The Dress Code is Unfair to Females!
October 9, 2018
You’re probably familiar with the West dress code and how strict it is, but did you know that it is a district-wide dress code? That’s right! It is not just middle school students that these rules apply to. The elementary and high schools also suffer from dress code rules. We did some research to see what students and adults think of the dress code.
We feel strongly that the dress code targets girls and some of the rules are unfair. We heard from some current West students and one 6th grader made it a point that not all girls are comfortable in wearing clothes that follow those guidelines.
Principal Mr. Smiley, and Vice Principal Mrs. Hammoud, both understand that not all girls and boys are the same shapes and sizes. They understand that some shorts are shorter on some people. However, we haven’t seen the rules change.
The student handbook states that shorts need to be fingertip length. This could be hard for some people because of the shape of their body. Many kids at West have had issues with this because it’s hard to find the perfect pair of shorts that fit you.
Mrs. Hammoud addressed how students should dress modestly because when you get older, the workplace also has a dress code.
Kyle Dani, another 7th grader at West, expressed, “I worry about wearing hats and hoods. I don’t’ think that rule is fair.” Grace Cheetam, a seventh grader, said, “Not many parts of the dress code apply to boys. We [girls] can’t wear shorts or spaghetti straps. There aren’t a lot of shorts out there that are in style that fit the dress code. There are athletic shorts that are long enough but are not passed fingertip length. “
We can see the difference of concerns between genders. We understand that clothing is very different within the two. Female students have to be extra careful with the dress code. This is not fair.
We agree that students come to school to learn, but students, especially female students spend a lot of their energy worrying about if they are going to be sent to the office.
We understand that coming to school in spandex short shorts are not acceptable, but middle schoolers want to wear what they feel good in.
Dress codes do set rules and some aspects and boundaries the can help you make appropriate clothing decision for when you’re older. However, we feel there should be a change. Ava a 7th grader at West explained, “I have had issues with the dress codes, but now I take extra care with what I wear”.
Banana. • Mar 16, 2021 at 9:53 am
I agree with this article, I think it’s good to have some sort of dress code but girls get dress coded all the time for small things. I have never seen a boy get dress coded and it’s so annoying. The dress code is also unfair to a lot of dresses because they are usually short, it’s starting to get really annoying.
Emily Dancy • Mar 1, 2021 at 1:11 pm
I got dress coded in kindergarten bc my shoulders were showing
A Nonny Mouse • Dec 6, 2019 at 12:54 pm
The dress code needs to be revised with logic in mind. Boy’s rules need to change, how come they can wear tank tops? Explain that. And why do they get to wear whatever length shorts they want?! The world isn’t going to end if a girl has a little shoulder showing.
Uknown • Mar 28, 2019 at 7:55 pm
the dress code is stupid and females need to be more careful then guys do. last year I wore a tank top that fit the dress code 3 finger length but because it had a big knot in the back I got dress coded but in the winter I wore a long sleeve shirt with the back out and it was fine…. what I want to know is why it is only in the beginning and towards the end of the year that teachers start worrying about dress code or why Mrs. Kozler has her own type of dress code at times and it is annoying
unknown • Feb 22, 2019 at 12:29 pm
Hey, I’m back. Once again this is outrageous and we need to fix this issue immediately so girls can feel equal to boys, or we need to make it the same for boys. I know this is bias but its the truth. Thank you and Goodbye.
unknown • Feb 22, 2019 at 11:57 am
this is so true. one time I almost got dress coded for wearing shorts that were too short, but my sweater was long enough. I don’t think that it is really fair. Also, I don’t understand why we can’t show our shoulders. Are the teachers scared of shoulders? Even if they are they need to get over that ridiculous fear because it gets really hot in the summer and sometimes that is all that people have. They shouldn’t expect us to wear shorts to our knees and long sleeves. We need to be able to express ourselves however we want. Thank you for letting me go on a rant about how dumb the dress code is.
Lizzy Gutkowski • Nov 9, 2018 at 12:39 pm
It feels like girls are being targeted for the dress code.
Anna Teslak • Nov 9, 2018 at 12:27 pm
Why? What’s wrong with the dress code? It’s not against girls, just the clothes marketed towards them. It’s reasonable. I agree that students should be comfortable at school, but that doesn’t mean that people should come to school naked just because clothes are uncomfortable.
Parker Foley • Oct 10, 2018 at 12:13 pm
I agree with this article