All Nonfiction
- Bullying
- Books
- Academic
- Author Interviews
- Celebrity interviews
- College Articles
- College Essays
- Educator of the Year
- Heroes
- Interviews
- Memoir
- Personal Experience
- Sports
- Travel & Culture
All Opinions
- Bullying
- Current Events / Politics
- Discrimination
- Drugs / Alcohol / Smoking
- Entertainment / Celebrities
- Environment
- Love / Relationships
- Movies / Music / TV
- Pop Culture / Trends
- School / College
- Social Issues / Civics
- Spirituality / Religion
- Sports / Hobbies
All Hot Topics
- Bullying
- Community Service
- Environment
- Health
- Letters to the Editor
- Pride & Prejudice
- What Matters
- Back
Summer Guide
- Program Links
- Program Reviews
- Back
College Guide
- College Links
- College Reviews
- College Essays
- College Articles
- Back
Dress Codes
Too often I’ve seen teachers saying girls need to wear “appropriate clothes” during the warmer weather so that boys aren’t distracted at school. Telling a girl that it is her responsibility to allow boys to concentrate on their schoolwork rather than on them is telling them that they should feel guilty for having a body. Confidence should be rewarded, not shunned. Of course there’s a limit, but women of all ages have a right to feel happy in their own skin and no one should have the right to tell her that by wearing those kinds of clothes, she is a distraction to the people around her. Doesn’t it make sense to teach boys to keep their eyes to themselves rather than to tell girls to her their bodies? If a girl is comfortable with her own body then isn’t that something we should be supporting? Why should we shame a person who has enough confidence to show off their body in public? If I feel confident in an outfit, I’m going to wear it no matter what a dress code says. Dress codes are perpetuating rape culture and oppressive objectification towards women. Men are never told that their legs, arms, or stomachs are a problem for other people. They are seen as human and very rarely seen as something there for your sexual exploits. I am a fifteen year old girl. If you are sexualizing me, YOU are the problem.
Similar Articles
JOIN THE DISCUSSION
This article has 2 comments.