There seems to be a lot of controversy about uniforms and the dress codes. I go to a private Catholic school so I understand what is happening around. Girls seem to get in trouble a lot more for the dress code than boys. I am not saying boys don’t get in trouble, but girls tend to get the shorter end of stick when it comes to what they wear whether their shorts are not to the knee, they wear yoga pants, or they wear a low cut shirt. They get in trouble because it “turns” the guy on research has said.
There is a documentary about a school called Woodford County High and shows the difference between the girls and boy when it comes to their dress code violations. Many girls were sent home and had to come back with different clothing. Sometimes the office would give the girls a different shirt that said “dress code violator.” Let alone girls are being body shamed for it saying they are going to become a slut later in life by wearing this now.
This is not fair. We need to stick up for other girls when we see it. We should be advocating for those and standing up for what is right in the school system. Teachers and principles have no right to treat boys and girls differently for their uniforms. Many parents do not know what is happening at these schools unless it is their child. We need to call this to action and step up for what is right.
Brooklyn,
My name is Danielle and I go to lafayette elementary school, in colorado, and I’m 11, and I think this text shows what is happening to girls and school uniforms, and I respectfully agree with you. I don’t wear uniforms to school, but I am writing a paper about school uniforms so, I agree.
Brooklyn,
This topic really interested me because it is different than anything on Youth Voices and its so relatable. You said that girls more frequently get in trouble for their dress code and I completely agree with that statement. There has been times where I have been called into the office for “giving myself the wrong image” with what I wear. Clothing is an expression of yourself and although we have to wear uniforms, I think individuality is important. I can’t wait to hear more from you because I am very interested in your argument.
Brooklyn,
I think this is a really interesting topic, and I also recently made a post about it. One of the articles I looked at was this one https://www.motherhoodthetruth.com/school-uniforms-destroying-body-image/ that a mother wrote about her daughter’s school uniform damaging her self esteem, which I think is a huge problem with uniforms. I think uniforms often feminize and only cater to a certain body type, one which most people do not have. As someone who has had trouble finding well fitting and flattering clothes since a very early age, only to be forced into a school uniform myself that does not cater positively to anything that looks good on me, I feel discouraged wearing a uniform and am anxiously awaiting the next time I can trade in my khakis for jeans, not because I don’t like the color or anything, but because of the fit schools make us buy uniforms in. This is a problem that I think really needs to be addressed, and not for any superficial reasons, but because I firmly believe that uniforms damage body image.
Brooklyn,
I am really inspired by this post because I am doing my senior project on gender norms in schools and this is a very popular topic. I too think that girls are more discriminated than boys regarding dress codes and it is still happening today which is really bothering. You are right, there needs to be a way to talk about this especially in schools and at home.
Brooklyn I found your post to be very compelling and I agree with the issue at hand. I attend a Catholic, private school as well and I have personally experienced this issue from the school’s administration. Here is another article about school dress codes body-shaming girls that I think you would find interesting: https://www.cnn.com/2017/05/30/health/school-dress-codes-body-shaming-girls-parenting/index.html
Brooklyn, I am astonished by your post. I like how you bring up the points about girls getting body shamed for what they wear and how boys get in trouble less for dress code than girls. I agree with your post because I saw this same issue in our public high school. A girl’s group in my school decided to confront admin at our school in a meeting on how bias they were being on dress code for boys and girls, and eventually they started to have the same expectations for boys and girls. These past three years we have had more freedom in how we choose to dress like. Your post helped me recall this accomplishment in our school. I want to thank you for writing about this topic!
Brooklyn, I really like this post! I think in today’s society, girls are often given stricter rules regarding dress code in comparison to boys, and this strips them of the opportunity to truly express themselves. However, I think that schools have the right to promote an appropriate dress code within the school system; they should just work on consistency and strictness for BOTH genders!
Brooklyn, I agree that girls are more subjective to being dress coded more often than guys. Girls have every right to wear what they want, just like guys. I do understand that some people have a different view on what is considered ‘modest’, which is why I believe it is harder for girls to wear what they want.