I AM NOT A F**KING DISTRACTION: School dress codes, and their inadvertent message.

In August of 2017, the Evanston Township High School in Evanston, Illinois made national headlines regarding their dress code. It was a pleasant surprise that the subject was positive attention. The school board had agreed to reform their policy, in order to ensure that their regulations were “written in a manner that does not reinforce stereotypes and does not reinforce or increase marginalization or oppression of any group based on race, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religion, cultural observance, household income or body type/size.” For many, it was very refreshing to see an example of a dress code working FOR students, and not against, but the singular success/advancement achieved by this particular high school does not measure with the numerous failures of schools all over the country to respectfully and justly regulate their students’ clothing.

What is a dress code?