Strict Dress Code

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Beyond legal and formal issues, restrictions from strict dress codes have the ability to create dissatisfaction in students about their qualities. In South Africa, natural hair is not considered acceptable in many schools despite the African population being ten times that of the white population (which makes up about 8% of the country’s demographics). 13-year-old Zulaikha Patel received discipline at several schools for wearing her hair in an afro style; she has since changed schools three times as a result of the issue (Chutel). In terms of the lack of acceptance and leniency of such strict dress code, the matter can easily be viewed as an occasion where Caucasian culture gained superiority without necessarily requiring a population majority; …show more content…

In many cases, three options are presented: change into an acceptable outfit provided by or supported by the school, have a parent bring a change of clothes that are school appropriate (and wait in an administrative office until the parent arrives), or fail to attend school for the day. In some schools, if a school-supported change is the option of choice, a “shame suit” may be what is provided. Miranda Larkin, a new student to Oakleaf High School, had moved to the area eight days prior and was unfamiliar with the school’s dress-code policy. When her skirt was deemed “too short” by administrative staff, she was forced to wear an outfit labeled with the words “DRESS CODE VIOLATION” across the chest of the shirt and down the leg of the pants. Her mother later coined the “shame suit” term. (Sullivan). Such a “shame suit” is designed to publicize the offense and humiliate the wearer into compliance. Now, in addition to missing vital information presented in class to clothe herself in a manner that (supposedly) better suits the needs of male students, the female student is degraded for the day. To her, the male education is valued above her own, and she feels

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