Fortunately, I went to a very liberal high school that was fair on most of its rules, including the dress code. Most people broke the few rules we did have- the most strictly upheld one was the no hats policy more for respect of the flag than preventing distractions. However, others are not so lucky and attend schools that target (female) students that try to prevent distractions in a learning environment. These rules are inherently sexist and not only do they unintentionally sexualize young girls, they also reinforce the idea that boys are uncontrollable sex beasts that can’t focus in the presence of girls’ shoulders or legs.
Taken From: http://shubbabang.tumblr.com/post/58167155905/i-dedicate-this-comic-to-the-teacher-who-pulled-me
The big issue is that these girls are being sent home or taken out off class. Obviously this is detrimental to their education all because the school staff feels their choice in clothing is going to distract others. Granted, I have seen some outfits that I’m surprised people didn’t get sent home for, but when girls are wearing things like:
The problem is no longer with the outfits, it is with the staff.
In the first picture, Macy Edgerly was sent home for wearing leggings and a long, non-form fitting shirt. In the second picture, Harriet Dale‘s high school had just banned skirts to “save the blushes of male members of staff” which is disgusting enough. Then she was sent home because, although she was wearing the same exact outfit as other schoolmates, her legs were “larger” than others. So please excuse her while she goes home and switches her legs out for the smaller ones. And in the final picture, Stephanie Dunn was sent home on the first day of school for showing her collarbone.
Students are starting to fight back as more and more students are exposed to injustices like the girls above fought through:
The biggest problem with these dress codes is that they promote a rape culture. This whole idea that certain body parts on girls need to be hidden away because boys can’t handle it teaches girls that they are responsible for boys’ inability to control themselves. It teaches boys that 1). they shouldn’t be able to control themselves around girls and 2). if they can’t, it is the girl’s responsibility to take care of it.
All I want to know is why those girls can’t wear those outfits, but I have seen with my own eyes boys wear these shirts to my high school: