Exploring high school dress codes can be quite a challenge—especially when they are applied to an adult woman’s wardrobe. In a light-hearted yet eye-opening experiment, one writer decided to test the waters by trying to fit her adult clothing into the rigid dress codes of several American high schools. The results were nothing short of amusing.
Emily Parker, a Buzzfeed contributor, gathered dress code guidelines from eight different high schools and embarked on a week-long journey of dressing according to these often confusing rules. At first, her experience was relatively smooth. The first school’s guidelines were “delightfully vague,” allowing her to wear an outfit she would typically don for work. However, this vagueness raised an important question: who decides what is considered “unnecessarily” revealing or “excessively” short? Such ambiguity gives school officials a lot of power over students’ attire, leading to potential injustices.
As Emily continued her challenge, the dress codes became increasingly complex. One school prohibited tank tops completely. Are shoulders really that scandalous? She also pointed out the absurdity of the “fingertip” rule, which states that skirts must be no shorter than a girl’s fingertips when her arms are at her sides. This arbitrary measurement can create significant disparities between students of different heights—taller girls are at a distinct disadvantage.
Another school’s policy required skirts and shorts to be at least six inches above the ground while kneeling. Emily humorously illustrated this by having her male coworker measure her dress while she knelt, resulting in a situation that was awkward for everyone involved.
The final dress code she tackled was truly something else. Prepare yourselves for this list of requirements:
- Tops without collars must be a solid color (no logos or designs)
- All skirts must reach the bend of the knee
- No shorts or skorts allowed after fourth grade
- Shirts must have sleeves that cover the shoulders
- Pants must be made of “substantial material”
To comply with these stringent rules, Emily resorted to wearing a pajama shirt, as nothing else in her wardrobe met the dress code standards. What exactly qualifies as “substantial material”? One can only imagine the discomfort of wearing heavy pants in the Texas heat.
Ultimately, Emily concluded that adhering to these strict dress codes can be a significant distraction for high school girls. So much so, it might even be more distracting than a teenage boy catching a glimpse of a shoulder in class. She emphasized that factors like body shape and financial ability play a considerable role in how effectively students can follow these codes. For instance, finding suitable shorts can be nearly impossible for a tall girl living in a warm climate.
Advocates of these dress codes argue they prepare students for the “real world,” where professional dress codes exist. But Emily asserts that high school is not quite the same as adulthood. Perhaps it’s time for schools to ease up on these regulations, allowing students to focus on what truly matters: learning.
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In summary, Emily’s experiment shines a light on the complexities and absurdities of high school dress codes. Her humorous take serves as a reminder that these rules can hinder the educational experience rather than enhance it.