In today’s society, the dress code has been used to slut-shame and attack women of many shapes and sizes. Lancaster high school isn’t new to the dress code policy, though some of their rules tend to be very women geared, misogynistic, and very turned in the direction of sexualizing young women. Here are a few rules for you to revise, and our problems with them.

1. Shorts and skirts must be at an appropriate length, and or “at the base of their fingertips”: The term “appropriate” is a very loose term, and leaves this open to some wiggle room, they expect us to know exactly what that means, though if we were completely covered why would it matter. 
Now let me address that second part, the fingertip length. Women come in all different shapes and sizes, ranging from petite to plus, finger tips on one girl, can be knee length on another, then super short on the a third girl. This is no way to measure an outfit.

2. No cropped shirts, tanktops, tube tops, spaghetti straps, one shoulder tops, or halter neck tops: This grows to be an issue when this is every “summer clothes” option most women have a lot of days. Lancaster High Schools reasoning is, “too much shoulder will distract the boys.” There will always be boys looking at girls, and girls looking at boys no matter what they wear. What is truly distracting is having to sit in a hot, humid, non air conditioned building, not being able to focus because of uncomfortableness. What is truly distracting is being sent home, written up, or taken out of my class time to go change in order to abide by a dress code.

3. No jeans that are “too ripped”: though this one isn’t inforced too often, it is still an issue. Ripped jeans are currently what is “in” and what stores make. Women and men can both have major trouble attempting to locate non-distressed jeans while shopping. Jeans and knees don’t distract anyone. Nor are they sexual. 

4. No cleavage or low cut shirts permitted: Our main problem with this rule is how size unfriendly this is. If a petite 16 yo girl wore a burgundy v-neck, and a plus sized 16 yo girl wore that same burgundy v-neck, only the plus sized would get written up, due to the size of her chest, which she can’t control. How is that fair if it’s the same low cut shirt. 

5. Bra straps being visible is prohibited; Must wear a bra: Personally, as a women, I do not think it should be required to wear a bra if not necessary, especially when we get written up for wearing one, but if we don’t we get in just as much trouble. The logic isn’t there, no one is staring at my natural body. Why is this even a problem

6. No distracting hairstyles: What my teacher described this rule as was, “no Afro, big braids, colored hair, or du-rags.” This whole segment is coming directly for people of color. Their natural hair is not a distraction. Their braids are not a distraction. Colored hair isn’t a distraction, especially when a ton of teacher do no abide by this “colored hair” rule. This should be removed completely.

In conclusion, the sexism and problems are in real need to change, to help women lead a more comfortable life. Instead of teaching us to be in fear of people looking, teach people to control themselves and teach them that teenagers in normal summer clothing is not provocative, especially when teachers break the dress code everyday with no punishment. 

By signing this petition you give the student body of Lancaster High School the opportunity for good change in the future, revision of an unfair dress code, and more respect for the women at this school in general. Thank you :)

- Lancaster High School Student Body