Imagine going to school, just to have your parents come back after just dropping you off to bring you clothes. In the world, this happens to students everyday. Whether or not dress codes should be allowed, is very controversial. Some say dress codes keep things clean and modest. While others think they are harmful and discriminatory. Consequently, schools should have less strict dress codes because they’re sexist against girls, discriminate against students of color, and they aren’t achievable for everyone. To start off, schools should not have dress codes because they’re inequitable for female students. Jackson Brook, 18, a high school student in Palo Alto, CA says, “The idea that a visible bra strap or a pair of leggings will prevent a teen …show more content…
According to “Schools urged to rethink uniforms,” Kayla Jimenez writes, “GAO officials were also concerned about policies with rules about students' hair, hair styles, or head coverings that can "disproportionately impact Black students and those of certain religions and cultures.."” This shows certain dress code rules against hair wraps and certain hair styles such as braids and curls discriminate against kids who participate in any of these due to their race or culture. 59% of dress codes contain rules about students’ hair, hairstyles, and hair covering. This is unfair, not everyone can just have pin straight hair or other hairstyles that seem “acceptable” for school. All in all, schools should have less strict dress codes because they are unfair to students of color. Some may say that dress codes create orderliness and inclusiveness, however, dress codes aren’t achievable for everyone. According to “School Dress Codes Aren’t Fair for Everyone” (Eesha Pendharkar) it says, “Dress codes can be challenging for low-income families to adhere to.” When schools are especially strict about things such as uniforms it makes it difficult for low-class families to provide those uniforms for their kids. Or even when schools are strict about ripped jeans or graphic t-shirts, some families can only afford to give their children those clothes. Unless schools are providing clothes for
Schools typically justify their dress codes by maintain that it’s important to keep the classroom free of any distractions, however, that language actually reinforces the idea that women’s bodies are inherently tempting to men and it’s their responsibility to cover themselves up.
What Mark Mathabane talks about in his article “Appearances Are Destructive” is how students should be required to wear uniforms in public schools because uniforms encourage students to focus on education. Mathabane draws from his experience from when his sisters from South Africa went to school in the United States. One of the points he makes is how the U.S. is the only country who allow an open dress code in schools. He also talks about how students are more concerned with how they look rather than their education. Mathabane also states how “in schools Nike, Calvin Klein, Adidas, Reebok and Gucci are more familiar names to students than Zora Neale Hurston, Shakespeare, and Faulkner”. Furthermore, he states that if students do not dress in designer clothes they may be ridiculed by others. The author's final opinion is that “It's time Americans realized that the benefits of safe and effective schools far outweigh any perceived curtailment of freedom of expression brought on by dress codes.”
Parents and their children are constantly arguing about the way students dress in school. This debate has become a national conversation which has been going on for more than a decade. However, there still hasn’t been a final resolution. The questions “Why do I have to wear the uniform today?” or “Can I wear this t-shirt because the color matches with my school t-shirt?” have become part of our everyday lives. Before we go any further, we have to understand the difference between uniforms and dress codes. A uniform is simply a garment worn that is the same in all cases and at all times. Whereas, a dress code is a set of rules regarding the required manner of clothing in a certain context. For instance, a school might not allow students to wear
For most students, having a dress code can be extremely discomforting when students are put in tight-fitting uniforms that limit movement. As seen in Doc D, an article written in 1988, the student dress code at New York City schools put girls in uncomfortable situations by making it required for them to wear short skirts. Because these girls were also in the age group where they didn’t change clothes, this meant that they would have to play sports in their uniforms, increasing the discomfort that the girls experienced while at school. Along with this, feeling physically uncomfortable due to a dress code can make students who don’t do well in a school want to leave said school. As seen in Doc G, instead of giving students more pro-school attitudes, dress codes can actually the last straw that causes a student to leave a school for
At the beginning of each school year students and parents receive the student handbook which includes the school’s dress code. Most students hate the dress code because it prohibits them from wearing certain things to school. Schools feel the need to have and enforce the dress code because they want students to be in a safe learning environment while avoiding distractions. However, it seems that girls are usually the ones getting dress coded for what they wear while boys seem to get away with more. Just about anything a girl wears can be considered distracting or inappropriate by the school when it should not. Although the school dress code was made to eliminate distractions in the classroom setting, it mainly focuses on what girls wear while
