Why Comply?
Empowering youth to combat outdated dress codes
Written and Illustrated by Ava McNarney, Assistant Fashion Editor
Photographed by Hannah Huber, Assistant Photography Director
Modeled by Emily Kriner-Woodworth
Backless, halter, strapless and spaghetti strap shirts are strictly forbidden. Leggings are inappropriate unless covered by a long shirt or skirt. Make sure to measure the length of shorts or a skirt. Don’t even think about revealing bra straps or chest cleavage.
Wausau East High School’s dress code reflects the outdated coverage rules of many American high schools (Schulte, 2019). In 2019, a student was sent home for a dress that exposed her bra straps. The northern Wisconsin high school’s response to the incident created confusion and frustration that instigated discourse about dress codes across the United States. In the wake of pandemic-era dress expectations—or the lack of them—young people have sparked conversations on dress codes nationwide.
Ironically, the atmospheres that enforce dress codes are ideal spaces for exploring identity through fashion. As much as students might wish they didn’t care what others think, being surrounded by peers is one of their biggest motivators to improve one’s style. Dress codes can limit creativity and receiving punishment for a violation can destroy the fragile adolescent ego.
These rules could be beneficial if they were appropriately enforced and updated. In the best cases, dress codes’ professionalism can facilitate positive social behaviors and increase productivity. Enforcers should use them with the motive of promoting an inclusive and safe atmosphere, encouraging students and employees to perform their best (Dress Codes, 2022). Authorities’ intentions to prohibit graphic and offensive messages are not always bad, but such regulations are often too ambiguous and allow enforcers to target specific identities related to race, gender and sexual orientation (2022).
At odds with out-of-touch administrators, American youth face a decision: to comply or to reform? The best solution might be a combination of both. Updating outdated policies is possible, but getting rid of dress-related prejudices will take radical cultural change. Crop tops and exposed shoulders have created murmurs in countless American high schools that have grown into a revolutionary wave.
A recent dress code violation at a high school in West Bend, Wisconsin––a suburb of Milwaukee––initiated change amongst the school’s entire student body (Fiore, 2022). After advisors pulled a girl out of class for wearing a top that exposed her belly button, she called for a school board meeting and started a Change.org petition that currently has over 2,000 signatures. The school’s superintendent claimed that the school’s dress code was approved in 2018, but students say it has only been enforced within the past two months. This confusion raises the importance of standardized dress code administration.
Not only was the inconsistency of the school’s enforcements questionable, but so was the reasoning behind them. American public schools are federally banned from using dress codes to discriminate against certain students or censor student expression (Sherwin et al., 2022). Only female students at West Bend have recently been asked to change; are school administrators punishing male-presenting students for showing the same amount of skin? Probably not.
Moreover, dress codes disproportionately target female-presenting students of color, most often Black girls. They are 20 times more likely than their white counterparts to be suspended for any infraction, including dress code violations (Anspach, 2019). This is especially true for hair regulations; Black women and girls across the country are regularly asked to relax their hair or wear a straightened weave in professional settings (2022). Nobody should feel scrutinized for embracing their natural look. Changing these rules could stop harmful racial and gender stereotypes in their tracks (Sherwin et al., 2022).
Challenging biased dress codes can be seen as an opportunity for students and employees. They can work creatively to discover loopholes and structural errors in these rules, especially for privileged racial or gender identities. This unique form of activism is not limited to coverage or exposure of any body part or any particular article of clothing.
Anyone can stretch outdated dress codes by donning a loud makeup look or carrying a colorful tote instead of a run-of-the-mill backpack. Pins and stickers expressing your beliefs are a great idea too; public schools aren’t allowed to stop students from wearing their voices on their sleeves as long as they aren’t obscene or disruptive (Sherwin et al., 2022).
While the nature of our modern world demands that dress codes must be reevaluated and revolutionized, nobody should ever feel like they have to put themselves in an uncomfortable position for the movement, especially if they already feel targeted by dress expectations. Beyond deliberately altering their work or school attire, young people can make ripples of change by signing petitions like the one mentioned above, or, if especially bold, standing up to administrators in school board meetings.
The stereotypes that antiquated dress codes perpetuate are inextricably linked with regimes of bigotry. Millions of Americans depend on the revaluation of outdated rules to express themselves freely. The youth started this change and the youth will finish it.
Sources:
Anspach, R. (2019, Oct. 30). Inside the Black Girl-Led Movement Against Racist School Dress Codes. MIC.
Dress Codes – Top 3 Pros and Cons. (2022, May 6). ProCon.
Fiore, M. (2022, Sept. 12). West Bend Students Create Petition, Protest Enforcement of Dress Code. CBS 58.
Schulte, L. (2019, Sept.4). A Wausau Student Was Told to Cover Up Her Bra Straps; We Found That Wisconsin Dress Codes Still Target Girls. Wausau Daily Herald.
Sherwin, G., Morris, L. and Wachtel, E. (2022, Sept. 21). 4 Things Public Schools Can and Can’t Do When It Comes to Dress Codes. ACLU.