Chung, Labua 1

Jacob Chung, Natalie Labua

Ms. Oliveira

WRT 104

1 January 2018

Dress Code in the School System

Imagine a world where no one wore clothes. A paleolithic world where cavemen

harnessed leather straps and canvases. A world where humans followed the traditions of Adam

and Eve’s leaf-like clothing. A world where tribal men pierce ivory through their noses. These

parallel dimensions represent the world humans would live in if socio-political systems did not

enforce a strict dress code. One of these systems of oppression is school dress code. Instead of

teaching students how to adapt to change in uniform, schools teach adolescents the epitome of

conservative dress - to dress as near nuns with skirts below their knees and shirts to cover their

arms from shoulder to wrist. Fashion, defined by schools, requires a balance of leniency and

strictness, but molded with ideas to consider generational changes. As a controversial subject,

society’s acceptance of appropriate dress constantly fluctuates and school administration needs

further enlightenment on proper dress.

The female gender, especially today, faces challenges of appropriate dress, as defined by

schools. Girls face a type of body-shaming, as they receive reprimands for wearing weather

appropriate clothing. This lack of acceptance can lead to negative effects in self-esteem, even in

children as young as five. A toddler suffering from the extremes of the Arizona desert summer

should not conform to long sleeve shirts and thick blue jeans. Such children should instead, wear

seasonal clothing, such as tank tops and shorts. Kelly Wallace, a digital award-winning writer,

“There have been countless examples, many shared on social media, of girls being shamed for
 Chung, Labua 2
the clothing they wear. One woman wrote about how her 9-year-old granddaughter wore a tank

top on a 99-degree day and was told she was violating the school dress code” (Wallace). This

elementary school forced the fifth grader, humiliated and degraded, to change out of her top and

wear a boy’s short sleeve undershirt. Due to incidents like this 9-year-old elementary school

student’s, schools are committing to proper dress and attire, which in turn creates a positive

environment. Eric Witherspoon, Superintendent at Township High School states "We want them

to know that each of them, as an unique individual, belongs here and feels welcome and safe

here at school.” (Witherspoon). These articles of clothing primarily affect a certain group of

people: specifically the female gender.

Not only does student dress code affect self-esteem in young females, but it also affects

learning capabilities. Bogged down by the seasons of the year, students forced to wear uniforms

in 90 degree temperatures face distracted learning. Elise Wile, who holds a Masters Degree in

curriculum and instruction stated, “Students who feel too warm or too cold may begin to feel

drowsy or distracted, and learning may be impeded” (Wile). Uniform based schools also cause

negative effects on children, as they confine students to multi-layered attire. Unrestricted

clothing and uniforms assure a basis of comfort as students sit still for much of the day.

Disconnected dress due to weather is not the only factor that affects student learning. Parent

notification of inappropriate dress code also leads to time wasted from curricular activities. Mr.

Grimes, principal at Westerly High School, recalls a time when he removed a child from the

classroom, stating “There have been cases - there was one case that I remember where I asked

the parent to come get the child and have her change before she came back” (Grimes). Instead of

spending crucial class time to study and learn, the school mandated this child to leave the

classroom for an extended time period to change attire.

 Chung, Labua 3
The adverse effects of strict clothing regulations root from outdated standards of general

clothing rules. It seems generational gaps are prevalent in dress code and should be compensated

for. Once the flappers of the 1920s were considered rebels opposing society’s dress norms. With

short-cut hair, and forehead covering hats, the flappers represented the fashion renegades of their

time, wearing outfits of modern styles. During the war generations of the 1950s women wore

girdles clinching their waistlines. Later, women in the 1980’s wore skin-tight cotton leggings,

paired with mini skirts often made of denim. Colors appeared bright and funky, with patterns

such as leopard dots and zebra stripes. In the recent decades, students in the 90s wore baggy

jeans and shirts, idolizing their favorite rappers and media figureheads. These fashion statements

caused controversy, just like today’s fashion statements. In their time, the older styles of the

flappers and baby boomers curated thoughts of rebellion and disregard, now these styles seem

conservative and elegant. In the current generation of millennials, female students often wear

tights and crop-tops to compliment basketball shoes and designer brands - and older generations

should accept this new style. Mr. Grimes also agrees with timely updates of dress conduct,

stating, “I think it’s necessary, as with all policies, that there be scheduled reviews as needed”

(Grimes).

As decades pass by, humans tend to adapt to cultural changes. Societal norms of style

change according to entertainment figureheads popular to current times. In response to the

question “Is gender a major role in dress code reprimandation?” Mr. Martin, disciplinary

advisory at Westerly High School, responded stating “I don’t think it’s just gender I think it’s a

cultural issue” (Martin). Skimpy clothing and flashy attire attracts media viewers and audiences;

this what is prevalent with music idols such as Lady Gaga and Miley Cyrus. Besides music idols,

designer stylist glorify flamboyant necklaces and stilettos. This leads to the glamification of
 Chung, Labua 4
younger students wearing high arched heels and more revealing clothing. Instead of forcing

students to conform to society’s dress codes, the world of academic and business dress code

needs to force the popular media into a more fit style of clothing.