Typical male attire might include a t-shirt and jeans, both acceptable at almost any school. Lower necklines, sleeveless shirts, and hems above the knee are elements of most female clothes. But these aspects are banned from school making it harder for girls to find clothes that are acceptable. This not only limits their shopping options but requires the conscious awareness of what is and isn’t allowed at school while buying clothes. According to a study by the Education Partnership Inc. into the effect of dress codes on test scores, the result were inconclusive and mixed. There are several more studies just like this one proving that strict dress codes don’t really do much except anger students. Now that we have the looked back to the past, learned about the present, and have evaluated how unnecessarily restrictive, inconsistent, and unfair dress codes are let’s look at some of the arguments promoting these rigid dress
There is no reason that students should be told that their hair is too long and their clothes aren't good enough to fit the guidelines of the school dress code. School dress codes have been around for some time, enforcing modesty and enforcing discipline standards. School dress codes have sparked debates and conflicts surrounding dress codes such as freedom of expression, cultural and religious concerns, and the harsh enforcement of rules. Dress codes cannot exist or be required in schools because they tend to reinforce gender stereotypes, restrict personal expression, and take attention away from the main goal of education. School dress codes restrict personal expression for students by not letting them use their First Amendment rights like the freedom of
School dress codes touch on topics like gender identity and sexual orientation. Dress code is unfair and sexist. However, despite that, dress code is very helpful in keeping everything in a professional manner. Dress codes have come up as an issue after reports that Black students, girls, and LGBTQ students across the country are disproportionately affected by school dress codes. Some districts have imposed harsh punishments on those groups of students, including in- or out-of-school suspensions, for violations of dress codes.
Aaliyah walks around her school with the constant worry of possibly getting dress coded. She has to continuously adjust her clothing to make sure she will not receive any type of punishment for what she is wearing. With each passing day, her high self-esteem slowly decreases because of her male peers' comments. By the end of her education, she won't have the confidence or the characteristics that make her the person she is. The dress code at schools has been proven to affect students' confidence and mindset over the years.
Alexander Wright Mr. Greco ELA 11 18 March 2024 School dress codes have long been a subject of controversy, sparking debates over individuality, equality, and safety in educational environments. Some people argue that dress codes promote a sense of professionalism and minimize distractions, while others claim they often suppress self-expression and can perpetuate gender biases. This paper will explore the multifaceted implications of enforcing dress codes in schools, examining their impact on student freedom, educational outcomes, and the school culture at large. The implementation of more lenient school dress codes can foster greater self-expression and individuality among students, ultimately enhancing their overall educational experience.
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.
Throughout the years, I’ve seen copious amounts of girls sent to the office in the middle of class simply for having their shoulders showing. They’ve been punished for wearing a v neck shirt instead of a round neck shirt. It would make sense to wear what you want in the place in which you spend seven hours a day, five days a week, and at least thirteen years of your life. However, a lot of schools have restrictive dress codes that prevent students, mostly girls, from wearing clothes that they feel express their personalities. In many schools, boys are allowed to wear tank tops, though girls are not. In the article My high school abolished its sexist dress code. Things got better, Elizabeth Love states, “During our sophomore year, my best friend was disciplined for wearing shorts that were “too short” — although the shorts were part of the school’s soccer uniform… While the male rock climber who sat next to me in English class was routinely free to wear his shirt entirely unbuttoned, flapping in the wind, revealing his chest.”In the same way, boys are discouraged from wearing feminine clothes. While
Does having a dress code restrict students from having freedom of expressions? Girls are not allowed to show shoulders, guys can not show anything below the armpit, tank tops are prohibited. Any showing of a bra on a teenage girl is not allowed. Blankets, hats, gloves, slippers and anything covering the head is not allowed. Clothes shall not reference sex, drugs, profanity, and tobacco in any way. If a student is challenging any of these rules, they will be asked to change. If the student becomes tardy or absent due to these policies, it will be marked as unexcused. But remember, be you.
Choosing what to wear for the day. This is what most students are thinking about when they wake up. Students need the latest fashion in order to fit in, but some clothing may not be acceptable to wear in school. School dress codes are denying students their right to dress how they want, but the dress code is important for the students and their learning. Students are beginning to stand up and want to be heard. Some students are taking action and want the dress code to become less strict but some schools are doing the opposite for safety issues and for the students healthy learning environment. Dress codes are important for a strong and healthy learning environment and is also reducing violence in many schools around the country.
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.