The newly reinforced dress code in Burkburnett High School and across the Burkburnett Independent School District is targeted towards girls and heavily objectifies and sexualizes young girls. It promotes rape culture and the ideology that girls are "asking for it" when they wear certain articles of clothing. Many students and parents are critiquing the dress code, but no action has been taken. Starting from the third grade, girls have to follow the finger-tip rule with shorts, dresses, rips in jeans, and skirts. Although there should be a certain limit to the length of clothes and rips, the finger-tip rule is a bad way of measurement and also is way too diverse. It's pushing the limit and our students shouldn't be objectified like this. This dress code teaches girls to be ashamed of their bodies at a young age. It's very creepy to dress-code any minor (especially a third grader) because her "shorts are too short" or her "shoulders are showing." Ladies also have to wear garments covering leggings and other athletic pants. This rule is pointless and also sexualizes athletic clothing, which is a problem in itself. Girls aren't allowed to wear tube tops, bare midriff or half shirts, halter type blouses, mesh shirts, string tops, tank tops, or any sleeveless shirts, which is also very strange. No reason stomach or shoulders is being shown should arouse students or staff, nor be a "distraction." If it does become a distraction to anyone, that's solely their responsibility. We shouldn't teach girls to cover up in Texas heat or any weather to appease boys, or to "not distract anybody." Bras are also not allowed to be shown, however, the dress code says that girls must wear them. This rule is sexist to no limit and completely inexcusable to have in any dress code. There's no reason for anybody to be looking at a girl's chest, especially to check if she's wearing undergarments. It is nobody's business if a girl wears bras and is a completely sexist rule.
I would like the High School (and hopefully the whole district) to completely redo the dress code and remove these sexist guidelines. If completely removing these rules is impossible, maybe making adjustments to it that the female students agree to would be the best option. Although the school must follow a rule banning discrimination based on sex, gender, religion, and more, this dress code is sexist and targeting young girls. Let's make Burkburnett a safer and better community! One signature counts!! :)