Task 4: What do I believe in?

Dress Code Decoded

Over the years dress code has made such a great association with school that it gives the inaccurate impression that dress code is an integral part of student life and success. While policies vary in specifics, they generally target unprofessional and “inappropriate” clothing. These policies are supposedly in place to provide a better learning experience for students. Advocates of dress code insist the policy protects students from the likes of teasing and bullying, “distractions,” and unprofessionalism. When put this way, it may seem like there are nothing but benefits to be reaped from the policy. As a student who has been subject to dress code policies varying in degrees of severity, however, I can attest to the negative costs for students associated with this practice, which include financial costs, limit to expression, and discrimination. 

Dress codes can vary from unenforced regulations to strict uniforms, which is why they can be such a controversial topic. More strict dress codes can require students to shop from specific stores and wear specific materials, which are often much more expensive. This can cause strain at home for children who come from low-income homes or have body image issues. Built up negativity surrounding clothing can create resentment against school and its other necessary policies. I also think that although schools are professional institutions, for high schools and levels of education below that, school should maintain a casual atmosphere, where students are comfortable in their learning environment, including the clothes that they are wearing. Students should be comfortable in expressing who they are in every way available to them, especially since they are at such a fragile age where they need the room to experiment and discover themselves. Dressing themselves also allows students to open their minds to and accept different styles of dressing, which would make their school experience one that encompassed growth in character and not just knowledge. Acceptance seems to be an area of difficulty for schools with dress codes, which seems to cause the greatest problems for marginalized members of the  students body, such as females and those of different sexual identities. With the great variety in female clothing, many female students’ clothes can be deemed as inappropriate because of the over-sexualization female that is so deeply engrained in our society and culture. Often this is cited as the primary reason for a dress code. Hidden in the dress code is heteronormative culture that discriminates against those of varying gender identities, by only considering the majority of the population. Culture and people have evolved, as should the policies that effect them.

Dress code is an outdated and unnecessary policy that stirs up more controversy and trouble for students than the policy’s few, unsubstantiated benefits are worth. Perhaps if supporters of dress code could understand the added strain dress code policy puts on students through financial costs, limit to expression, and discrimination, they would realize that school policies needs to continuously be adapting to better serve students as time progresses. School boards, like the Peel District School Board, who have allowed use of technology in classes for several years now are leading the way for more traditional school boards like the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board, which had previously refused to adopt its policy to better accommodate student needs. Hopefully in the future, school policy regarding dress code will be adapted to better accommodate the needs of students, especially those who receive the brunt of its negative effects.