Over the past couple of weeks, the EMS YPAR team has been brainstorming and talking amongst ourselves about possible solutions to the sexual and racial discrimination that the dress code unintentionally embodies. We have read multiple articles on the subject to give us evidence as to why we need to see change. Our current dress code is misogynistic, sexist, racist, and unfair. We need change. The new changes would fit better with our community goals. Our community goals are that students are heard, seen, and respected. Students are currently feeling that their words are falling on deaf ears as they push for a more equitable dress code. Here are some articles and quotes that we have collected to strengthen our evidence as to why this dress code needs to be changed.
Peer-reviewed studies have found that school dress code violations unfairly target girls (Raby, 2010), students-of-color (Pavlakis & Roegman, 2018), and gender minorities (Kosciw, Greytak, Zongrone, Clark, & Truong, 2017). For example, Pavlakis & Roegman (2018) did a mixed-methods study of an urban high school where they surveyed 384 students and interviewed 13 teachers. Their findings indicated that Black males, Black females and multiracial females were more likely to be coded for dress code violations than white students. This proves that the dress code needs to be redesigned so that the biases of teachers can not affect the students.
Also, here’s what an 8th grader at EMS said: “I don’t think there should be a dress code because I feel like the dress code holds me back from being myself and I feel like I’m gonna get shamed for wearing what I really wanna wear, or get in trouble, and that’s not fair.”
The Anti-Defamation League did a study that found that “ (1) dress codes unfairly target girls and transgender students; (2) they send a message to girls that if they are harassed by boys, it is their fault; (3) they feel judged and shamed by the dress codes; and (4) that a different standard is applied to girls who are more curvy and developed than other girls” (ADL: What’s Fair and Unfair About Dress Codes). The Government Accountability Office did a study that found that “Black girls are often disciplined more harshly in school than their white peers, and dress codes seem to be part of the problem”).
It is obvious that the EMS dress code is a misogynistic tool that teaches compliance at its best and oppresses the marginalized groups in our society at its worst. If we truly want to create a school that follows the lofty goals of the Burlington School District in its continued work to create an equitable and inclusive school community, then making a bias-free dress code is a great first step.
The EMS YPAR Collective
NEW EMS DRESS CODE: Edmunds Middle School is committed to creating a positive learning environment for all students. The purpose of the EMS dress code is to promote a body-positive environment where all students are safe and feel welcome by upholding standards that foster a secure and equitable community. The purpose of the EMS dress code is to disrupt the marginalization or oppression of any group based on race, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religion, cultural observance, household income, or body type/size. The EMS dress code is designed to be “school functional”. This is defined as: Basic Principle: Certain body parts must be covered for all students at all times. Clothes must be worn in a way such that genitals, buttocks, breasts, and nipples are fully covered with opaque fabric. All items listed in the “must wear” and “may wear” categories below must meet this basic principle.
Students Must Wear: ● A Shirt (with fabric in the front and back), AND ● Pants/jeans or the equivalent (for example, a skirt, sweatpants, leggings, a dress or shorts), AND ● Shoes
Students May Wear: ● Hats must allow the face to be visible to staff, and not interfere with the line of sight of any student or staff, ● Hoodie sweatshirts (wearing the hood overhead is allowed, but the face must be visible to school staff), ● Fitted pants, including opaque leggings, yoga pants and “skinny jeans”, ● Pajamas, ● Ripped jeans, as long as underwear and buttocks are not exposed, ● Tank tops, ● Athletic attire, ● Visible waistbands on undergarments or visible straps on undergarments worn under other clothing.
Students Cannot Wear: ● Clothes with violent language or images, ● Images or language depicting drugs or alcohol (or any illegal item or activity) ● Hate speech, profanity, pornography, ● Images or language that creates a hostile or intimidating environment based on any protected class or consistently marginalized groups, ● Any clothing that reveals visible undergarments (visible waistbands and visible straps are allowed), ● Swimsuits (except as required in class or athletic practice), ● Accessories that could be considered dangerous or could be used as a weapon, ● Any item that obscures the face or ears (except as a religious observance).
Dress Code Enforcement: To ensure effective and equitable enforcement of this dress code, school staff shall enforce the dress code consistently using the requirements below. Students will only be removed from spaces, hallways, or classrooms as a result of a dress code violation as outlined above. Students in violation of the Basic Dress Code Principle and/or are in violation of the “Students Cannot Wear” section will be provided three (3) options to be dressed more to code during the school day: ● Students will be asked to put on their own alternative clothing, if already available at school, to be dressed more to code for the remainder of the day. ● Students will be provided with temporary school clothing to be dressed more to code for the remainder of the day. ● If necessary, students’ parents or guardians may be called during the school day to bring alternative clothing for the student to wear for the remainder of the day.
These dress code guidelines shall apply to regular school days and summer school days, as well as any school-related events and activities, such as graduation ceremonies and dances.
References
Kosciw, J. G., Greytak, E. A., Zongrone, A. D., Clark, C. M., & Truong, N. L. (2018). The 2017 National School Climate Survey: The Experiences of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Youth in Our Nation's Schools. Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN). 121 West 27th Street Suite 804, New York, NY 10001.
Pavlakis, A., & Roegman, R. (2018). How dress codes criminalize males and sexualize females of color. Phi Delta Kappan, 100(2), 54-58.
Raby, R. (2010). “Tank tops are ok but I don’t want to see her thong” Girls’ Engagements With Secondary School Dress Codes. Youth & Society, 41(3), 333–356.
