Canton High School in Mississippi has suspended over 100 students on the first day of school due to the fact that they wear neon colored shoes (Takepart.com). Is that what the world has come to? Do you want to help give equality to both boy and girls? The school dress code not only sexulizes women it also hurts their self-esteem, which causes them problems later n in their life. Also the dress code can be considered very sexist due to the fact that it does not punish boys the same way it does to girls. The parents of the students believe that it is their job to tell their children what they are wearing. Or if the parents do not agree with what their child is wear to punish them, it is not the job nor the role of the school to do the job of a parent. Girls should not have to change 3 times with in a day because the school does not approve of their clothing. The dress code is sexist against girls, they are told to change because boys control them selves around girls. If the school a realize what they are doing to children then the world will be a nicer place to live in. School dress codes have the tendency to sexualize and objectualize women. “In another case last week, at Oakleaf High School in Orange Park, Florida, a teacher stopped Miranda Larkin, 15, for wearing a too-short skirt on the third day of classes. Larkin, newly arrived from Seattle, found her-self wearing a lime-green shirt and red sweatpants, each garment labeled “dress code violation.” She was so distressed that she broke out in hives and said the disciplinary action left her feeling “completely humiliated.” Diana Larkin, Miranda’s mother, told Al Jazeera her daughter said, “‘Mom, I’ve never felt so sexualized in all my life,’ She’s never felt like something of a sexual object until this happened” (Aljazeera America). This hurt Diana so much she had to go to see a school councilor due to the fact that the school made her question her ability to express herself through her appearance, thus hurting her self-esteem. “Larkin, who has no problem with dress codes, has a big problem with humiliating girls by forcing them to wear what she called “…a shame suit.” Some experts who say the humiliating punishments have the potential to damage a young woman’s self-esteem may be just as dangerous (Aljazeera American). Students and parents need to come together to get a petition signed in order to put an end to this sort of humiliation. The graph above depicts reasons why teenagers choose not follow the school dress code.
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As one can see a majority of teens believe that the school enforced dress codes limit their personality and their ability to express themselves, but schools have a very different opinion on how students should be able to express themselves at school. “A dress code encourages students to express their individuality through personality and academic achievements, not outward appearances” (Polk High School Handbook). But what if a child is not good at academics, and she is very artistic, how is she supposed to express herself? She cannot, there would be no way to let her artistic talent and abilities show, how is that fair for her? Dress codes does not only objectify women it also also teach guys to objectify girls in a way that they will not see any consequences. Guys never get in trouble for objectifying women the best punishment they get is a slap on the wrist plus they can wear anything and get way with it. Girls have to be covered in order to not distract the boys. One of the most absurd rules created for female body oppression (i.e. dress codes) is that bra-straps are not allowed to be able to be seen. For one, most women only wear bras because our breasts are over-sexualized and society has a problem with female nipples; and then to punish us for exposing said object, is just ludicrous. Another unfair rule that controls women’s bodies in schools, would be “shorts or skirts have to be as long as your fingertips while your hands are placed at your sides.” There is absolutely nothing distracting about women’s legs, except the fact that they’ve been over-sexualized
As one can see a majority of teens believe that the school enforced dress codes limit their personality and their ability to express themselves, but schools have a very different opinion on how students should be able to express themselves at school. “A dress code encourages students to express their individuality through personality and academic achievements, not outward appearances” (Polk High School Handbook). But what if a child is not good at academics, and she is very artistic, how is she supposed to express herself? She cannot, there would be no way to let her artistic talent and abilities show, how is that fair for her? Dress codes does not only objectify women it also also teach guys to objectify girls in a way that they will not see any consequences. Guys never get in trouble for objectifying women the best punishment they get is a slap on the wrist plus they can wear anything and get way with it. Girls have to be covered in order to not distract the boys. One of the most absurd rules created for female body oppression (i.e. dress codes) is that bra-straps are not allowed to be able to be seen. For one, most women only wear bras because our breasts are over-sexualized and society has a problem with female nipples; and then to punish us for exposing said object, is just ludicrous. Another unfair rule that controls women’s bodies in schools, would be “shorts or skirts have to be as long as your fingertips while your hands are placed at your sides.” There is absolutely nothing distracting about women’s legs, except the fact that they’ve been over-sexualized