twitter Star otuo @coffie 47
Anyone who has been inside of a high
school in the last five years has seen some interesting fashion choices
by today’s teenagers. Teachers are expected to teach to the tests, teach
students how to survive in the real world, personalize the curriculum
for IEP students of all levels, and still have their work graded within
twenty-four hours. And now? Some districts are adding another dimension:
dress code enforcement. Dress codes are an important part of school
culture, as they sometimes dictate whether or not a student can even
attend class. Some things make more sense when it comes to the dress
code: no short-shorts, no shirts with offensive sayings, and no pants
that sag too low. There are also some questionable additions to the
dress code, namely yoga pants, leggings, spandex running pants and other
clothing that fights tightly to the body. With the seemingly endless
stream of issues that American school teachers are responsible for this
begs the question, are yoga pants really the problem?
What’s the fuss about yoga pants?
Yoga
pants have really become a hot button topic among everyone from
teenagers to fashion’s biggest designers. The pants are made out of a
thin material that stretches and gives, which is why they’re comfortable
for people to wear. The pants are usually credited as flattering on
most body types because they cling to the legs and give definition where
there may not be any. The pants also can become sheer when someone
bends over, which is a chief complaint among the trend’s naysayers;
however, if they are the proper size, that may not be an
issue–especially with yoga pants, which tend to be thick. Many schools
are dealing with the dilemma of whether or not they are proper attire
for the classroom, and emotions run deep on both sides.
What sort of punishments can yoga pants get you in school?
Regulations vary
from school district to school district, but an increasing number of
them are outlawing yoga pants, leggings, and similar wear. The
punishments and ramifications also vary, but they usually involve a
request to change into either clothes brought by parents, or provided by
the school.
Ashley Crtalic published a well written letter in the Billings Gazette a
few weeks ago that raised some interesting points about her local high
school dress code, including a punishment that is increasingly popular
in public schools: public shaming and humiliation for not following the
dress code. Some schools have extra, extra large shirts that say “I
disobeyed the Dress Code,” or “Dress Code Reinforcement” on them,
showing everyone in the school that that person broke the rules.
Students have to either wear the shirt or have a parent bring in a spare
pair of clothes.
Alternnatively,
some schools will have their students sit in the office until parents
come in with a change of clothes. The concern with this is that today in
America, if a home does have two parents, they usually both work, so
requiring a parent to leave work in order to bring alternative clothing
to school can be a burden. These students are missing out on important
class time that they need, especially if they want to go onto
college–all because they wore yoga pants to school. Other punishments
range from detention, demerits, loss of privileges, and loss of
activities.
How are students fighting back?
Feminism
is reaching a whole new, younger audience thanks to social media
websites like Tumblr. It is through those platforms that people are
hearing more and more about these argued injustices. A 14-year-old student recently put up these posters over signs announcing her school’s dress code, protesting against them publicly and hoping to gain support.
Many school officials claim “distraction” is why these types of pants are banned. Students
have responded to that criticism with concerns of their own, however,
that such strict dress codes and punishments unduly distract female
students. If a female student has to sit in the classroom with an
embarrassing shirt on, or sit in the office waiting for a new outfit,
she is probably not able to pay full attention to her studies.
Students
who disagree with these dress codes argue that the distraction comes in
many forms–gossip, catcalling, attention, unwanted touching, or even
unwanted pictures. If it is as bad as has been reported at some schools,
it would be bordering on sexual harassment, which shouldn’t be
tolerated by any school. Those who stand against such dress restrictions
argue that part of the purpose of school is to prepare young people to
be functioning members of society, one of those things should be how to
properly function in public.
So, is banning yoga pants a good idea?
Some
argue that not allowing girls to wear yoga pants or leggings to school
is a way to keep them responsible for their own appearances, and provide
training for when they go into the real world. Girls won’t be allowed
to wear leggings or yoga pants to the office, and school is preparing
young adults to go out into the work force. Schools have banned pajamas,
basketball shorts, and sweatpants for students for similar reasons–they
aren’t the correct attire to wear in a professional
environment. Supporters argue that it’s not an attack on young women,
but rather a valuable teaching moment for students.
Other parents say that not allowing yoga pants or leggings in schools will cut down on the bullying and
taunting of other students, namely females. Many girls who are bigger
get made fun of for wearing leggings, especially if they cannot find
them in the correct size. There is also a question of classism within
leggings. Those who can afford the more expensive leggings are more
likely to not have a problem with the sheerer, cheaper variety.
Some of
the parents who are for banning yoga pants are in favor of
instituting a much stricter dress code overall for all students,
limiting them to shirts with collars and khaki pants. This works to
eliminate some of the label mongering that many schools face, as the
outfits will all be similar. It also prepares students for being
comfortable in what would be a business casual outfit in college or a
work place.
Case Study: Haven Middle School
The
administrators of Haven Middle School in Illinois told parents in
September that their daughters were no longer allowed to wear shorts,
leggings, or yoga pants to school because they were “too distracting.”
Parents fought against the rule because they didn’t think it was the
girls’ responsibility to stop boys from becoming distracted.
They
wrote a petition that 500 students went on to sign, claiming that the
rule was sexist. Some students wore yoga pants anyway, in protest. One
girl told the Evanston Review that, “Not being able to wear
leggings because it’s ‘too distracting for boys’ is giving us the
impression we should be guilty for what guys do.”
The parents are fighting back as
well, say that, “This kind of message lands itself squarely on a
continuum that blames girls and women for assault by men. It also sends
the message to boys that their behaviors are excusable, or
understandable given what the girls are wearing. We really hope that you
will consider the impact of these policies and how they contribute to
rape culture.”
As of publication time the dress code at Haven Middle School is still up for review.
Case Study: Skyview High School
When
the administrators of the small Billings, Montana high school decided
to add the following provision to the handbook over the summer, they
didn’t think it would cause a big problem: “Leggings, jeggings, and tights ARE NOT pants and must be worn with dress code appropriate shorts, skirts, dresses, or pants.”
But
it was a problem for many students, including one who went to the
school board and declared that they were shaming the women in the
school. “It’s completely sexist and misogynistic,” she said.
“This tells women that our bodies are something that need to be
hidden.” It is important to note that boys in the school were allowed to
wear sleeveless t-shirts as they are a part of their uniforms.
No
one has been sent home for violating the new code, but the principal
has said that she has asked students to put on a longer top or
sweatshirt. If they don’t have one, they can borrow one from the
office. By a week after the ban, 200 students wore yoga pants on the
same day.
Conclusion
Dress
codes do have a place in our public schools. It is the job of the
school district to prepare students for their best possible
futures–futures that probably don’t include wearing leggings or yoga
pants to the office. They are fine for gym class, for lounging around on
the weekends, but in school, the goal should be to learn, not be
comfortable. In fact, not allowing any sort of loungewear on the school
grounds is a great way to improve the wardrobe of students before they
go into college or the workforce. Let’s teach our kids how to dress for
success. As is currently the case of some dress codes or dressing
standards, schools are typically assuming that boys can’t pay attention
because of the way girls dress; however, we might not be giving either
party the benefit of the doubt. By high school, if schools have done
their jobs, our students should know how to act. If they don’t, then it
is up to principals, guidance counselors, teachers, or other male
students to have a meeting of the minds with these young men. This is a
topic that will continue to cause contention in our public schools as
districts deal with new trends and fads.
