Dress codes have been in the news quite a bit lately, for reasons that span from schools not allowing girls to wearing leggings to girls being sent to change because they’re wearing tank tops that expose their collarbones (really) – all of which is deemed to be distracting to the boys in their classes.
Now, while most people agree there’s nothing wrong with teaching young people how to dress appropriately for different situations, that’s a far cry from putting the responsibility for what boys do and thinks squarely and solely on the shoulders of their female peers.
In an era of renewed feminism and #metoo, mothers and daughters across the country are standing up and saying that their daughters are capable of making their own decisions regarding their bodies and fighting to extend that right into schools.
Photo Credit: Charter Day School
That’s exactly what’s happening at Charter Day School in Leland, N.C., where girls’ uniform choices only allow for dresses or skirts.
Let’s say that again. In 2018, girls aren’t allowed to wear pants to school – and they (and their parents) are suing the Brunswick County public schools because of that fact. I mean, it’s one thing for a private school to have a required dress code, but once it moves into publicly funded schooling…
Parents claim that not only is the lawsuit a matter of principle (and equality and choice, etc), but there are practical considerations as well.
“There are a lot of situations – whether it’s playing outside, sitting on the floor, or trying to stay warm in the cold – where wearing a skirt makes my daughter uncomfortable and distracts her from learning,” argued mom Bonnie Peltier.
Erika Booth, who also has a daughter at the school, adds “I think it teaches girls they’re second-class citizens. They take second place to the boys. And it’s not right.”
Though the case has been going on for two years, the school shows no sign of backing down. Their attorney wrote in a letter to the ACLU that “the uniform policy is constitutionally and statutorily permissible and does not violate CDS students’ rights in any manner.”
Photo Credit: Charter Day School
The students aren’t taking any of that legalese lying down, as you can see by student Keely Burks’ fire-y statement:
“I don’t think anyone should have a problem with young women wearing pants. There are so many professional women – business women, doctors, and world leaders – who wear pants every day. I hope that by challenging my school’s policy, I can help other girls who want to go to school without being stereotyped or who just want to play outside or sit in class without feeling uncomfortable.”
Amen, sister.
There’s nothing wrong with girls who like wearing skirts and dresses. There’s also nothing wrong with girls who prefer to wear pants.
