How does dress code affect students?
“Students' [clothing] will only affect learning if they are dressed in an extreme way,” senior Alyse Madsen said. “Strict dress codes infringe on a students self-expression and make for a dull environment with little creativity.”
The researchers found that the highest-performing students are the most disciplined. In addition, “for countries where students wear school uniforms, our study found that students listen significantly better, there are lower noise levels, and lower teaching waiting times with classes starting on time.”
Those who are dress-coded may feel anxious about their physique or the things they choose to wear as a result. The decision over whether or not they should be dress-coded frequently leads to sexualization, which disproportionately affects girls with more mature bodies.
The implementation of a strict dress code restricts students from being able to express themselves and can result in self-esteem issues. The assumed purpose of dress codes is to ensure that students receive an education free from distractions. But in doing so, administrators often take students out of classes.
From targeting and harming girls, to violating freedoms of religious expression, school dress codes can often do more harm than good. They frequently aren't followed, administration spends a lot of time and effort enforcing them, and when law suits are brought to court, the schools generally lose.
- Con 1. Dress codes reinforce racist standards of beauty and dress. ...
- Con 2. Uniformly mandated dress codes are seldom uniformly mandated, often discriminating against women and marginalized groups. ...
- Con 3. Dress codes bolster religious and cultural intolerance.
Studies have found that people tend to be less open and find it more difficult to relax when they wear formal clothes. On the other hand, a casual and relaxed dress code at work helps us become more friendly and creative.
Dress codes have been accused of stemming from sexist ideals, punishing young women for simply developing in to just that young women. The dress code tells young women that their shoulders and knees will distract their classmates casting a sense of shame over female students for simply existing in their own body.
There have been many testimonies describing how dress code violations have caused low self esteem in girls. Those that have issues with current dress codes argue that they're not against the idea of dress codes–as said before, that would lead to chaos–but they do believe there needs to be reform when it comes to them.
Dress codes teach women, from a young age, that their bodies are to be hidden. To show skin is to be “skimpy.” They teach that young girls' bodies are provocative and sexy. By banning cleavage and thighs, dress codes teach girls that their bodies are objects and they are a distraction.
Why dress code is a problem?
A student's choice of clothing should be seen as a form of self-expression. Harsh dress code violations cause thousands of young women added embarrassment and self-image issues when singled out for violations, not to mention the added pressures that black girls and people who wear religious dress face.
The dress code gives room to alienate and subject people for not fitting into a box. We are seeing short term harmful effects on people's self esteem. Teaching girls that their body parts are inherently bad or important to others implies that how her body looks should be of extreme importance to her.
Dress codes are not only causing stress, but nearly half (40%) of respondents think their choice of work-wear increases the likelihood of being judged by appearance rather than performance.
Here are some of the most important advantages: 1) A dress code promotes a more serious school atmosphere which emphasizes academics and promotes good behavior. 2) Dress codes have proven to increase student achievement by encouraging students to concentrate more on their studies and less on their wardrobe.
To protest biased dress code policies, you can write the language of the policy or words that teachers or administrators said to you when explaining why your clothing violated the dress code. If the language used by the school is inflammatory or gender biased, your clothing becomes a protest statement.
Dress codes would not only create a better learning environment, but would also help prepare students for their futures. Perhaps the most important benefit of adopting dress codes would be creating a better learning environment. Inappropriate clothing can be distracting to fellow students who are trying to concentrate.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Pros Can promote a sense of security | Cons Can hinder creative expression in students |
| Pros Less distraction for students so they can concentrate on their studies | Cons Dress code suspensions can take focus away from education |
Students reported on their sense of school belonging, such as how close they felt to teachers and classmates. They also reported their experiences of bullying and social anxiety. School uniforms were not linked to any differences in bullying or social anxiety in the children.
Uniforms Restrict the Freedom of Expression
By not allowing kids to dress up in the way they wish to, most schools hamper with the individuality of a child. The child is forced to dress up in a way that he may not be comfortable in.
Lessens workplace bias: In the same study, 57% of workers report that they feel they are assessed more on performance over appearance. Better office camaraderie and improved relationships: Casual wear makes employees feel much more comfortable and this leads to more relaxed interactions with one another.
How dressing affects your attitude and confidence?
When we are dressed well and look good, we automatically feel better. When we feel good on the outside, we are more likely to feel good on the inside, which boosts our attitudes and self-confidence, and supplies us with more energy to treat ourselves and others around us better.
The clothes we wear daily reflect the way we want others to perceive us and how we see ourselves. Clothes even influence our cognitive abilities. In 2012, researchers from Northwestern University in the US found that wearing specific articles of clothing had an effect on the wearer's psychology and performance.
The school dress code not only vilifies self-expression in young people through primarily arbitrary and artificial standards of what is and is not acceptable, thus unjustly imposing those standards onto teenagers who might not agree with said standards, but it also submits to societal pressures of modesty that create a ...
It eliminates the strength of diversity from the school and limits the options on how students can express themselves. If a student gets in trouble for wearing something that violates the dress code, their detention or even suspension can take focus away from education.
Many high schools and middle schools nationwide have a dress code policy. The majority seem to be targeted toward female students. Schools outlaw clothing items that are commonly believed to be a distraction in the classroom, such as shorts, skirts, tank tops and crop tops.
Female students consistently reported that the dress code sexualized them, treating common U.S. clothing options, such as a spaghetti strap tank top, as though they were revealing, alluring outfits that distracted male students from learning.
The purpose of a dress code is to provide guidance to students and parents as to appropriate attire for school and at any school function. In addition, the dress code is a primary means of helping students learn a skill, which is required for success in getting and keeping employment linked to attire.
Despite the belief of many parents and teachers, school uniforms don't seem to have any effect on young students' behavior or attendance overall, a new national study found.
There have been many testimonies describing how dress code violations have caused low self esteem in girls. Those that have issues with current dress codes argue that they're not against the idea of dress codes–as said before, that would lead to chaos–but they do believe there needs to be reform when it comes to them.
The biggest benefit in favor of school dress codes are that they lessen the chance of someone being marginalized due specifically to the type of clothes they wear. Most of the time schools will order uniforms from specialized sources so everyone gets their clothes from the same place.
