The  dress code at Drexler Intermediate School comes off sexist and demeaning to those who attend this educational institution. Dress codes were originally meant to create a positive learning environment, but the truth is, they disproportionately target females and inhibit them from having a positive self-image. Female students at Drexler are constantly getting harassed and shamed by female educators, myself included.

I have personally been dress-coded recently and was told to wear a stranger’s jacket over my t-shirt because my shoulders were showing. A teacher I have never met, pulled me into her classroom and forced me to put on someone else’s jacket. We aren’t allowed to use our lockers due to covid and are supposed to social distance, but we can wear a stranger’s article of clothing. How does that make logical sense? This wasn’t my first time being targeted by a female teacherfor my appearance. I don’t blame the teachers and know they are just enforcing the rules that were put forth by the district administration years ago, but why enforce something that isn’t beneficial to anyone? Every human has shoulders and no rational person with a healthy mind finds bra straps or shoulders a distraction. Why are we being taught that we should be embarrassed by our bodies? This mind set is unhealthy and leads to poor self-image, lack of confidence, & prevents people from expressing themselves.

The dress code at Drexler is outdated and screams sexism. It seems to have been written by judgmental and close-minded individuals who are against self-expression and that want to hold women back. This is especially true when only female students are being pulled aside in the classroom or hallway and forced to “cover up”. I have yet to see a male student pulled to the side in front of other students and forced to change his clothing. We, as females, are being objectified by the same people who are supposed to protect us and make us feel safe at school. We should be able to express our diversity and individuality. We should be allowed to feel safe, feel comfortable and confident about ourselves without having to worry about who we may or may not “distract.

By forcing these young girls, who are at the most vulnerable stage of their life, to change or hide their bodies, you are teaching them that other people’s actions are their responsibility. You are saying they are responsible for how a male or another individual chooses to react to their appearance. Through these actions, it’s implied that the male students and teachers cannot control their sexual impulses if a female student shows her shoulders or a bra strap. The administration at this school obviously doesn’t realize how harmful it is to not only shame, but also blame girls for how someone else might react, instead of bringing that inappropriate behavior to light. Does this institute have that little faith in the male student body and the educators they hired that you feel the need to shame, conceal and hinder the female student’s mindset?

Drexler’s current dress code is irrational and needsimprovement. I know the individuals running this institution can do better. You need to open your minds and allow student’s the ability to express themselves, feel confident, & safe in their learning environment.We aren’t asking to wear offensive apparel with weapons, violence, drugs, obscenity, profanity, or racial references on them, nor are we asking to dress half naked. We are simply asking to have some freedom in how we express ourselves and to feel comfortable in the clothing we wear without being objectified or harassed. Students should be able to wear tank tops, halter tops, off the shoulder tops, or one shoulder topswithout being asked to “cover up”. We spend approximately seven hours of our day here and need that time to be positive, not hostile. Our educators should be building us up, not tearing us down.