Adult Woman Attempts High School Dress Codes, Faces Hilarious Challenges

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Updated: May 27, 2016

High school dress codes have long been a topic of debate, but what happens when an adult tries to navigate these often ridiculous rules? One intrepid writer took on the challenge, attempting to make her grown-up wardrobe comply with the stringent dress codes from various American high schools. Spoiler alert: it didn’t go well.

In her quest, Buzzfeed journalist Emily Johnson gathered the dress code guidelines from eight different schools and decided to test them out with her typical work attire. The results were nothing short of chaotic.

Her first attempt was surprisingly manageable, thanks to a dress code that was “delightfully vague.” Phrases like “no unnecessarily revealing tops” left plenty of room for interpretation. But who gets to decide what’s “unnecessary”? This ambiguity gives educators a ton of power over what’s deemed acceptable, leading to an unfair and frustrating experience for students.

As Emily progressed through the week, the dress codes became increasingly absurd. At one school, tank tops were completely banned. Seriously? Are shoulders really that scandalous? Another school employed the notorious “fingertip rule,” which dictates that skirts or shorts must be longer than the length of a girl’s fingertips when her arms are at her sides. This rule is completely arbitrary—taller girls will have a much tougher time finding compliant clothing than their shorter peers.

One school even took things a step further by requiring that shorts and skirts be at least six inches above the ground while kneeling. Can you imagine having to kneel in front of a teacher for a measure-up? Emily decided to put this to the test, enlisting her male boss to measure her dress while she was on the floor. She described the experience as “terrible for everyone involved.” Ouch.

The final dress code Emily faced was truly a doozy, requiring her to adhere to a list of bizarre stipulations:

• Tops must be solid colors without collars, no designs, and no logos.
• All skirts must touch the bend of the knee.
• Shorts and skorts are banned after fourth grade.
• Shirts must have sleeves that cover the shoulders.
• Pants must be made from “substantial material.”

In a last-ditch effort to comply, Emily ended up wearing a pajama shirt, as nothing in her closet met the school’s stringent standards. What on earth is “substantial material” anyway? Burlap? And in a hot state like Texas, how is anyone supposed to stay cool in that?

By the end of her experiment, Emily concluded that the rigid dress codes could be a massive distraction for students, arguably more so than a teenage boy catching a glimpse of shoulder during class. She pointed out that these rules often depend on body type and whether a student can afford the right clothing to meet the dress code. For example, if you’re 5’10” and live in a warm climate, finding compliant shorts is a total nightmare. It’s just plain unfair.

Proponents of these dress codes argue that they prepare students for the “real world,” where dress standards exist in the workplace. While that may be true, Emily reminds us that high school is not the same as the corporate world. Perhaps it’s time for schools to reconsider these rigid guidelines so students can focus on what they really came to school for: learning.

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Summary:

An adult woman humorously navigates high school dress codes, discovering their absurdities and challenges along the way. From vague guidelines to arbitrary rules, her experience highlights the unfairness and distraction these codes can create for students. It’s time for schools to rethink these regulations to allow students to focus on education, not their outfits.