Learning in a Sexist and Antireligion Setting School dress codes not only limit students freedom of expression but condemns girl’s bodies as well as ‘’feminine’’ tendencies on boys. A school dress code is a series of rules that school boards create intending to restraint the way students dress. This policy was originally created to make schools a safe learning environment; however, this policy has caused many complications in schools around the world because student’s rights are being taken away. From sexism to religion intolerance, these codes have been doing more damage than good. School dress codes make boys think that they should not have their hair long because it would be too girly for them and young girls feel they are doing
A lot of the time when we think of the word dress code we think “annoying” or “dumb”. But for a lot of women in school it’s a lot more than that. While the purpose of the dress code might be to help women in later life all it does is make a young women feel uncomfortable in her own skin. This sexualization of women doesn’t only affect them in school but for the rest of their life. Even a mother trying to breastfeed her child in public is shameful and inappropriate.
Our clothing is another way to express our feelings and to show people who we are. Girls are also different shapes and sizes so clothes don’t fit the same. The last thing I want to talk about is the money spent on making sure your clothes fit the dress code. Throughout this essay I will show why each of these examples are crushing girls’ self-esteem. The sexism problem is that many schools are targeting girls for violations and having dress code restrictions that sexualize students and make them seem like objects instead of humans with bodies.
Loose-fitting or non-skinny jeans are hard to find for teens and pre-teens anymore, and leggings com... ... middle of paper ... ... they like, and clothes are a part of that. 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.
What if this girl has long legs, and the skirt automatically appears short on her because of this, should she be forced to buy bigger sizes to accommodate the longer length, yet have the skirt basically fall off at the waist? So to reprimand the girl, the school principle will send her home for the day because they believe her clothing is affecting the learning atmosphere. However, sending her home is also affecting her learning. Most high school students would love to be forced to leave school anyway, so the punishment is really quite contradicting. High school students wear clothing that they feel comfortable in.
Also, many people believe that making boys and girls follow the same rules is wrong and will never work out since they are different genders. But it will work because that way people will stop complaining about the unfairness of one gender having it easier. It will also stop people from being funny and wearing clothing violates the dress code to be “cool.” While the school has many problems dealing with the dress code regulations, they can still be prevented by enforcing the dress code, giving consequences to the offenders, and modifying how the dress code is presented to students. It will help because many teenegers just need to be told what to do and what will happen if they do not do it. Also, with the help of faculty members, the school will become a better learning environment.
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.
They comment, “These interactions have the overall effect of teaching girls to view themselves as ‘objects’ in a world defined by male experience”. (Cairns and Luft). Not only are female students physically suffering from the harassment they have endured, they are also developing mind sets in which they believe they are only around for male pleasure. This type of mindset is prohibiting young girls from trying to learn. They feel they cannot succeed as they are automatically inferior to their male
These people against dress code believe dress code promotes sexualizing women. The hashtag “I am not a distraction” has powered the movement against sexist dress code. According to Huffpost, “It’s the statement that’s become a rallying cry across the burgeoning movement against inequitable school dress codes, a movement propelled largely by the young girls who are so often targeted by policies that label the parts of their bodies ― whether covered by yoga pants, spaghetti straps, gym shorts, leggings or tank tops ― as “distractions” (McCombs.) Many women and girls have been told that what they are wearing can be distraction to men which makes it feel that the dress code targets them. In the article “Sexist School Dress Codes Are A Problem, and Oregon May Have The Answer”, talk about many indents that women have encountered with dress code and explains the sexist side of school dress codes.
Uniforms are a way of objectifying girls and boys alike (at least there is no unfairness within the concept of gender). Still, there is a lack of logic to why anyone should be required to cover up as if it makes peers feel uncomfortable. Teaching both children at a young age to respect those of all ages is imperative; they should treat others how they should be treated: appropriately. From a first-hand account, Lindsay Merbaum, a teacher, “Male colleagues would sometimes approach me and point out the offending ensembles, as they felt uncomfortable addressing female students about their attire. I didn’t blame them — there’s something unseemly about telling a teenage girl that what she is wearing is wrong.