Sexism In Schools Research Paper

Despite recent efforts for equality, sexism towards women is still shown in today’s society. Women are constantly treated unfairly when it comes to education, attire, and body image. Ironically, high schools, an environment which supposedly supports equality for all students, reinforce this sexism with the harsh dress codes forced upon female students. Since the outdated dress codes purposely sexualize females in order to shame them for their “troublesome” and “distracting” bodies, women are taught that their appearance is more important than their education. Additionally, today’s dress codes contradict schools’ non­discrimination policies by harassing women for their clothing choices because these outfits cause men to view the female students and teachers inappropriately. Schools that enforce strict dress codes demonstrate sexism towards women, degrade women for the distractions their bodies create, and imply that women’s education and careers are less prioritized than men. While opposing arguments state that the female body causes distractions in an educational environment, schools should not enforce sexist dress codes upon female students and faculty since these rules are degrading and should not be implemented in an educational setting. Some schools believe that the female body causes distractions and therefore should be covered up in schools to keep a proactive learning environment; however, this concept is sexist and unfair to the women on campus. A woman's attire does not have any effect on anyone’s learning ability and showing skin is not what causes distraction or disrespect. High schools are the main culprits of continuing to shame women for their clothing and deeming it “inappropriate” and to fix the “problem,” they enforce stricter dress codes upon females. School administrators try to promote how the dress code is equally established to both male and female students, but “Dress codes can, according to students, ultimately establish discriminatory standards as the norm”(Bates). Males are usually not forced to follow through with “appropriate” dress. Women get pulled out for their short lengths while males are allowed to walk around with sexual innuendos on their shirts, (Bates) which proves that schools are more sacrificial to a female’s education. This goes to show how schools’ dress codes are not as prioritized when it comes to males and continue to discriminate against females, promoting sexism in what is suppose to be a safe learning environment. These blatant rules shamelessly enforced on females is promoting sexism and harassment in schools, whether a student or staff member, sexism is an existing feature in a woman’s life. School dress codes continue to prove how men are put on a higher scale of importance than females are and that women are being discriminated against for their bodies and attire. The way a woman portrays herself determines how well she is respected unfortunately, dress codes appear to be promoting the opposite. No matter how a woman is dressed, she should always have respect from society. For decades females have been told that men …show more content…
While society sexualizes young females, schools shame them about the exact same thing: clothing, establishing that women are always under prioritized when it comes to education. Consider how many times a female is called out of class just because an article of clothing was deemed ‘inappropriate’ and it never stops, not even after graduation. When it comes to dress codes, schools live by the motto that ‘men are easily distracted and women are at fault for that’. Schools enforce harsh dress codes on females while letting men play victim to skin. In my own experience, I got in trouble for wearing an elastic choker because that piece of stretchy material determined how sexual I got with a man. I was catcalled for wearing a skirt and knee length socks. I was sexualized in my school, which is supposed to be a safe learning environment but is instead a struggle to walk through the hallways without an old man harassing me about my clothing. I cannot possibly understand how that can be okay. How can a man over 30 get away with sexualizing an eighteen or younger female’s body like it is a piece of meat ready to be chewed and spit out? How is it okay with younger and older men do the exact same thing to the female faculty as well? When did a mixed ideology of pedophilia and sexual harassment become accepting in