Challenging Sexist Dress Codes in High Schools

Students are uniting to challenge the sexist dress code and advocate for equality.

### Challenging Outdated Dress Codes: A Student Movement for Equality
* 💡 "Once the light bulb was invented, we didn't keep reading by candlelight," highlighting the **need for progress and change** in school policies.
* 📜 The students are determined to challenge the **outdated dress code** that unfairly targets girls while allowing boys **more freedom** in their clothing choices.
* ✊ They plan to gather support through a petition and stand in solidarity, emphasizing that **self-expression should not be stifled by archaic rules**.
* 👗 A student recounts her experience of being reprimanded for wearing a shirt deemed "**inappropriately tight**," pointing out the **double standards in enforcement**.
* 📈 They recognize that standing up for themselves might lead to suspensions, but believe that "**standing up for yourself**" is **worth the risk**.
* 🗣 The group is encouraged to discuss their cause with fellow students and teachers, aiming to **dismantle the oppressive dress code**.
* 🎉 They express excitement about the potential impact of their movement, asserting that "**we are done apologizing**" for their choices and existence.
* 🌟 The students intend to seek help from supportive teachers, aiming to create a **more equitable environment for all students** at their school.

[Music] hey honey, you ready for your first day? Yeah, just a little nervous. Cute outfit. Thanks. Okay, let's get going. We don't want to be late for the first day of school. Okay, one minute. Okay, you got this. Just be yourself. Remember, you are enough. No coming [Music] and I don't recommend joining the swim team. Last time they got a new teammate, or do you say swimmer, or is it player? I have no clue. Well, anyway, last time a new swimmer person joined, they hazed her by freezing her swimsuit. Ouch. So, this is your locker. It's yours to do with as you please. Well, obviously, that's not completely true, but you get to keep your books in it. Check her out. Ignore him. Shouldn't you be taking an ice cream cone from a preschooler right about now? All right, I see you're playing the whole heart of gold thing. I like a challenge. Gross. Get lost, Sterling. Nice body. Oh, God. Seriously, just ignore him. Come on, we both know why you're dressed like that. You want the attention.

don't you what just happened. You met the dark lord of MLK High. So, who do you have first period? Um, chemistry with Mr. Levin. Me too, we can walk together. He's on the school board and he's a bit of a stickler about the rules, but I just kill him with my irresistible charm. [Music] Yo, yo, yo, Mr. Levin, new student in the house. Whoop, whoo, appreciate the excitement, Jordan. Hi, I'm Mr. Levin, welcome to chemistry. What's your name? There she is, it's Sterling. [Music] My name is Leticia, Leticia Torres. Ah, Miss Torres, I realize you're new, but I trust you've read the dress code. Yes, so can you tell me why your skirt is more than four inches above your knee? Oh, I'm sorry, I'm just tall. Uh, here, the dress code strictly states a girl's skirt must be less than four inches from her knee, regardless of stature, right? What about boys? Excuse me, are you a boy? You really want me to answer that? I have

to ask no okay then so take a seat and have your skirt fixed by tomorrow. I know you just wanted to impress me, man. You model or something? Please leave me alone. Come on, you know you like it. Why else would you dress like that? Yeah, why else? You clearly just want people's attention. Knock it off, okay, Miss Taurus. I'm going to have to write you up. You're disrupting the class. Yes, Jordan, I don't see how Leticia has been the disruption here. Don't you think Sterling, Shelby, and their friends are being inappropriate? We have a dress code for this very reason, Jordan, but thank you for your concern. Now mind your own business. So you're blaming Leticia for the boy's behavior? No, it sounds like you are. Okay, that's enough, Jordan. Come get your write-up too. What? I'm sorry, it's not your fault. Now can we get back to class, ladies? Yeah, can we? You guys have already been enough of a distraction. [Music] I am livid. No.

I'm infuriated. No, I'm mad. Can you believe them in this culture, in this day and age? I didn't mean to drag you into this. Don't you dare apologize. This is not your fault. You have long legs. How are you supposed to control that? I am tall. You shouldn't be apologizing for boys' inappropriate behavior or for that lizard of a human, Shelby. Yeah, there should be consequences for them. Yeah, we are done apologizing for merely existing. Um, you're in front of my locker. Oh, I'm so sorry. Excuse me, I'm gonna block you. So, what do we do? We do nothing. Wait, nothing? Well, not nothing, something. Okay, we do something, but what? You wear shorts or skirts like normal, like any person would when it's hot outside. So, we protest. We protest. Wait, the house is sweet. I'm the one who has long legs. I always wear cardigans because I get uncomfortable with the attention I get if I don't. Some days, I even sweat through my shirts because of it.

