It’s no secret that school dress codes often lean toward the sexist side. A quick glance at any school’s dress code will typically reveal extensive guidelines for girls and only a brief mention of what’s deemed acceptable for boys. But is it really necessary to cover the shoulders of a five-year-old who dares to wear a spaghetti strap dress to school?
When Tom Henderson picked up his daughter from kindergarten last week, he was taken aback to see her clad in a t-shirt over her sundress. To add to the surprise, she was also wearing jeans underneath. Tom had packed an extra outfit in case she got cold, but his daughter was determined to sport her new sundress, so he let her go for it.
The school district’s dress code explicitly states that “Students are not to wear clothing that is tight, loose, sagging, baggy, revealing, spaghetti-strap, backless, low-cut or short.” However, Tom didn’t anticipate that such rules would be enforced on a five-year-old. In a blog post detailing the experience on Cervical Insemination, he argues, “Every school dress code that isn’t a strict uniform is about policing girls and girls only.” While some might argue that he should have followed the rules, his concerns about the dress code’s vagueness are valid; it seems designed to shame girls at the discretion of whoever is enforcing it.
Key Points from the Dress Code
- Shorts and Skirts: Must fit at the waist or upper hip, should not reveal underclothing, and must be mid-thigh or longer.
- Tops and Blouses: Should not reveal underclothing, midsection, torso, back, chest, breasts, or cleavage.
- Dresses: Must not reveal underclothing or any part of the midsection, torso, back, chest, or cleavage, and must also be mid-thigh in length or longer.
These guidelines may appear reasonable at first glance, but they leave very few options for girls. Especially the tops, which must not reveal anything at all. So, what’s left for girls? Turtlenecks and high-neck t-shirts? In all honesty, how many shirts in your wardrobe don’t show a hint of your back, chest, or the occasional errant bra strap?
As someone who developed early, I can relate to the fact that the same outfit can look entirely different on different bodies. My childhood friend, who was tall and slim without any curves, could wear the same outfit I did and appear more “modest,” simply because she didn’t have the same body type. Clothes have always fit differently for me, especially since kids’ clothing often doesn’t accommodate curves. Why are we teaching young girls to feel ashamed about their bodies, even from such a young age? Covering the shoulders of a five-year-old?
Tom correctly points out that the obsession with policing young girls for showing any skin is troubling. He states, “The idea that a girl with too much skin showing, or who develops early, somehow invites comments about her purity or even worse, assault, is a serious concern.” Unfortunately, he is not alone in his fears. Numerous incidents have surfaced over the past year that illustrate this issue. For instance, nearly 200 girls received detention at a New Jersey high school for wearing tank tops in a building without air conditioning. In another case, a Utah student was prohibited from wearing a dress that showed her shoulders to a high school dance. Additionally, 30 female students were sent home from a Canadian high school last year for showing a glimpse of their bra straps under their tank tops.
Tom’s questioning of a dress code that reprimands young girls for displaying the slightest bit of their bodies is warranted. We should all ponder why there is such an eagerness to police our daughters’ appearances so strictly.
To dive deeper into related discussions, check out this insightful article on body image. As parents, it’s essential to advocate for a more balanced perspective on how we approach dress codes and body positivity.
Summary
In a heartfelt blog post, Tom Henderson shares his frustrations about a school dress code that penalizes his five-year-old daughter for wearing a spaghetti strap dress. Highlighting the inherent sexism in school dress codes, he questions the need to police young girls’ bodies. With various troubling incidents surfacing around similar issues, it’s crucial for parents to challenge these outdated norms.
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