Derek Davidson

Mike Heugel
Arionna Mejia
Baylee Raymond
Megan Spicer
Mr. Gross
English 12 A (1)
19 November 2015
Dress Codes are Unhealthy

I felt violated in front of my peers. I was called out and it was taking time from my
education. It made me feel embarrassed and ashamed. These are quotes from students at
Warsaw Community High School who created a documentary called Shame to share their
opinions on how harmful dress codes can be on a persons emotions. All targeting and
sexualizing women simply because they have a female body. With an overly strict dress code,
students also lose their sense of self expression and individuality due to an overly strict, gender
targeted dress code. Members of school boards often believe that dress codes drop crime rates
and boosts student safety. This is false, due to the fact that students tend to be more harsh when
they believe they are not being treated with respect by peers and teachers.
In school dress codes, the rules are primarily targeted towards women more than men.
With woman being more prone to wearing things that make them feel good about themselves, it
is sometimes hard to find clothes that cover all areas targeted by dress code. A freshman at
Trabuco Hills High School was in class when she raised her hand when she answered a question.
The motion exposed about 2 inches of her bare midriff. The teacher sent her to the principal

because she believed it was a dress code violation. Luckily for her, she only got off with a
warning. There are only a few instances where men can be targeted for dress code violation, like
wearing a shirt that is cut along and below the sleeves, wearing a hat, or shirts showing profanity.
Other incidents have also seen boys banned from school for having hair too long or wearing
traditionally feminine fashion, from skinny jeans to skirts. But, women have many more rules
enforced on them than men do. For instance, in some schools girls cannot wear shorts that when
the arm is extended all the way the fingertips do not meet the bottom of the shorts. When it is
almost summer and the end of the school year, in some states it can reach up to more than 90
degrees fahrenheit and it can get very hot in the schools if there is no air conditioning. Girls do
not care at that point what people see of the bottom half of their body, they just want to be
comfortable and cool. Girls also cannot show their bra or bra strap because they were told that
their visible bra straps or short dresses may distract male students from learning in school.
These are only a few instances where girls can be targeted for school dress code, there are many
more. Many girls would rather focus on their education than care what people think about how
they dress. Not only does having a dress code target girls and make students feel uncomfortable
and stressed, it also diminishes their individuality.
The rules set by dress codes create a social norm and cause students to lose their self
expression and individuality. In Colorado, a third-grader was suspended after shaving her head to
show support for a friend battling cancer, because she had violated her school's dress code
banning shaved heads. In 2013, 5-year-old Cooper Barton was told to turn his University of
Michigan T-shirt inside-out because it violated school rules. The dress code in Oklahoma City's
public schools says students may only wear shirts from Oklahoma colleges and universities
(When School Clothes Lead To Suspension 1). The fact these students were in trouble for

expressing themselves and supporting others is completely appalling. Students from the Shame
documentary stated: It sends the message that you shouldnt be comfortable with what you
wear. and I cant buy a lot of things, because they dont realize everyone has different body
types. While it might be easy for one person to buy clothes that fit into the dress code, its not for
me (Shame: A Documentary). Self expression and individuality is constantly being taken
away from students as they are forced to conform to what the school believes is the right way to
dress. At this point it starts to feel like such codes are less about protecting children and more
about protecting strict social norms that refuse to tolerate diversity. Dress codes are unhealthy
because they take away students freedom to express themselves.
School board members often believe school dress codes deter crime and increase student
safety. Most states have laws that allow school boards to make dress code rules for students
within their district to promote a safe, disciplined school environment to prevent interference
with schoolwork to encourage uniformity of student dress. This is untrue because it restricts
students freedom of expression. Restricting student freedom causes them to act out more harshly
towards their teachers because they do not feel as if they are being treated with respect or
rationality.
School uniforms are unhealthy. Dress codes are more targeting to women than men. Students
lose their feeling of expression and individuality. Dress codes make teenaged woman feel
ashamed and embarrassed to be a woman. They are targeted simply because of their female body.
School Uniforms reduce crime and increase safety. I would learn better in clothes that Im
comfortable in rather than what I have to be wearing. A quote from a student at Warsaw
Community High School.

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