During the start of this school year, I noticed some differences in the enforcement between the girls’ and the boys’ dress codes. I have never seen nor heard of a boy getting dress-coded or told that something he was wearing was not appropriate. Most girls are dress coded for the length of their shorts or skirts; according to the rules, shorts have to have an inseam of five inches and skirts have to be two inches above the knee. To be dress coded means for a teacher to ask a student to change clothes or to give him or her a Loss of Privileges.

I spoke with the 8th grade boys’ Grade Chair, Patrick Egan, about this issue. He told me, “[The dress code] was meant to be applicable to both genders.” I asked him if he had ever dress-coded a boy, and he admitted, “On or off the record, no I have not . . . We used to [issue infractions], I think in the old dress code we gave boys hard times about having their shirt tucked in, and wearing a belt, and those types of things . . . but not amidst the current [code].” 

I also talked to a 7th grade girl who asked not to be named. She stated that has been dress coded for her skirt being too short, or in other words, too revealing. She immediately mentioned that girls are held to unfair standards, and they are penalized more often. “It is unreasonable . . . they can wear whatever they want. It is hard for girls to find clothes that fit the dress code, and the length of the shorts and skirts is unfair.”

8th grader Caroline Kent agrees: “They can wear whatever they want . . . the boys can wear shorts shorter than the girls can.” 

Girls our age struggle to find brands that fit us but also fit the dress code. As a result, the girls are constantly getting dress coded for various reasons, while the boys can practically wear whatever they want.

I understand the purpose of a dress code and the fact that we should be dressed appropriately to school. But, if the boys aren’t going to be held to the same standards as the girls, I feel that the administrators could consider making some changes to the dress code, such as fingertip length for skirts and shorts.