Dress Code: Beneficial or Sexism

       People express themselves through dress, just as people expresses themselves through speech. Therefore, the First Amendment should protect student dress. However, in many schools, the administration tries to overpower this given right by determining what one may or may not wear.

         In the Weston High School Handbook, dress code guidelines are outlined as dress that “typically makes others feel uncomfortable:
•Bare or exposed midriffs
•Low cut, see-through, or tight tops
•Low-rise pants/shorts or short shorts

•Exposed underwear (including bra straps)
•Inappropriate language/pictures on clothing”


      
             Students have the right to freedom of expression through what he or she wears. Dress codes in particular refer to the dress of girls. A main argument as to why a strict dress code should be enforced is because when girls wear something to exposing to revealing, it males males feel uncomfortable. As a female, I should not have to dress a certain way to please other people. 

          I truly do not think that me wearing a tank top to school is hindering other students from learning. And if it does, that is not my fault; it is their problem to deal with. It is not a girl’s fault if a male feels uncomfortable around a girl wear a tight tank top or short shorts.
     
     The only rule in the dress guidelines are males are

 teacher thinks a female’s shirt is too low or her skirt is too short, she will be humiliated by being forced to change. This double standard  not only emphasizes the gender inequalities, but also restricts female students and their rights.
       
          However, males can wear tank tops on ‘Tank Top Tuesday’ yet females get reprimanded for wearing such things. When it is 95 degrees outside and we are contained into a small space without air conditioning, it is reasonable that one would not want to wear pants or a long sleeve shirt. If a male is seen with his pants sagging low, rarely will a teacher tell him how to dress or to change.

       
          However, if one wears something to school because he or she wants to, others in the school should not be allowed to tell them to do otherwise. If someone does not like it, then they can deal with it. Freedom of Speech can be expressed on T-shirt or sweatshirts, therefore students should be allowed to express these views in school. 

           After all, it isn’t like we are not exposed to these things outside of the classroom. While a school environment should be a safe one, wearing something that one person might find offensive is something they should have to deal with; it is not actually threatening anyone else. If teachers do not like how one is expressing themselves or their personal opinions, then simply don’t look at them.

          I myself have experienced instances where I fell victim to the school code. In middle school, a teacher pulled me outside of class because she felt that my dress was "too short" for what she thought was right. She said, "How do you think boys will think of you?" I don't, and have never, dressed for anyone besides myself. Girls do not dress in a provocative manner to impress boys or something along that lines, so

faculty should not have the right to tell otherwise.This is what leads to slut shaming when girls get older. In schools, telling young girls that their skirt is too short and inviting boys should not be perpetuated in that environment.

              We, as America, have been progressing ever since it was considered "scandalous" for a woman to show off her ankles. In order to keep growing as a country, this type of environment and slut shaming by dress code  needs to be stopped, and the dress code handbook needs to be updated to current times.