Dress code concerns seem to become a bigger issue each year. Yet the more the policy is pushed, the more I’d argue it steers education away from the actual fundamentals of attending school: learning and obtaining an education. 

Most say dress codes exist to establish the safety of students, promote professionalism, and create a focused learning environment. Yet over the years, these policies have completely contradicted themselves. I believe that they create stigmas against women, even allowing others to believe that women’s bodies are inherently inappropriate and distracting. While dress codes seem to me to be far too targeted towards women, these issues only begin to scratch the surface of dress code-related problems.

For example, the ”Fluvanna County High School Standards of Student Conduct” states, “Examples of prohibited clothing include, but are not limited to: Sagging or low-cut pants, low-cut necklines that show cleavage, tube tops, halter tops, backless blouses or blouses with only ties in the back, clothing constructed of see-through materials.”  

While this passage shows that girls have many different limitations, it seems that boys hardly have any, while these limitations can cause many girls, such as myself, to feel suffocated or uncomfortable. Instead, we should be able to express ourselves confidently and feel comfortable doing so. 

I’m not totally anti-dress code. In fact, I think the dress code itself is a wonderful idea. School dress codes set an example of how to dress in a professional setting, as it is important for students to know the expectations when going into the workplace. But I’d argue that it should only be applied in more equitable ways. I’m not alone in this view. 

“During my time at school, I’ve noticed that with all the dress code changes and the more years I’ve been attending school, most rule changes towards dress code have been directed towards the female students rather than everyone as a whole,” said senior Taylor Marin. 

Studies show that even dress codes themselves are not proven to help or improve students’ abilities to learn in the classroom. Although the idea of a dress code may be beneficial and promote professionalism, in many cases, dress codes only create strife between students and staff. Many students view these policies as unnecessary, unfair, and therefore do not take them seriously. 

On the other hand, there are definitely positive ways to have a school dress code. One example would be to require students to wear uniforms and have rules targeting both male and female students. Another would be for students and staff to collaborate to find a middle ground for creating a more positive dress environment.

“I do believe that there is a better way to go about setting a dress code for the students, and that if students and staff came together to create a fair dress code, it could create an environment where teens and pre-teens can express themselves, but also in a professional, productive way,” said Marin.