3 minute read
The Dress Code According to Students
by Averie McGraw & Aubrey West staff writers
Central’s dress code and how it affects teenagers around the school
All Photos: A. McGraw
very school has a dress code, which are supposed to help with the learning environment and keep students more focused on what school is actually about. One rule stated in the official TCAPS dress code is that clothing may not reveal undergarments, yet you see many girls wearing bralettes, which makes it feel like there is almost no dress code at all. There are so many different styles that you see all-over Central (Skater boy/ girl, Alternative, and Casual). Students decide to express how they feel through their clothing choice because it shows what’s comfortable to them and what they like. This is especially true when, at Central, you see girls wearing mini skirts, bralettes, and anything but a full shirt. There are also students who wear crewnecks, hoodies, and sweatpants in complete compliance with the dress code. Students tend to put themselves with other groups of students who match their “vibe” or style,
Eand if they don’t match, then they won’t follow that group. Students have been aware of the dress code since middle or even elementary school, so they should already know what is okay for school and what should be worn when they go out with friends. Matthew Cook ‘23 believes that “not everyone is really distracted by clothing, besides maybe teachers.” Teachers and school staff are supposed to make sure that the learning environment is not distracting for students. When the dress code issue is discussed, it’s mainly girls who are talking about it. “I think girls have a lot more limitations on what to wear ” says Cook. “I think a lot of guys care a lot less and don’t want to break the rules they have set for them.” Dress codes can be valuable in creating a safe learning environment, yet many already wear revealing things and don’t seem to care about the dress code already in
place. Amber Villegas ‘25 thinks that body type plays into the issue with dress coding, too. “There’s acceptable reasons for it sometimes, but there’s other times where there’s a girl wearing a bralette and they don’t dress code her, but dress code a girl with a good body that’s wearing a crop top. I just feel like they do it based on the body type girls have.” When getting dress coded some people exaggerate the situation and say that it is the teacher who is in the wrong. “Honestly there are people who exaggerate it, like they will say: ‘it’s the teacher’s fault because they are perverted,’” Villegas states. Students take a defensive stance when getting dress coded because they are being punished for something that they wore to school. Villegas thinks there’s a double standard, “I’ve seen girls wearing provocative clothes and the teachers don’t dress code them as much, but like I said, it’s [about] the type of body you have.” Females aren’t the only ones with opinions on the dress code. Students all have their different take on the dress code and have their own thoughts on it. Mason Bruce ‘25 feels that the dress code is a good idea, but doesn’t think that “students care as much as teachers and staff because they look for students wearing revealing clothes, whereas students don’t care because they are the ones wearing the clothes.” Bruce states, “I’ve heard people say that the dress code is sexist or that it is very targeting.” This may be true, but some of the reason for that may be that some girls like to express themselves through clothing and style, whereas many guys tend to keep it simple and go with the flow. Feminine clothing is often more revealing, so it comes as no surprise that girls get dress coded more than guys. Maybe the dress code issue isn’t really about the dress code. Maybe it’s more about self-expression or feeling like you need or want to fit in. Although this has been a widely debated topic this year, is it really what we should be focusing on? //
