The way an individual dresses can say a lot about them. Conversely, the way an individual must dress says even more. It speaks of the environment that the individual comes from, including the expectations and the mood. This results from the environment’s established dress code, which holds a lot of power in schools and workplaces.
Rules that instruct individuals on the appropriate attire for a specific environment widely defines the phrase, “dress code.” Lexico describes a dress code as being, “[a] set of rules specifying the required manner of dress.” A dress code will be commonly found in formal settings, such as in schools and offices. The individuals in charge of establishing dress codes do so to, “promote learning, safety, and image,” according to The First Amendment Encyclopedia.
Despite the fairly innocent reasoning behind the existence of dress codes, many have challenged the actual content. Some find dress codes to be sexist and/or racist. In response to the former, some schools have endorsed gender-free dress codes that don’t single out females. Education Week detailed the views of dress codes in 2018, diving into whether or not they disproportionately impacted certain individuals. It also made the point that the disciplinary measures taken against a student who has violated the dress code can take away much-needed instructional time.
A few alternatives, or solutions, depending on one’s perspective, to the opposed school dress codes exist, such as school uniforms. Several schools utilize this option, such as the Wake Young Women’s Leadership Academy and the Research Triangle Charter Academy. Nevada Today conducted a study to assess the benefits of school uniforms. The study found that 50% of students in the observed middle schools stated that they felt that uniforms saved money and 41% felt that gang activity had been reduced. Dress codes used in offices could potentially act as another substitute. For example, schools could institute a business casual to create a more professional setting for students.
The way authorities dictate how individuals dress has yet to be perfected. In time, disparate treatment will hopefully be remedied to encourage truly equal schools.
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