Dress codes are annoying. I get it, some rules are needed. If someone’s underwear is hanging out or their shirt has offensive words or imagery, then that would be a perfect reason to have some kind of dress code in place. The majority of the rules, however, have no reason to be there and can flat out be sexist. Girls get told that they can’t wear tank tops, spaghetti straps, shorts above a certain length, shoulders and knees are treated as some kind of major distraction while boys get to wear the same things with no consequences. It’s unfair and can often make girls feel embarrassed or shameful because of it.
Age should matter as well. A seven year old wearing some like a crop top or short shorts is obviously not okay and should be corrected. But a teenager should be allowed to have some leniency and it shouldn’t be treated as the end of the world. If it’s something extreme like barely covering up or wearing something vulgar and inappropriate, again, that is not okay and should be corrected. However, teenagers should be allowed to express themselves withiin reason as long as it isn’t harming anyone or themselves.
Sexism in dress codes is a very loud part of them. Girls showing so much as their shoulder is treated as scandalous or ‘distracting’, while boys can wear whatever they want without even a fraction of concern. If grown men or boys are finding it distracting, then that says a whole lot more about them than the people actually wearing the clothing and I feel like that is something that needs to be brought up to them instead of punishing girls for it. Clothing shouldn’t be sexualized, nor a girls body for wearing them. Schools shouldn’t be shaming people or making them feel bad over wearing something that feels the most comfortable to them.
Dress codes should be addressing real problems and greater issues such as hate speech or extreme exposure that can harm the wearer or those around them. Beyond that, student’s should be able to express themselves freely. Putting so much focus on innocent self expression because of how people may perceive it makes school feel unsafe and uncomfortable. Dress codes as of now make students worry more about how they present and how they are perceived by peers rather than what they are supposed to be studying and learning.
Most dress codes are outdates and unfair. Girls shouldn’t be feeling like showing their shoulders or wearing shorts makes them the problem. Teenagers should be trusted to make their own choices on what to wear, as well as their parents to decide whether or not something might be too inappropriate for school. Schools should be focusing on making their students comfortable and their education. A dress code can exist without being controlling or sexist and should be there to protect rather than shame girls for their body and presentation.
I think the concept of dress codes are fine. Being able to limit hate speech and offensive messages for safety is not bad. However, they need to stop sexualizing girls, stop policing harmless choices, and focus on hate speech and extreme exposure that can be detrimental to others. Dress codes are supposed to help make spaces comfortable, not make students feel bad or uncomfortable with their bodies.
Adobe Stock. (n.d.). Shirtless boy playing basketball on an outdoor court. Retrieved January 10, 2026, from https://stock.adobe.com/ca/images/shirtless-basketball-player-with-ball-at-basketball-court-in-sunny-day/279791101
Change.org. (n.d.). Image of gender double standards in school dress codes. Retrieved January 6, 2026, from https://www.change.org/p/school-school-dress-codes-target-females
Kapuskasing District High School. (n.d.). Image of student handbook page (Student Handbook – Kapuskasing District High School). Retrieved January 10, 2026, from https://kdhs.dsb1.ca/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=1126827&type=d&pREC_ID=1383270 (Kapuskasing District High School)