The Effects of Dress Codes in Schools
And the solutions to a more inclusive future
Feeling confident in your body is something that teachers and other adult figures try to instill in children during their school years. However, comments like “That skirt is distracting,” or “You should cover up,” became recurring statements in schools; these make students nervous, ashamed, and, overall, less confident. This results in imposing school dress codes, which have lasting effects on students’ confidence over the years.
Limitations on how short a pair of shorts can be or how much skin can be shown around a school have drawbacks:
- Victim blaming. When showing skin is described as a “distraction,” it makes young women, in particular, feel that if something were to happen to them while they were showing more skin, it would be their fault. This mentality blames the victim, and it is not a healthy point of view to keep up.
- It promotes gender stereotypes. School dress codes have also affected boys in the sense that who they are on the inside cannot manifest in their appearance at school. The prohibition of boys wearing nail varnish or growing their hair longer than neck length feeds into the concept that a man should only look a certain way. This affects the confidence of young schoolboys.
- Dress codes tend to target certain communities. LGBTQ+ youth struggle in settings where coming out is frowned upon. These prejudices are reinforced by exclusive dress codes. Natural curly black hair is considered “unprofessional” in many schools and even in the workforce. This stigma creates challenges for black students and their ability to feel comfortable in their identity.
So, with all the negativity in the school dress codes, how can they be altered to be more inclusive and less rejecting?
First, adults should be more aware of how they admonish students for a violation of the dress code; they should talk to the student in a way that does not make them feel deflated. Second, dress codes should not have rules against one’s ethnicity, religion, or sexual identity. Finally, schools should not try to shape every student into their idea of what an ideal student should look like. Self-expression should consistently be encouraged.
Clothing is the most effective form of self-expression. When an entire system of adult role models creates rules to forbid one from expressing themselves the way they wish to, then over time, a mental barrier of what is considered right and wrong is forced upon the student. This barrier affects students both physically and mentally well after their school years.
