I'm Sorry, Can You See My Shoulders?

It is becoming increasingly apparent that there are some pretty big differences in the ways in which girls and boys are treated in school based on their gender and their clothing. Many schools have strict dress codes set in place, and although the language of these policies does not always specify female students, it often targets articles of clothing worn specifically by girls (leggings, skirts, tank tops, etc.). Many young women who wear such articles of clothing are frequently told that they are "distracting" the male students in their classrooms. This sends a clear message to both girls and boys that girls' bodies are dangerous and sexualized and that they are solely responsible for boys' actions toward them. 

I want to take a moment to clarify that I'm not saying that all school dress codes are sexist, or that anyone in violation of the dress code shouldn't be punished for breaking school policy. I think that if a school has a reasonable dress code set in place then there is no reason it shouldn't be followed. I am, however, saying that many of these dress codes exist for the wrong reasons. I think that it would be fair to say that a school dress code is sexist if it disproportionally targets girls, sexualizes young girls' bodies, or at all suggests that that it is these girls' fault for distracting boys.

One specific example of a school dress code that has gone too far happened earlier this school year in Kentucky when Stephanie Dunn got sent to the principle's office for wearing a shirt that did not cover her collar bone. Stephanie's mother, Stacie, was called in to pick her daughter up and criticized the school for such a ridiculous system: "Parents are being called away from their important jobs and students are missing important class time because they are showing their collarbones! Something needs to change!" Stacie Dunn also said in her Facebook post that it was ridiculous that the girls at that school weren't allowed to show their collar bones because it "may distract their male classmates." Stephanie's mother brought her a scarf to attempt to cover up in compliance with the school's dress code but was ultimately sent home anyway for giving the principal an attitude when he told her that the scarf was also (somehow) inappropriate. There is a potential for change within the school however. Stacie noted that the principle called her to set up a meeting, saying that he would be willing to reexamine the school's dress code if she would be willing to put together a proposed policy. 

This dress code controversy has prompted many young women to take a stand against their schools' sexist policies. They are starting movements like "Not 'A' Distraction", in which students in South Carolina wore scarlet A's to school in the style of Hester Prynne to highlight the harm done by enforcing misogynistic values on young women.  There is also the hashtag #IAmMoreThanADistraction which began in 2014 and has picked up momentum during this school year. Started by a group of girls from New Jersey, the group aims to draw attention to the fact that interrupting a girl's school day to have her sent home or change clothes sends a message that making sure that boys have a "distraction free" learning environment is more important than her own education. This hashtag has generated thousands of posts on social media and empowered other young women to speak out against the unfair and often sexist dress code guidelines enforced upon them.

Unfortunately, the policy of policing women on what they can and can't wear doesn't stop in high school. The over-sexualization of women in the workplace is also a growing problem in our society and can be traced directly back to school dress codes: if girls are policed and sexualized at an early age, that impacts what both girls and boys grow up to view as the social norm.