment.", based on that article, dress codes seem to be a little too specific on what girls should or should not be allowed to wear, while boys only have a few dress code policies to worry
We’ve all seen it, do not lie. Boys and girls alike, making sexist jokes in the hallway and laughing like it’s funny. Seeing boys objectifying girls, and vice versa, as if it is not an action that is humiliating and ridiculous. Young and impressionable, we have been taught from a young age to fight each other and bully each other with a simple saying: “Girls rule, boys drool! Boys rule, girls drool!” Regrettably, the idea is displayed on T-shirts at Target and Justice, and it’s tearing schools apart. This mindset of the superior sex is a horrible misconception of the world, implanted by ignorant adults to make ignorant children. And the most prominent ignorant rule in schools yet: dress code and uniforms. Innocently, people believe it’s a
It isn’t relevant to school administrators because of the dearth of data. For instance, Luscombe stated “And if schools really are worried about boys being distracted by the female form, the right school uniform is a stiff antidote,” this is her opinion and not a fact. Moreover, it is offensive to girls; teenage girls should not be punished because boys can not respect them or keep their thoughts and hands to themselves. Instead of forcing girls to wear clothes they aren’t comfortable in, force boys to become gentlemen and teach them how to respect women. In addition, according to Marian Wilde, David Brunsma, a University of Missouri assistant professor, through research and studies, concluded there is no positive correlation between school uniforms, school security, or academic achievement.
Varying Issues Corresponding to the School Dress Code Shelby A. Scholle Newbury Park High School Abstract Dress code enforces the modest dress of students, preventing bullying and distractions. Numerous people believe clothing is a distraction and when eliminated the school environment is more professional and gives a better education to a student. Authority figures consider the school apparel enforcements are constitutionally sound, not affecting the child’s right to freely express, and providing a professional and working setting causing a better learning environment and decreased amount of bullying due to clear differences in appearance. However, opposers disagree with the restrictive code because of its limitations on individuality causing students to conform, sexist ideas in the form of punishment and how forms of clothing causes a distraction, and influencing rape culture. Costs for an advanced educational environment, positive, and negative effects will be explored within this paper to determine whether or not the dress code is necessary for an advanced learning environment or limiting the student's ability to express themselves.
The common arguments for the dress code includes telling girls that they are “distractions”. This only pushes the idea that their comfortability is nothing compared to the possibility of a guy drooling over an exposed shoulder. This also gives the idea that girls have to be the ones to stop boys from making bad choices and within itself promotes victim blaming and rape culture. (Rape culture and victim blaming is what makes it the girl’s fault if she is harassed in any way.) We should not be treating teenaged girls as sexual objects or teaching them that their bodies are supposed to be ashamed of.
Its not that students hate dress codes just not all dress codes are equal to everyone. Its unfair when you buy a new outfit and your excited to wear it to school but you get dress coded but at my school they want us to wear long shirts when us girls wear leggings my clothes don't always match up to the dress code. They want us to dress a certain but they don't realize that kids might not have clothes that follow the dress code policy but ,i'm sure not going out to get new clothes to follow the dress code policy why would I have to spend my money to wear something i don't wanna wear .(Emma, Teitel) “ This week CBC go public reported that administers reprimanded a 17-year-old student named Caden Walterson for arriving to school wearing a baseball hat his mother purchased for him at Urban Planet, the Mecca of Fabulous Tacky Teen Fashion.”
Male students are reportedly distracted by female students’ apparel, and therefore dress codes are put into act. Dress codes are unfair for students everywhere and should be abolished at
There are so many reasons why dress codes should be banned from schools. In one of those reasons is because they teaching girl that the way they dress is more important than their education, while I was reading an article (Roshell) said “At track on a hot day a bunch of guys are running shirtless it’s acceptable, but if a girl is wearing a bright-colored sport bra that’s showing through her white shirt, she’ll be asked to change because it’s distracting. Instead of teaching girls to cover up, we should be teaching everyone to stop sexualizing every aspect of a girl’s body” says Emily, 16 year old, a junior at Santa Barbara. I totally agree with this, for so many years girls are seen as sexual toys, were seen as an object.
We see stories Social media has more stories of girls being sent home because of dress code violations. Maybe the problem isn’t the students, but dress codes in general. Dress codes ultimately disrupt the pursuit of knowledge for the students, encourage gender bias, and can be dangerous. If we want the younger generations to succeed in the education system, we should utilize school uniforms. Uniforms in schools from elementary to high schools, will promote gender equality and facilitate student safety.
“When you interrupt a girl’s school day to force her to change clothes, or send her home because her shoulders are showing, you are telling her that making sure boys have a ‘distraction free’ learning environment is more important than her education. Instead of shaming girls for their bodies, teach boys to not view girls as objects” (anonymous internet user). School dress codes have been a hot topic in the news lately. Girls have been sent home for wearing things they thought followed the dress code, but, apparently, their teachers did not. Students at Wisconsin Lutheran High School (WLHS) should be able to wear what they want because all the students should have the right to express themselves, be comfortable in their learning environment,
The constant act of teaching students that ridiculing them based off of their clothes not only causes embarrassment, it actually jumpstarts the sexualizaiton of bodies before students even know what that word means. Schools tend to enforce harsh punishments for violating such a small rule, such as suspension, which is all subjective in any case. As seen through Martinez’s experience where she had to “cover her nipples with Band-Aids,” (Love). In this case, it is clear that these situations are not handled with care and consideration, which can cause a big uproar. Even over a measly pair of flip flops, or an oversized grey sweatshirt.
While dress codes are a necessity in schools to regulate what is and is not appropriate for the learning environment, the fact that they place blame on females for how they are treated because of their clothing is completely sexist and unfair. Hardly ever is a boy busted for wearing athletic shorts or bro-tanks when he should not be, but as soon as a girl wears leggings or shows her shoulders, she is persecuted and given punishment. This is about as unfair as school systems can be, and it also sends the message to girls that what they perceive as being cute and fashionable is perceived by others as “offensive” and that it is their fault for anything bad that happens to them. These ideas should be changed so girls do not have to feel guilty and boys can stop thinking that their behavior in these situations is acceptable.