For the longest time girls have been taught to cover up to avert the male gaze because boys cannot “control” themselves, and having your shoulders showing is “distracting” as it “takes away from their education”. However, it is somehow okay for girls to be pulled out of class for 20 minutes to hear about why they cannot wear spaghetti straps, and eventually forced to wear a baggy t-shirt previously worn by multiple other people. Men should instead be taught to respect women and not sexualize every aspect of us. Boys are allowed to sag their pants with their butt out, and wear muscle tanks that often expose their nipples, but as soon as a girl wears a halter top it’s deemed as inappropriate. Women should be allowed to express themselves as they please and not be shamed for it! The fact that women must cover up for the benefit of others is not only absurd but incredibly sexist and unfair. It promotes rape culture, and sexualizes girls at such a young age. Help change the dress code once and for all to end this prejudicial rule that teaches girls to be ashamed of their bodies, and bring to the attention of the school board the discrimination that we as women must face every time we walk into school!