Dress Codes.

Dress codes. Just about every school has them, though some schools have stricter policies then others. Within the past few years, schools have seen a particularly strong uprising against these policies by students as well as parents. Many of the dress code polices were created from sexualizing  the female body. A middle school student from Versailles, Kentucky, Maggie Sunseri, says that "My principal constantly says the main reason for [it] is to create a 'distraction-free learning zone' for our male counterparts". Parents everywhere have stood up against claims like these, stating that rules promoting these ideals one, makes girls become self conscious about their body and two, teaches both boys and girls that if male students or faculty are unable to focus due to how a girl dresses then it's her fault.

Sunseri actually made a documentary where she interviews some of the students in her school asking about what they thought of the dress code. This video really highlights how negatively a dress code can bring down the confidence of girls as well as the bias in dress codes. To watch Sunseri's video click here.

Anna Huffman also decided to take a stand against dress code by launching the #IAmMoreThanADistraction on Twitter. She received tons of feedback by girls everywhere sharing their own experiences.

 


Strict dress code rules are one of the main factors that have been creating the stigmatism of "boys will be boys" which is not and should not be an excuse for boys having poor behavior. Laura Bates, co-founder of The Everyday Sexism Project, said, "There's a real culture being built up through some of these dress codes where girls are receiving very clear messages that male behavior, male entitlement to your body in a public place is socially acceptable, but you will be punished."
Besides that, many girls will be pulled out during classes and be told to go home and change into more appropriate clothing. Even simple acts like these subconsciously creates the idea that creating a "distraction-free learning environment" for males is more important then allowing a female to receive education.

Websites used:
 http://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2015/10/school-dress-codes-are-problematic/410962/