Summertime has come and you’re stuck sitting in your jeans because shorts are too revealing to wear to school. The school dress codes are harsher towards females, restricts what they can wear, and takes away freedom of expression through their clothes.

The dress code is stricter towards females compared to males. According to the Kaneland High School handbook, tank tops, short shorts and sleeveless shirts are all not allowed. All of these articles mostly relate to female students. Girls can get yelled at for showing a mid-drift, shirt hanging down too low, shorts, skirts and dresses that are too short or simply showing a little bit of shoulder. On the other hand, most boys will get told to “pull your pants up or get a belt.”

According to an article on Takepart, sixteen year old Marion Mayer stood up to her principal after he used phrases such as “modest is hottest” and “boys will be boys” when referring to the dress code. This just shows how the dress code is aimed towards girls more. Using the phrase “boys will be boys” is saying that boys cannot help what they see in girls or how they act when they show a little skin.

Girls always being told to change or cover up shows that what a girl wears and how she dresses is more important than her learning. A group of girls from Haven Middle School in Illinois, started started using the hashtag, #Iammorethanadistraction, on social media. This has many people sharing their own personal stories of being dress coded as a female.

I believe that girls wearing a tank top or a pair of shorts does not impact any male students or teachers that will distract their learning. As we approach spring and summer weather girls start to put the winter sweaters and jeans away and turn towards tanks and shorts. Except, the dress code does not allow this. The rule at Kaneland High School is shorts must reach mid-thigh and shoulders must be completely covered. A tank top and shorts can be worn as long as you make it look presentable and appropriate.

I understand there is a difference between looking presentable and not, but if an outfit looks acceptable, even if it is breaking a minor rule, it should be allowed.

Restricting what students can wear takes away students being able to express themselves through what they wear. According to education.com, forcing a student to wear a uniform takes away the students freedom of expression, the First Amendment.

I feel that schools that make students wear the same outfit as everyone else takes away their self expression and does not make them different than everyone else. I understand that if the outfit is insulting something should be done. I do not understand though, that if the outfit is not harming anyone in anyway why attention must be brought to it.

The dress code should be re-thought on how it portrays the rules. Girls are being targeted more often than boys, have greater restrictions on what not to wear and students can only express themselves to a certain extent. There can be a change made to the rules as long as outfits are appropriate. Taking these changes into consideration, schools can still have an appropriate dress code that satisfies everyone and every student gets equal treatment and learning.