As noted, gender plays a major role in the design of dress codes throughout schools.

Although all dress codes differ, most show a major conflict between restrictions for boys versus

girls. In a recent survey given to students and staff at Westerly High School, 83.1% of people

said males are treated differently than females regarding dress code. Often, parents express

online anger towards such unfair dress codes, taking pictures of their child’s inappropriate outfit

to raise awareness about the need to implement changes in dress code regulations. Although

these parents bring to light the problems with many schools dress codes, the pictures also reveal

how much more often girls are targeted by dress code regulations, as almost all of the photos

show girls being forced to change or being sent home due to their clothing choices. In a recent

article in CNN, a 12 year old girl was told by her teacher “she shouldn’t wear yoga pants because

the boys would get turned on and then be embarrassed” (Wallace). Following this incident, the

same girl was sent home two days in a row for wearing shorts considered too short for her

school. Students and parents who fight against school dress code often say “students and staff are

responsible for managing their own personal ‘distractions’, regardless of what anybody else is

wearing” (McCombs). Female students should not be disciplined or sent home to ensure they do

not distract males. Males should be raised to respect females and also to have self control around

girls in school.

In addition to inequality between genders, females with different body types are also

targeted. Girls with long arms need longer clothing to meet the requirements for the lengths of

shorts or dresses. In many reports, the same girls are targeted several times throughout the school
 Chung, Labua 5
year, while others girls breaking dress code get by without any discipline at all. According to an

article from Anti-Defamation League, students have protested dress codes, saying “that a

different standard is applied to girls who are more curvy and developed than other girls”

(“What’s Fair and Unfair”). Schools want to send a message that implies equal enforcement of

the dress code among all students and that the dress code makes for an improved learning

environment, but “if schools want to teach respect, they need to give the message that it is

unacceptable to blame a girl for being more developed and thus too distracting for her male

classmates” (Wallace). A more physically developed girl should not be targeted by teachers or

even students as a distraction, more than a less developed girl. At Stuyvesant High School in

New York, students protested the dress code, claiming “the ‘curvier’ girls were singled out- a v-

neck t-shirt considered acceptable on one student was seen as absolutely scandalous on another,”

(Valenti).

Dress codes are in place in almost every school in the country. Adolescents are forced to

conform to the school dress codes, and are punished if they appear to be distracting. Too often,

young impressionable girls of all ages are pulled out of classes for breaking dress code, and

forced to stay out of class until they change. Influenced by public figures and up and coming

fashion trends, adolescents simply express themselves through appearance and clothing, now

more than ever before. Youth should not be shamed for wearing comfortable clothing and

expressing themselves through clothing. In a survey given out to 8th graders at Westerly Middle

School, 58 boys and 59 girls answered “yes” when asked if their school dress code rule could be

improved. Significant changes need to be made to schools dress codes in order to make them

effective in today’s society. Removing a girl from class, due to clothing, causes them to feel

embarrassed, angry, and offended. Targeting a more developed girl over a smaller girl, or only
 Chung, Labua 6
punishing girls rather than boys are major problems with the way most schools enforce dress

codes. Times are changing, and schools need to follow suit and update dress codes.

Works Cited

Grimes, Todd. Personal Interview. 14 Dec. 2017.

LaBua, Natalie. “Dress Code Survey.” Survey. 20 Dec. 2017.

LaBua, Natalie. “Student Dress Code Survey.” Survey. 21 Dec. 2017.

Martin, Richard. Personal Interview. 22 Dec. 2017.

 Chung, Labua 7
McCombs, Emily. “Sexist School Dress Codes Are a Problem, and Oregon May Have the

Answer.” Huffpost, 06 Sept. 2017, www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/sexist-school-dress-

codes-and-the-oregon-now-model_us_59a6cd7ee4b00795c2a318e5.

Valenti, Jessica. “Enforcing School Dress Codes Teaches Girls To Be Ashamed, Not ‘Modest’.”

The Guardian, 21 May 2014, www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/may/21/school-

dress-codes-girls-shame-modesty.

Wallace, Kelly. “Do School Dress Codes End Up Body-Shaming Girls.” CNN, 30 May 2017,

www.cnn.com/2017/05/30/health/school-dress-codes-body-shaming-girls-

parenting/index.html.

“ What’s Fair and Unfair About Student Dress Codes?” Anti- Defamation League,

Women’s Equity, 2017, www.adl.org/education/resources/tools-and-strategies/table-

talk/whats-fair-and-unfair-about-student-dress-codes

Witherspoon, Erik. “Leggings? Spaghetti Straps? High School Makes Surprising Change to

Dress Code.” TODAY, 30 Aug. 2017, www.today.com/style/high-school-changes-dress-

code-promote-body-positivity-t115656.