Analysis: The Battle Over Dress Codes

Are Dress Codes Becoming Too Strict? I chose an article called The Battle Over Dress Codes by Peggy Orenstein. This article was published in The New York Times in 2014. In this article, the author talks about dress codes that are implied in school districts all around America. The story is based out of California where the weather is hot and humid all year round. Dress codes have been demanded by schools in order to not distract kids, sexualizes girl’s bodies, and tell them that wearing a tank top is inappropriate. Orenstein explains how her daughter will be restricted to wear short shorts next school year. I think that dress codes have become too strict. In some school’s girls cannot wear strappy shirts or tanks, yoga pants, or shorts that do not past your mid-thigh. I agree with this article The Battle Over Dress Codes, that dress codes have become too strict and unreasonable.
In The Battle Over Dress Codes the author talks …show more content…
I think that if it is hot out and a girl wants to wear a tank top they should be able to. I think that as long as you cannot see any private parts I do not see why a girl cannot wear certain clothes. Also, I know boys like to wear bro tanks when it gets hot out. The size of the strap on a bro tank is the same size as some girl’s tanks that get banned but guys do not.
The Battle Over Dress Codes explains how dress codes can sexualize girls. Strict dress codes can lead to girls seeing their bodies as not well respected. Telling a girl that she cannot wear a shirt that shows her chest as she is going through puberty can lead to her having poor self-esteem. This article talks about how telling a girl to cover up her body just as her body is really starting to develop can give them the idea that it is not okay to express themselves. Orenstein adds that she wants her child to feel safe showing off her body but does not want her to be looked at as an