ipl-logo

Why Do Dress Codes Respond To Gender Discrimination?

663 Words3 Pages

Dress codes are another area where gender discrimination seems like it should be easy to address. The initial thought is to remove any aspects that reference the clothing of only one gender. This does not fix the underlying problem however. Many dress codes, the way they are explained, and the way they are enforced, are based on sexist beliefs (Raby, 2010). Girls who dress in what is deemed inappropriate clothing are labelled as problematic and inviting of the abuse. School counselors can work during the development of dress codes to limit the “slut shaming” and gendered language that can lead to these beliefs. This cause may be more easily fought for by male counselors (Coulter, 1995) but female counselors should not be discouraged from making …show more content…

Unfortunately again, this does not prevent it from happening. In these situations, school counselors may not hear about the problematic aspects until a student or multiple students complain. By the time it gets to this point, students are often upset and angry (Sadker & Sadker, 1994). It is tempting to take the student’s side immediately, but school counselors need to be cautious. It is important that school counselors address any issues of gender discrimination or sexism in a professional manner. The school counselor needs to maintain positive working relationships with teachers and administrators at their school. In cases when students are critical of a teacher’s teaching style and accuses them of gender discrimination, the best course of action is for the school counselor to gather as much information from different sources in order to assess the problem (Stone, 2013). They can then go to the teacher themselves or to the administration to work out a solution. It is possible, due to the unconscious nature of many of these problematic behaviours, that the teacher does not realize they are being discriminatory. Simply bringing the issue to their attention and providing some training in regards to how to have a better balance in their teaching could solve the

Show More
Related
1032 Words | 5 Pages

Lily D’Elia Ms. Lee ENG1D1-07 8 June, 2023 Feminism Making a Difference in Society Moxie girls unapologetically tackle the controversial topic of feminism in their school, and inspire the readers to do the same. This was displayed in the book Moxie by Jennifer Mathieu, which took place in a small town in Texas called East Rockport. In the book, the girls experience severe sexism from the school staff, and football boys at school. Particularly one boy, Mitchel Wilson, captain of the football team, whose father happens to be the principal at their school. Many of the girls did not agree with the unfair treatment they received at school, but were too scared to speak up for themselves.

Read More
1397 Words | 6 Pages

Imagine sitting in class taking notes, when a school administrator comes into the classroom, pulls one of the girls from class, and explains how they chose to dress is considered inappropriate and distracting. In most cases, girls of past generations as well as today’s generation do not have to imagine this. School dress code policies have been targeting girls for many years. While there have been attempts to change this policy or make it fair, there seem to be minimal to no changes. Research has shown that school dress codes tend to target girls rather than boys.

Read More
1588 Words | 7 Pages

Students need to feel accepted for who they are; which includes their culture, skin color, identity, and sexual orientation. Being discriminated against or experiencing bias in the classroom creates a place that is no longer safe for the student. In Layli Long Soldiers article, “Now, You Will Listen '' she tells a story about her daughter standing up and speaking the truth about how her teacher should be more culturally appropriate in the classroom. Layli Long Soldier expresses the heartwarming feeling that she experiences from her daughter's strength to be able to defend and shield a culture that she doesn't even belong to. The courage it takes to be an ally at such a young age should be normalized.

Read More
147 Words | 1 Pages

I, Naomi Diarra, have always had a problem with the way society expects girls to dress. Some girls, including myself believe that dress code is addressed solely to females. We feel as though we are forced to dress conservatively in order to prevent “negative” attention from males. If something we wear is considered innapropriate, we are then subject to a scolding or punishment of some kind. The teachers and administrators say that they are preparing us for the future but how are they doing this if they still have not taught boys how to respect the bodies of women?

Read More
1507 Words | 7 Pages

Laws help increase female opportunity by forcing administrators to control sexual harassment in classrooms. The decision made in Davis v. Monroe County Board of Education is crucial in the fight to reduce the disadvantages in education women have to face. While the decision has lessened the prominence of sexual harassment in schools, sexual harassment still occurs inside and outside of the classroom. While the tolerance of unwanted behavior has dropped to a new low, it will take years before sexual harassment is stopped. With the end of sexual harassment, some of the oppression against women can lessen considerably.

