Once the school year is in session, there are going to be inevitable social media posts about girls sent home from school due to dress code violations. School administrators will be accused of body shaming, school boards will be held accountable, and dress codes will be cited as unfairly targeting females and enabling rape culture to flourish. There may be actual cases where this is true, but sometimes, maybe, just maybe, things get blown way out of proportion by reactionaries to the cause.
Let me first start by saying that I do not think that the way a female dresses should in any way subject them to abuse, or unwanted attention and actions from others. I do not think dress codes should be used as a way to protect women from unwanted male attention, or to prevent males from being distracted. If an agency is using either of those as an excuse, they have put in place their rules for the wrong reasons. However, that being said, I think that dress codes can be appropriate in a school or professional setting.
If an organization feels a dress code is required, then they should do so because they want to project a certain image. Usually this means they want their employees or students to have a clean and neat appearance. In the case of construction or other blue collar jobs, it can be for safety reasons. Whether you work in banking or in construction, you would not wear a cocktail dress or tuxedo to work. It would not be appropriate, nor would it be comfortable, and in the case of construction, it would not be safe. Similarly, you would not wear a tank top, flip flops, and shorts to your great grandma's funeral service. You would not wear pajama bottoms and an old stained t-shirt to your brother's wedding. It would be inappropriate to do so.
I have noticed more so lately, that people are dressing down more and more. Whatever happened to dressing appropriately for the occasion? What you wear to a parade, picnic, or theme park should differ from what you wear to work or school. What you wear to lounge around the house should not be the same as what you wear to go out to eat at a fancy restaurant. A flowing halter top maxi-dress with strappy heeled sandals is perfect for a summer barbecue or pool party; it's not appropriate to send your 5-7 year old to school in such an outfit. It does not work for running on the playground or kicking a ball in gym. Such outfits are impractical and look absurd on small children.
This summer I went to a theme park. It was almost unbearably hot with temperatures hovering near the triple digits. I saw several women of varying ages, shapes, and sizes wearing just a bra and shorts. I am not talking about sports bras that can double as workout tops. I mean lacy, two straps with a clasp in the back, typically worn under your shirt type bras. I know it was hot, but just like I wouldn't want to see a man walking around in a t-shirt and underpants, I don't care to see a woman in her bra. I do not care your age, shape, or gender. I do not care to see your undergarments in public.
When I see the posts about girls being dress coded for wearing a tank top or shorts that were not fingertip length, or leggings instead of jeans or pants, I do not think there is anything inherently wrong with those outfits. It angers me when the excuse given is that boys will not be able to concentrate if girls dress that way. Another part of me though says, you know what? That outfit is perfect for weekends and evenings, but maybe not so much for school. Maybe you should dress a bit more business casual for what is essentially your job until graduation. Maybe you should dress more practically for your environment. I don't know, maybe I am just getting old, but I think that what you wear to school or work, no matter what or where that is, should be clean and neat, and appropriate for your environment.
