Throughout my life, I can confidently say that every female close to me, myself included, has been called a slut before. Although a lot of these experiences never happened to me at my high school, I now realized the subtleties set in place to make girls feel insecure and ashamed. I went to an all girls k-12 private school where starting in high school, we would have mixed classes with our brother all boys private school down the street.
The school had rules, but after graduating I truly begun to see the underlying message set in place through the dress code. According to the administration, we did not need a uniform because students should have the freedom to "express themselves". That being said, skirts and shorts could not be higher than 6 inches above the knee. Spaghetti straps, halter tops, and anything backless was not allowed, and straps had to be two fingers in width. The student body challenged these rules, and as a consequence for breaking them were forced to change into a horrendous article of clothing that members of faculty had bought for the specific purpose of shaming you. We were often told that the dress code was put in place so that we "would not distract the boys". Although I didn't understand how my shoulder would distract someone while following a lesson in a classroom, there was nothing I could do about it.
This kind of message is reiterated to girls in all levels. We are told at a young age to not distract boys with what we wear. The Daily Mail talks about an incident at a university where a police office told female students that they could avoid sexual assault by not dressing like "sluts". This message not only reinforces mail dominance, but teaches women that they are objects and potentially responsible for their own abuse. I understand the reason behind a dress code, but think that schools should reevaluate their purpose. The way that women deserve to be treated goes beyond what they wear.
Course Reference: Armstrong, E.A., Hamilton, L.T., Seeley J.L. (2014). "Good girls." In Andersen, M. L., & Collins, P. H. (2019). Race, class, and gender: intersections and inequalities (pp 196-218). Boston, MA: Cengage.
The school had rules, but after graduating I truly begun to see the underlying message set in place through the dress code. According to the administration, we did not need a uniform because students should have the freedom to "express themselves". That being said, skirts and shorts could not be higher than 6 inches above the knee. Spaghetti straps, halter tops, and anything backless was not allowed, and straps had to be two fingers in width. The student body challenged these rules, and as a consequence for breaking them were forced to change into a horrendous article of clothing that members of faculty had bought for the specific purpose of shaming you. We were often told that the dress code was put in place so that we "would not distract the boys". Although I didn't understand how my shoulder would distract someone while following a lesson in a classroom, there was nothing I could do about it.
The New Indian Express. (2019, September 17). Policing young women and creating hostile spaces. Retrieved from https://www.newindianexpress.com/opinions/2019/sep/17/policing-young-women-and-creating-hostile-spaces-2034664.html
Course Reference: Armstrong, E.A., Hamilton, L.T., Seeley J.L. (2014). "Good girls." In Andersen, M. L., & Collins, P. H. (2019). Race, class, and gender: intersections and inequalities (pp 196-218). Boston, MA: Cengage.
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