By Carmen Dai ‘23, Staff Writer

Dress codes have always been a controversial topic in schools, and today they are as relevant as ever. Many people are speaking out against dress codes because they feel like they can’t wear clothes that fully represent themselves. If a person is having trouble with their identity, they should have the freedom to experiment, not be restricted by rules that say guys can’t wear skirts or girls can’t show their shoulders. Fortunately, at NA and many other private schools, there are no such restrictions that confine gender expression. There are many rationales for dress codes, but they do not reflect modern society or values.

Some dress codes are justified by the argument that certain types of clothes can be “‘too distracting’ for male students.” Schools are using this perception of how boys react to females to try and perpetuate the importance of “proper clothing” for women. In fact, there is no problem with how women are dressing. The problem lies with the boys, and how they decide to treat women because of what they wear. Some schools believe that provocative clothes lead to sexual assault, but studies have disproven this theory (Washington Post). Instead, what schools should be focusing on is disciplining students who bully and harass others because of their clothes or other reasons. Furthermore, the dress code allows students to spend their time on education instead of clothes, a justification that schools in China also use. If schools are able to teach boys not to objectify girls, then there will be no more worries about being distracted from one’s education. 

Another problem less touched upon is that those who are gender fluid have not yet determined their sexual identity, and thus may be unable to be who they are within the confines of a dress code. In some schools, there is a line between what boys can wear and what girls can wear. In the Vineland, New Jersey public schools, the dress code is khaki or black pants for boys, and khaki or black skirts or slacks for girls. Students in those schools and elsewhere are arguing that there should be no such line. They believe it is unfair to ask those who are transsexual to dress as someone they aren’t. Those who are gender fluid fluctuate between genders, and those who are non-binary do not identify as male or female. How can they be themselves when dress codes adhere to a gender-binary model? An example of this dilemma is when a senior from Houston was sent home because his wig violated the school’s dress code: a boy’s hair may not be “longer than the bottom of a regular shirt collar.” Schools are meant to help us find ourselves and our place in society, yet dress codes are counterproductive towards achieving such goals.

After finding out just how many issues there were with dress codes, naturally, I had to ask: is there a problem with ours? I pulled out the student handbook and carefully read our very concise dress code. Thankfully, our school does not specify gender, a change that was made decades ago. I also interviewed Ms. Galvin, the dean of students, about her opinions on the dress code and why it exists. According to Ms. Galvin, the dress code at NA exists because it is a sign of respect. The dress code is meant to “take emphasis away from clothing.” Giving everyone guidelines as to what they can wear allows students to have a “shared range of culture.” Ms. Galvin also said that “school is school,” meaning that school is a place where the focus is placed on education over other things. Furthermore, the NA dress code has relaxed greatly over the years. In the past, students were not allowed to wear leggings or  sweatshirts, or show bare skin. Now, because of discussion among the faculty and NA voice proposals, students can wear NA sweatshirts on non-casual days, skirts and shorts in general. Lastly, the dress code is not taken lightly at NA. Almost every year, the faculty gets together and debates what should be added or removed from the NA dress code, and listens to student voice proposals. Although NA is lucky enough to have faculty who take dress codes seriously, other schools may not be as fortunate as us. But, if you do have problems with the dress code here, Ms. Galvin invites you to talk to her.

Dress codes represent the generational divide between the old and the young. We must change the traditional views on men and women, because although there was a time when it was immodest and unheard of to show your legs or to cross dress, people and society change. Although dress codes can help shift the focus from clothing to education, schools must find a different way to approach this problem, and the answer is not sticking with an old dress code that does more harm than good. Many who were once oppressed and silenced, such as non-binary or transgender people, can now more safely reveal their true identities in the modern progressive society. Of course, there are still many who have yet to be liberated, but one crucial step in helping them find their identities is to modify any dress code from its current binary model. If we do this, then everyone, no matter who they are, can wear the clothes that signify their identity without feeling shame or facing punishment–promoting a culture of acceptance and openness.