Expressing oneself is extremely important, especially in the years of middle school where kids begin to understand themselves more and more. And with that, I ask you, reader, is it okay for schools to put a limit to that? This is why I believe some rules that my school have implemented are unfair and sexist.

To Begin, They say that all clothing shouldn't cause distractions or interfere with learning. I agree with this for the most part, but when you consider, for example, a transgender person wearing the clothing they feel comfortable with, or clothing or religious orientation like a hijab, it might cause distraction. But by signing this petition, we would reserve the right for Transgender students to wear the clothes they are comfortable with, along with anyone else. 

Now for more specific rules, one is Clothing which exposes their stomach, midriff, back, and or chest. They then go on to provide examples which include tank tops, halter tops, mesh tops, tube tops, sundresses, short tops which expose the stomach, low rise shorts or jeans. I find this insulting. This is teaching kids that their bodies are a shameful and bad thing, and something that should be hidden. This is why we need to reform the school dress code, where students can feel that they can freely express themselves all while having fair rules, because there's a very big difference between exposed shoulders and belly button and not wearing anything. If you apply freedom and common sense in a school, you will see a reformed dress code. 

Furthermore, a lot of these rules seem to be pointless. For instance, the prohibition of wearing sunglasses. Sunglasses? Really? This seems to just be the school dictating our lives. But seriously, what's wrong with sunglasses? Might I also add that they provide no explanation for these rules, so we are left wondering why sunglasses are allowed everywhere but a school. Then we come to hat's and hoods. It's not like it's a Jason mask, their still able to see our faces and are still easily able to detect us easily. Next we have wallet chains, which is simply a fashion trend that they find to be, like everything else, contraband. These are all simple ways of expression that the school bans without an explanation that you could get rid of by signing.

I also believe school dress codes to have instances of sexism. I have seen two instances of people I know being dress coded for a shoulder violation. However, I would like to point out the hypocrisy that is when I did Cross country (I'm a male) my shoulders we're clearly exposed. So why do I get to have exposed shoulders but my female peers do not? Also the majority of the dress code laws are for feminine clothing, further proving the sexist roots that dress codes often have. I'd also like to point out that the first dress code law was implemented in 1969, when high school students were told they couldn't wear black armbands in protest of the Vietnam war.

Lastly, by signing this, We demand for all students to express themselves within reason, and for the following dress code rules to be terminated: 

1. Clothing which exposes their stomach, midriff, back, and or chest, such as: tank tops, halter tops, mesh tops, tube tops, sundresses, short tops which expose the stomach, low rise shorts or jeans.

2.Wallet chains and large chain or any large/over-sized accessory.

3. Hats may not be worn inside the building during the school day or at after-school activities. This includes stocking caps, ball caps,
scarves, bandannas, hoods and other head coverings/head wear, etc. 

4. sunglasses are contraband. 

Thank you for taking the time to read this and to hopefully sign it, indicating that you too would like to end unfair dress code rules.