Growing up, we learn to follow the rules so you won’t get in trouble, and it’s that simple, right?

During the first week of school, administration is buckling down on enforcing the dress code violations more than ever. They are seeking out thinly strapped tops, shorts that are too short and shirts that reveal stomach, because those simply aren’t in dress code. But something else that is stated in the handbook that doesn’t follow dress code are gym shorts and ungroomed hair.

Board policy 5132 states, “Gym shorts may not be worn in classes other than physical education.” I have seen girls getting dress coded all the time for shirts that have “too thin of straps” but never have I seen administration dress code anybody for wearing gym shorts outside of P.E., so why is that?

Another claim in board policy 5132 is “Hair shall be clean and neatly groomed. Hair may not be sprayed by any coloring that would drip when wet.” This shows that if a student comes to school with unkempt hair, they will get dress coded. I have seen some surely unkempt hair-do’s in my high school days, but never have I once seen administration send a student to the office for having unkempt hair. This rule is completely overlooked even though it is so commonly seen.

Administrators are picking and choosing what they assume is and is not appropriate. If they are going to dress code that girl wearing thin straps, why aren’t they going to dress code that boy wearing gym shorts or that girl wearing a T-shirt but has her hair in a crazy bun? Showing too much shoulder is being shown as inappropriate but this is simply just over sexualizing the body. No normal human ever gets distracted by shoulders.

They say wearing tank tops are just “too inappropriate” and it’s that simple. Shirts made by brands like “The Hundreds” and “KR3W” are popular among teenage boys and commonly have inappropriate images of girls on them. I’ve seen countless guys wearing these on campus and I’ve never seen administration ask anyone to change out of it.

I did some informal research asking four male students on their opinion on these shirts and they had similar responses on how these shirts fit the dress code. Half said they think it is distracting but they shouldn’t be banned, and the other half said since there isn’t full nudity they should still be allowed.

This proves that it’s okay for a guy to wear a shirt with a half naked girl on it but, if a girl shows too much shoulder she gets in trouble. The shirts have printed images on them of women wearing much less clothing than what girls at school are getting dress coded for. Do I really need to say more to prove the inconsideration?

It is blatantly evident that administration is being much harsher on girls for dress code than guys even though both genders are common offenders. These are unfair acts against girls and administration should have a second look on what really “fits dress code.”

by LILY JONES