As the school year winds down, you might think dress code disputes would take a break. But in a North Carolina school district, a proposed ban on all “tight pants” has girls scratching their heads about what they will be allowed to wear next year.
The New Hanover County School Board is revamping its dress code, considering a prohibition on leggings, skinny jeans, and any other “form-fitting” pants—unless those pants are paired with a shirt or dress that completely covers the backside. According to the proposed policy, the garment must “cover the posterior area in its entirety,” which translates to either wearing a long tunic over your jeans or opting for baggy pleated slacks. After all, we wouldn’t want anyone to know that girls have curves, right?
Even more baffling, School Board Vice Chair Linda Thompson revealed to local news that this policy shift wasn’t about the usual “eliminating distractions” narrative schools often use. Instead, it’s a misguided attempt to protect “bigger girls” from potential bullying for wearing tight jeans. So rather than tackling the bullies, they’re simply making it harder for girls to get dressed. Makes total sense, doesn’t it? Yeah, not really.
Naturally, students and community members are pushing back. Since the news broke, many have taken to Twitter under the hashtag “policy8520,” voicing their frustration with what they perceive as an overly restrictive and offensive regulation.
In a surprising twist, even a member of the school board, Jenna Rodriguez, has spoken out against the change. She argued that students already face enough scrutiny with the current dress code, and banning a popular fashion item to combat bullying is simply illogical. “Instead of focusing on what students wear, why don’t we concentrate on helping them learn?” she said, adding, “And I personally love skinny jeans.”
While school dress codes likely began with good intentions—creating a focused learning environment—it seems they’ve evolved into a distraction that heavily polices gender, body types, and self-expression. Students are increasingly worried about being sent to the principal’s office for daring to have a “posterior” instead of concentrating on their education.
If we genuinely want to curb bullying, changing how kids dress isn’t the answer. We should emphasize teaching respect for all individuals, regardless of size, shape, or style. Let’s face it: it’s already a challenge for parents to find school-appropriate clothes. At some point, we must stop pretending clothing is the issue and address the real problem: bad behavior. Otherwise, kids will be left with nothing to wear but burlap sacks!
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Summary
A North Carolina school district’s proposal to ban tight pants, including skinny jeans and leggings, has sparked significant backlash from students and community members. Critics argue that instead of addressing bullying directly, the school board is imposing unreasonable restrictions on girls’ clothing choices, shifting the focus away from education and self-expression.