Women have struggled for centuries to dress in a way that pleases everyone including themselves. Although we have taken many steps in the right direction toward equality, the dress code in schools is one thing that I believe will never be equal for young women.

It’s fair to ask students to dress appropriately in school; however, schools’ definition of appropriate is slightly too unrealistic; especially in the first and last couple months of school when it’s hot outside. Recently, we’ve been in an extreme heat wave, but we still can’t even wear athletic shorts or full-length tank tops. The length of our shorts, skirts, and dresses must be no shorter than 3 inches above the knee. On my normal shopping excursions, I wouldn’t be able to find a single pair of shorts for girls that are that long; it’s just unrealistic.

The student handbook doesn’t give a reason for these unrealistic expectations, but the unwritten reason is that it distracts the boys. It is never a girl’s responsibility to keep the boys under control. 

If a guy wants to “get distracted,” then he will. That has nothing to do with how we are dressed.

I’ve been dress-coded not just in high school, but also in middle school. At just 12 years old, we are expected to dress in a way that appeases the boys’ needs.

There have been multiple occasions where boys have worn white fitted tank tops in weights classes and even in regular classes. It’s also very well-known that the boys’ shorts are starting to get shorter and shorter. Nothing is ever said to them. 

In larger schools, athletic shorts are acceptable and there have been no problems. 

So why is our treatment so unfair?

There have been many occasions where female students are actually asked to go home and change before they come back to school. Many parents are concerned when it comes to their students missing school. So this has brought the sexist dress code to their attention. When I was asked to go home and change, I was expected to miss AP Lang or pre-calculus to go home. Shouldn’t our education be more important than if there are holes in our jeans?

All we ask is for realistic dress code expectations and equality in the expectations for girls and boys.