THE REALITY OF HIGH SCHOOL DRESS CODES
By Haley Brettschneider
Ever since I was a young girl, I have expressed myself through fashion. Whether I was taking design classes or researching famous female fashion designers, I felt an instant passion and connection to clothing. I craved the satisfying feeling I would get when my peers would compliment an outfit I designed and put together all by myself. Although when I entered high school, I was not prepared for the judgment that came.
I will never forget my older sister sitting me down before my first day of high school telling me that “I should be careful wearing clothing with low cuts as boys will find it distracting.” I was quite taken aback by this statement as I never believed my fashion choices would be analyzed to that degree. But my sister was totally correct and that was the rude awakening of being a teenage girl. The clothing you wear defines how people see you, and wearing “inappropriate clothing” labels you as a “slut.” Not your personality, morals, and views, but the simple fabric you put on your body.
“ that was the rude awakening of being a teenage girl. The clothing you wear defines how people see you, and wearing “inappropriate clothing” labels you as a “slut.” Not your personality, morals, and views, but the simple fabric you put on your body.”
It was a cloudless September day of my sophomore year of high school and I assumed my normal routine of skipping through the halls with my friend during our G block free period until I was approached by the dean of students. With a friendly smile and a laptop in hand, he asked me to come to see him in his office. This was not out of the ordinary and I was not remotely anxious until I saw my male faculty advisor and lacrosse coach sitting in his office. My palms immediately were immersed in sweat and my brain was flooded with thoughts as to why I was in trouble.
Never would I have ever thought that I would be getting a lecture on “the provocative outfits” I had been wearing to school by two male faculty teachers. I felt embarrassed and so exposed. I felt eyes on me everywhere as my dean of students associated me with “shirts too low” and “dresses too short”. I was powerless in the situation and the only thing I could do was nod my head politely and quietly tug at the bottom of my jean skirt. I remember leaving the meeting feeling broken and dehumanized. I felt my teachers were tearing my limbs off and picking apart every aspect of my appearance. Of course, I did not want to be known as a girl who wore revealing clothing to school but at the same time why are men allowed to dictate what females wear. This is the culture we MUST change. Men have no right to exert superiority over women with regards to the clothing they wear. It is time to rise above the social norms and stand up for what is right.