While schools dress codes are meant to implement students adorning appropriate attire in an academic setting, they are also a prominent example of sexist and discriminatory behavior towards women in a patriarchal and misogynistic society.  It is possible certain outfits may be “sexually provoking” (an entire topic which deserves an editorial unto itself), yet the outfits that girls are getting in trouble for wearing to school are anything but—not bootie shorts or shirts with plummeting necklines, but leggings paired with sweatshirts and skirts that sit just above the knee.  The girls “guilty” of wearing these “inappropriate” outfits are typically sent to the nurse’s office to change into something more suitable, or sometimes, even suspended.  By acting in such an outrageously despicable manner, we are latently teaching girls at a young and impressionable age not only that they should be ashamed of their bodies, but that they are not in control of their bodies and lack autonomy—that decisions will essentially be made for them by a male authority who does not have their best interests in mind.

The issue of female dress code has escalated to school dances, with rigid restrictions placed upon what girls can wear.  In Virginia, one girl was kicked out of prom because of the dress she was wearing, even though it met the finger-tip length requirements.  According to New York Daily News, “She was asked to leave because her dress was too short and her dance moves were too provocative, specifically after some dads at the prom complained.”  (Completely overlooking the distorted age difference here) This repulsive demonstration of males appropriating the female body is despicable, for these girls are able minded, and bodied, humans who have the ability to make decisions for themselves; to not only limit their exploration of creative expression, but also demean and humiliate them for doing so is vile.

Whether at a dance or in the hallway, the fact that girls outfits are restricted to appease boys who find their clothes “too distracting” is a reoccurring crisis that is debilitating, for it incapacitates females’ self esteem.  Especially in an era which promotes self love and acceptance, these subtle messages that we are sending girls are doing the complete opposite by exemplifying that their bodies are something that should not be shown; however, if they are shown, it is automatically inferred that they’re wearing that “suggestive” tank top and shorts because they’re “asking for it,” not because it’s sweltering outside—since we all know that women are incapable of sweating.  When body parts such as shoulders and knees become sexualized it causes girls to suffer in a multitude of ways, for it essentially perpetuates slut shaming, rape culture, and victim blaming, while enforcing that women’s value lies in their sexuality.

Therefore, strict female dress codes is an issue I wish to change, for although it may seem like implementing them will be beneficial, they ultimately reinforce a plethora of dangerous societal concepts and stereotypes created by the patriarchy which hinder progressivism.  Instead, we should be teaching males how to respect women (apparently treating other people with basic human dignity is not an innate behavior, but shockingly shifts according to genitalia) by demonstrating through action what this behavior looks like.  Additionally, we should also be educating males on the harmful effects their destructive behavior has, rather than compensating for their Neanderthalic attitudes and forcing girls to cover up in order to protect themselves.  I hope that by changing this, women will feel safe, confident, and secure in not only their outfits, but in themselves.