The Evolution of Dress Code
Dress codes are in place all across our nation in an attempt to keep school environments professional. However, in recent years, it has become apparent that it is difficult for students, girls especially, to follow dress codes while still retaining their self expression, especially with the clothing available to them.
Clothing styles have changed, but dress codes haven’t. Today’s more revealing fashion makes it challenging to find school appropriate clothes.
“I understand why they’re in place,” said freshman Nina Borzekowski about dress codes. However, Nina then went on to say that “dress codes are based off of slut shaming.”
“There’s a time and a place for those more revealing outfits,” said Ms. Leland and that school was not the place from 8-3 pm.
“It’s school, not the runway. Not the beach. You should not wear clothes that are distracting to others,” said freshman Morgan Myers.
Here at WUHS, the same dress code was in place from 1992-2011, which shocked a lot of people. This code included rules like students must groom their hair, wear outfits that are not distracting, and outfits that are not vulgar or profane. “That’s bull#*!,” freshman Eli Mitchell said, surprised that students had to follow the same rules for so long while clothes clearly continued evolving.
Ms. Leland had a part in making the new dress code. “I was going to be the one to enforce it,” she said, noting this made the writing of the dress code more important to her.
In 2012, the Buzz did an article about the need to see a change in the school’s dress code. The 2012 handbook said, “All members of our school community are expected to be clothed in attire that does not distract others from the learning process.”
Clothing that was thought of as distracting included, “Exposed undergarments (Bras, thongs, boxers, etc.) Excessively tight shorts or garments, Strapless or midriff shirts, Mesh or see through material, Any attire that exposes cleavage, or appears to have a sexually provocative nature, or any attire which appears to promote alcohol, tobacco, any illegal substance or violence.”
Senior Chloe Noble recalled her days in middle school when she had to abide by the 2012 dress code. “A lot of times it was because my skirts were too short-- I got called for that.” Chloe said about how the dress code often surfaced as a problem for her.
In 2015, the dress code was finally changed, and the dress code has been reviewed annually since then. The current code has more clear rules like students must cover their torso, undergarments and buttocks, clothing that does not display offensive messages, or advertise drugs and alcohol. However, some students seem to be unaware that a dress code exists. Freshmen Liam Brennan and Eli Mitchell didn’t even know the school had a dress code.
“I know there’s like no beer shirts and stuff like that,” Chloe said as what she knew the current dress code said. While this is true, there is still much more that students do not know about the school’s dress code.
Even though the school’s dress code has become much more lenient for the girls, it has never had many rules for the boys. Freshman Devin Ziegler said “The dress code doesn’t really apply to me.”
Chloe said, “I don’t know what rules they could’ve done for guys,” addressing how the school could make dress codes equal.
If dress codes at WUHSMS have already evolved so much since six short years ago, it is apparent that they will continue evolving for many years to come.