Dress Codes: The Negative Impact They Have on Students
High school can be challenging-even more so when students are forced to follow an unattainable and unrealistic dress code. That’s what I had to do for my first few years at high school. It is frustrating to constantly be thinking about whether what you are wearing is something that will get you in trouble or not, even though outside of school the outfit you have on is something you are perfectly comfortable in. This causes unnecessary anxiety and stress which can be harmful to students. What many school districts fail to understand is that the dress codes implemented are actually unhelpful and can detract from a student’s sense of self.
McDermott says that when dress codes are made too political, and teach kids that the way other people judge them is more important than what they want or would choose to wear. When students are constantly being told what they can or can’t wear to school, it can subconsciously imply that their opinions and how they choose to showcase their own uniqueness, is somehow unimportant. Instead, it implies that what is truly important is that everyone complies to all the rules so no one will bat an eye or judge you for wearing the clothing that is comfortable for you. These attitudes teach that the most important thing is to follow all the rules and to conform and agree to all authority, when the opposite is true. It is necessary that people know how to stand up for themselves and to be able to discern what is right or wrong. If students aren’t even allowed to make their own decisions about what clothing they wear, how will they be able to make decisions about way more important subjects?
Some people might argue that dress codes can demonstrate professionalism and can teach the students to respect rules. Arguing that dress codes are a small preparation for whatever workplace they will enter in the future. The logic here is understandable, but not entirely accurate or well-founded. It is possible to be completely professional without losing your own sense of self. Professionalism does not equal complete uniformity, and individuality is still important. Some people may also say how it is important to keep nudity and indecency out of schools, especially for high schools because the majority of students are under 18 years old. And that dress codes keeps schools more organized, implementing a more formal learning manner. Not only that, but also they teach respect and modesty for professional success in the future This is a valid point, however, most dress codes that exist have rules that go far beyond “preventing nudity and indecency.” For example, most of these policies prohibiting things like spaghetti straps, shorts, or even leggings. While these items are not always the most professional articles of clothing there is nothing inherently modest about them. A formal learning manner is not always best for every student. There are many different ways to learn, and some students do so best, when they are more relaxed and comfortable. This attitude can hint that the most important thing is how one looks from the outside. As long as you look like you are good respectful student that’s all that matters, not how much you are learning, or the quality of your character.
Kneia finds that girls and students of color receive more punishment for dress code infractions than other groups. People remember that type of embarrassment. Students feel as though they must continuously conceal aspects of themselves in order to be accepted, which makes them uncomfortable in their own skin. Furthermore, that stress doesn't go away after a single warning, as it accumulates, school becomes a place where pupils feel condemned rather than encouraged. This also applies to clothing that is for religious purposes. If schools disallow students from wearing clothing for religious purposes, it could be argued that it is a violation of their right to freedom of religion.
There is plenty of clothing types that should not be allowed to be worn in school simply because it is too vulgar or revealing. However, many of these dress codes take the rules to the complete other side, making rules that are far to strict and limit a students ability to rightfully express themselves. Most students are fully aware of what is appropriate to wear to school and what is not. They don’t need a long list of rules to tell them what is and is not okay. What students really need is a place where they feel comfortable and confident and a place that makes it easy to learn. It causes so much anxiety when you constantly have to be worrying about whether your teacher will send you to the office for “inappropriate clothing” and your receive a dress code violation. And when this happens, the material being taught is much less likely to be retained. Schools need to care more about how much their students are learning and achieving and less about the length of their shorts or sleeves.
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