Read More
1191 Words | 5 Pages

Sexist dress codes, shaming young girls for our country’s high teen pregnancy rate, sexual harassment, domestic violence are just a few ways how women are treated unjustly in our society. Dress Codes Dress codes in school systems are one of the largest one-sided and unjust issues in today’s society. Maureen Downey explains how “schools waste a lot of time enforcing dress codes, most of which focus on preventing young girls from distracting young boys” (2014. para 1). It is beyond unfair that girls are forbidden from wearing certain clothing articles to ensure that the immature boys next to them focus on their work instead of

Read More
751 Words | 4 Pages

When dress codes are implemented fairly school administrations will have less trouble dealing with upset students and their parents. Galen Sherwin wrote an article over a women 's rights project targeted at things that public schools can and can not do when it comes to dress codes, I felt that this article stated very good arguments toward this matter. Sherwin

Read More
1532 Words | 7 Pages

School Dress Code is Sexist School dress code has gotten out of hand, limiting young girls and boys on what they can wear to school. Telling young women that they are distractions in class because of what they wear. Girls get sent home because of their outfits it makes it seem like the administration is not worried about whether or not they get an education. Many types of clothing d or that have such as leggings, low cut shirts, and shorts have been banned or have restrictions. It is hard to find clothes that meet all these requirements.

Read More
461 Words | 2 Pages

By allowing dress codes to discriminate against the female body, schools are causing unnecessary stress to girls. Dress codes are sexist because they restrict so many items worn by girls. Because dress codes unfairly target girls they face more discipline. “These

Read More
607 Words | 3 Pages

Nearly half of the 7th to 12th graders have experienced it in the last year, with 87% of the reporting having negative effects. Catherine Hill a director of research at the American Association of University Women states that “… it’s almost part of the school day… ”.(318) We are used to men having the power of authority, but things need to be challenged and changed in order to make everyone equal and safe in today’s society and in the future for future generations. Intersectionality may define what we are but it cannot define us as individuals and we stand to fight the ceiling that has been placed for each individual

Read More
1488 Words | 6 Pages

Reporter Kelly Wallace, from CNN writes a piece about Catherine Pearlman, a mother of two who said her daughter was, now 13 was told by her teacher she couldn 't wear her yoga pants to school because “ Boys would get turned on and then be embarrassed.” The article then goes on to show the mothers anger towards the sexuall “lessson” that was made to her daughter. Her daughter was just 13. She does not understand why the outfit her mother bought her is wrong. It is not just this one teacher who has this mindset Kosher Casual writes their five benefits of dress code.

Read More
606 Words | 3 Pages

Cameron Boland, Stephanie Hughes, Evette Reay, Miranda Larkin, Tessa Wisloh, Elizabeth Cary, Kylie, Kaitlyn Juvik and Ross Lynn. Nine girls, living in different parts of the country, who are different ages and live by different religions have nothing in common but two things. They are girls, and all victims of the “Dress Code Policy.” Girls all over the country have been body shamed, suspended from their school, and even kicked off of an honor roll because they weren’t wearing the right shade of green, or their collar bones were showing, or even a little girls hair being too poofy. Dress code is sexist to girls of all ages and should be looked over more thoroughly and reconsidered.

Read More
1220 Words | 5 Pages

Any girl who has attended a public high school understands the daily dilemma of dress code. On those scorching hot days as the school year approaches summer, many girls can be found scavenging through their closet for a “school appropriate” outfit or one they won’t melt into a sweaty puddle in. Her dresses will show too much leg, her tops will inappropriately expose her shoulder or collar bone, and her shorts will be too short — at least that 's what the school says. Dress code in modern day high schools should be boycotted because they are a violation to student and parents rights, sexist, out of date, a double standard, and they disrupt a female students education. It 's fair to agree with a policy that claims stringent dress codes increase the emphasis on academics and reduce the pressure of socioeconomic status; however, these dress codes violate the students First Amendment right to freedom of expression and the parents’ Fourteenth Amendment right to raise their children in their own way.

Read More
726 Words | 3 Pages

Being a school counselor put me in a distinctive position to help the teachers in my building and possibly my school district the importance of cultural appropriate instruction. As the molders of our future leaders we have to make sure that we do not short change these learners, they could very well have the answers to some of the most serious problem that fact our world. As a school counselor, I would have to help other educators to overcome some perceptions they may possibility have about girls not being good at math and science. Many African American girls are also living in low-income situations, therefore they have a gender and economic perceptual status to overcome. It is common for people to believe that males are better

Read More
622 Words | 3 Pages

2017 has been a year supporting female empowerment, expression, and confidence with your body. So why should girls feel ashamed of their bodies in the environment where they should feel the safest? The dress code should be less restrictive because, it’s unfairly targeted at females, it makes women feel less confident, and it restricts most athletic clothing made for girls. Schools continually enforce rules that they’ve had since they were founded. Times change, and rules need to too.

Read More

More about Why Do Dress Codes Respond To Gender Discrimination?

Related Topics

Open Document