One of the most talked about controversies in high schools is dress codes. In another class, I had to take a stance on my opinion of dress codes and write what I thought by providing supporting evidence. I would like to share this to my blog because I feel it relates to the content of my research paper when discussing how women are suppose to be “covered up” yet revealing and sexy at the same time.

Wardrobe Choices

“Your shorts are too short; your shirt is too revealing; you must go home and change into something more appropriate.” Statements similar to these are what teens hear from peers, administrators, and teachers on a daily basis. It’s the 21st century, is a dress code necessary anymore? “The Battle Over Dress Codes,”  written by Peggy Orenstein, does a phenomenal job of explaining using explicit details and opinions why a dress code is unnecessary. Orenstein rules that dress codes are not the correct enforcement for why or how people should choose their attire. Due to her findings, schools create a dress code more pointed towards women to ensure her wardrobe is not a distraction to the others around. Women should not feel shame in what they decide to wear every day, but also, women should not be considered a target to a male. In my opinion, I agree with Orenstein’s claims which state, “Girls, particularly those with ample hips or breasts, are almost exclusively singled out, typically told their outfits will ‘distract boys.’ As if young men cannot control themselves in the presence of a spaghetti strap” (1).  A dress code should not be pertinent in today’s society anymore because it is not the correct way to keep from distracting others. It is an individual’s choice what she decides to wear on a particular day because it represents them as individual and how they want to be categorized.

In the article “The Battle Over Dress Codes,” Orenstein begins by relating dress code enforcements to her fifth grade daughter who wore short-shorts to school one day. A classmate’s mother commented, “She won’t be able to wear those next year. They won’t pass the dress code” (1). Orenstein thought to herself, “A dress code? In middle school?” Yes, a dress code that requires a ruler to be brought out to measure the width of a girl’s tank top, and the length of her shorts. Orenstein claims that a dress code is only enforced to prevent wandering eyes because staff in schools believe that what girls decide to wear is distracting to others, especially boys. Therefore, a dress code to keep other’s eyes off is needed. However, the pressure young women face, according to Orenstein, is concerning because women are forced to view their bodies as desirable objects. Orenstein backs up her remark by including a report from the 2007 American Psychological Association on the sexualization of girlhood, which links self-objectification to poor self-esteem, depression, body dissatisfaction and compromised cognitive function. All in all, Orenstein states that, “Telling girls to “cover up” just as puberty hits teaches them that their bodies are inappropriate, dangerous, violable, subject to constant scrutiny and judgement, including by the adults they trust. Nor does it help them understand culture’s role in their wardrobe choices” (3).

While reading Orenstein’s argument about why dress codes are not the correct way to enforce the rules, I reminisced about the way a dress code is enforced at Edgar High School. If one takes a stroll through the hallways in the school, they will notice the dress code posters displayed. There are several more rules for girls than boys on the posters and in the handbook. Also, in class I have witnessed a female student get scolded at for the length of her shorts, but the male sitting next to her, who was wearing a hat and pants almost down to his knees revealing his underwear, was never rebuked. Therefore, based on one of the many experiences I have witnessed in the Edgar School District, I would agree with Orenstein when saying that dress codes are more targeted toward women compared to men.

However, are women asking for attention? Do females dress in a certain way to, indeed, attract the men and become objects of desire? Or is the 21st century culture making it extremely difficult for teens, especially, to dress in a way that represents them? In my opinion, I think that a dress code is not necessary for schools because the style in today’s world is constantly changing making “appropriate” clothing more difficult to find. When walking into a clothing store in the mall, the length of shorts sold for women are about as long as their underwear. Unless an individual is shopping in a “Bermuda shorts only store,” the chances of finding fashionable shorts that are not considered short-shorts are slim to none. As Orenstein points out, “Fashions catering to girls emphasize body consciousness at the youngest ages – Gap offers skinny jeans for toddlers, Target hawks bikinis for infants. Good luck finding anything but those itty-bitty shorts for your 12-year-old” (2). She makes a relatable claim because, yes, it is not easy to find anything but skinny jeans, bikinis, and short shorts from personal experience. However, some women take style to a new level when staying with the up to date trends.  For instance, when a five-foot, nine inch junior, who wedged into three inch shorts, struts past a huddle of boys, did she intentionally buy those extra short shorts to grab attention, or does her seize and height of her make them appear differently? All in all, even though the styles are constantly changing and appropriate attire is more difficult to find, I do not think a dress code is the correct way to enforce the right clothing.  It is the individual’s choice about what they presume to wear.

Orenstein’s article about “The Battle Over Dress Codes” has made me more aware of the pressure women face when it comes to wardrobe choices and how they could be distracting to men. During school one day, I witnessed a female wearing a dress that happened to be bunched up under her backpack; therefore her entire butt cheek was exposed. The gentlemen next to me exclaimed, “Oh my God! Do you see that?” Yes, I saw it, how could anybody miss that? Not only was her dress not long enough in the back, but it was also extremely low-cut in the front, in my opinion. Now, even though I believe it is one’s choice on what she decides to wear on a daily basis, I think that several women do choose their attire only to get the attention of the opposite sex. According to Orenstein, “…for today’s girls, sexy appearance has been firmly conflated with strong womanhood and at even younger ages…” (3). I agree with her words because looking at my younger sibling and cousins, they are taught not only by their peers, but from television and the world around them that being categorized as sexy is a good thing, especially coming from a male’s point of view. Therefore, girls learn that being desirable is more important than understanding their own desires and needs, which leads women to dress in a more provocative way.

“So where does that leave schools?” as Orenstein questions, “With a mandate to educate- not stigmatize- students” (3). A dress code is not needed in a school environment because people should have the opportunity to wear whatever they decide and not be worried about others desires, wants, or judgmental remarks. Because women are targeted more when it comes to a dress code, due to, as Orenstein claims, “their distracting outfits,” I believe that schools should reevaluate their rules and discontinue dress codes. Dress codes are not the correct way to enforce fewer distractions because, overall, in my opinion, a wardrobe choice is an individual’s choice, no one else’s.

Orenstein, Peggy. “The Battle Over Dress Codes.” The New York Times, 13 June 2014.

Web. 23 Oct. 2015. Web.