You Need to Change!
Eisenhower High School has implemented a new dress code this year. This dress code has existed before but is now being heavily enforced. The dress code consists of shirts that must touch the top of your pants, the neckline of said shirts must be no lower than a straight line armpit to armpit. While I understand not wanting to have students walk around in swimsuits, I am positive that seeing a person's midriff does not make teenagers go feral. This dress code was not put in place to help students keep it in their pants or not to distract us from our work but created for the teachers not to get distracted. If you, an educator, an authority figure, a person kids look up to, can not focus with a student's midriff showing, then maybe you chose the wrong career.
While it may seem easy to find clothes that are not against the dress code, boy, would you be wrong. Trying to find clothes that comply with the dress code is out of the question. Not every student can afford to buy a new wardrobe that goes with the dress code. However, if the administration is against crop tops and shirts that go lower than our armpits, we will all gladly accept free wardrobes.
Not only is being pulled out of class humiliating, but it also affects our learning. We get limited time with our teachers in class, and it is compromised because we are “distracting,” which is nothing but outrageous and a violation of our rights as students.
I and many others come to school to learn not to be objectified by authorities. This dress code is not only targeted toward feminine students but also feeds into rape culture that is just all too common these days. We are told from a young age that we should be covered to not turn others on. When it comes to rape, the most common question is, “Well, what were they wearing?”. Does that change the situation at all? No, it does not; it simply points blame at the victim. I say we create a new dress code, one where students are not forced to go out and buy all new clothes for the school year. One that does not target the more feminine students. One that will be easy for all students to follow.
