Why Do Schools Have Strict Dress Codes

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About 54% of schools in the United States have an enforced dress code that gives out restrictions on what students can wear, but many schools have thought about creating a stricter dress code so that their students would have to dress more professionally. By doing so, they believe that their students will improve in academics and that they will pay more attention in class, but having a strict dress codes will end up causing a lot more problems, and it will take away the individuality of students.

School administrators believe that a stricter dress code should be enforced, because they think that it will cause fewer disciplinary problems. However, that is not the case, because once you create a rule, you will have to take effort to enforce
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You’re taking away the students’ freedom of expression, and getting rid of any individuality they may have, since clothing is one way for many people to show their style, taste, and diversity. Instead of allowing everyone to have a unique personality, stricter dress codes will start to cause conformity and suppress students’ creativity. In addition to that, dress codes can also be very discriminating and sexist. A lot of schools have dress codes that don’t allow certain pieces of religious clothing, so many students may feel that they are being punished for their culture. And, most of the rules on dress codes are targeted towards girls, since many administrators believe that certain articles of clothing that they wear can be distracting to other students. Rarely do you ever see a boy getting punished for wearing the wrong thing, even if it’s against the dress code. Maggie Sunseri, who filmed A Documentary of Dress Code, states, “I’ve never seen a boy called out for his attire even though they break the rules,” and this just shows that the dress code is sexist and that it unproportionally punishes females for what they’re

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