I'm so sorry. Yeah, and when the last time we got a heat wave, Mr. Levin wrote me up for my shirt being too tight. That's ridiculous. He said that my shirt was inappropriately tight, and in the school, it states that girl's clothing cannot be inappropriately tight, and nothing about the boy's clothes. Nothing. This whole system is rigged to oppress us. Exactly. No more death to the cardigan. But sometimes I like wearing it. It's comfy, of course. Death to the cardigan unless I feel like wearing it. We should really work on a better war cry. What about freedom cardigan? We should really drop the whole cardigan thing. It doesn't really get a point across. It's more than just about sweating. [Music] Women can do no. Okay, women can do anything they want. No dress code. Okay, hold on. Dress codes are okay. The dress codes are made to push women down, and women are capable of doing anything they bear in mind. Okay, women can do. Women are okay. Starting the car, Latifah, coming.

[Music] Hey, so I was thinking maybe we could talk to Natalie. Hello, ladies. Are you guys competing for my attention? Because I can date you both. Go away, Silver Baby. My name's Sterling. I don't care, and don't call me baby. She's got a bite today. I like it. I'll see you guys later. Are you sure we're doing the right thing? Yes, no, I mean yes. I think we're doing the right thing. Like, when people look back in history, they're gonna be like, They did the right thing. But in real time, it's gonna feel like we're making the biggest mistake of our high school careers. Oh, goody. I don't like getting in trouble. I know, me neither, but it's for a good cause. You know what? You're right, because we don't just say sorry for anything. Oh, that's good. Did you work on that? Yeah, workshopped it this morning. Do you like it for our logo? Love it. We should make t-shirts. Let's get through today before we start making merchandise.

Okay, well, well, well. Aren't you both just dying to get suspended? Go away, Shelby. You can't bring us down today. I beg your different. Do you? Yeah, I see what you guys are doing. You guys are just dressing like that that way you can impress the boys. It's not like we have time for you anyway. Fine by me. You couldn't pay me to go anywhere with that creep, right? Just barely looking good, girls. Hey, Jordan. I never noticed how um attractive you are, so [Music] [Music] so not that I'm doubting, but how exactly is this supposed to work? I didn't really think it through past the protest part. Perhaps we should think about that now, right? We need a new plan. Okay, but what? At this point, we only need one more write-up before they could suspend us both. I feel like we can implement a real change here, but we need support. Who could help us? So, Mr. Levin teaches chemistry, is on the school board, and he's the detention moderator. He's a

very lonely lonely man. Where are we going to get help from? Who? Natalie Schumer. [Music] She runs the drama program here. How do you know she'll help us? She's a teacher here. Well, for one, she lets us call her Natalie. And, and I did some light internet stalking and found that on her Facebook, she likes Bernie Sanders and Lady Gaga's pose. Let's talk to her. Remember, what makes a good actor is when they fight for something unapologetically. You have to give yourself permission to be ruthless, to be honest, and to be great. That was so inspiring. Oh, thank you, Jordan. Uh, what can I do for you today? You doing another one of those, uh, class fundraisers? Actually, we need your support on an issue we're fighting. We want to dismantle the system. I'm listening. So, we gathered you here today. It's just me. We gathered you here today because... because we think the dress code here at MLK High is sexist and oppressive. Right on. All right, before we go any further, um

What exactly are you guys proposing here? Because I can't get behind, like, face tattoos or anything, you know. Anyways, if you want to get a face tattoo, you know, before your prefrontal cortex develops, that's on you. But, uh, actually, you know, I think, yeah, is it okay if we say what we're doing now? Oh, right [Music]. We are done with this outdated dress code. I love the spirit. Okay, first, what we'll need to do is you guys need to gather support from other young women on campus, boys too. How? A petition. And then we'll be standing our grounds. The more people that we can get to stand in solidarity, the better. Are you guys okay to ride this out? Do you mean be willing to get suspended? How poorly would that look on college applications? I mean, standing up for yourself. It depends on where you're applying to. Harvard? Awesome. Baylor University? You might want to get used to oppression while you're young. I'm in. Me too. All right, I need you guys to get together, do the footwork.

and spread the news across campus. We need something big. We need something that will get everyone's attention. I will start gathering support from other teachers. All right, cool. Excuse me, guys. Hello. Oh, I know you guys know me as your class president, and today I have a pressing issue to discuss with you. So, we are all unique and have different body types, so why do they expect all clothes to be the same on all of us? Should we really have to pay the price just because some of us are taller or curvier than others? We also shouldn't be held responsible if certain boys don't know how to act. I think I'm gonna throw a party when you two get suspended. You know, Shelby, I really feel that if you just try to understand what we're doing, you wouldn't be so mean to us. So, you're calling me stupid? No, she didn't, because I'm pretty sure you just called me stupid. No, I didn't call you stupid. I said if you understood what we... So now you're talking to me like I'm hard of

hearing you're going to pay for this. He's impossible. So what were you guys talking about? Yeah, would you like to sign a petition? Yes, of course. Yeah, I'm in full support. Whatever you guys need. I am done with these double standards. Glad to hear [Music]. I heard you guys are starting some equality movement. What's your slogan? We are done apologizing. That's cute, real cute. What do you want, Sterling? Either sign the petition or step aside. Oh, still playing hard to get. Don't think I don't know why you wear your skirt so short or why your little friend over here shows so much skin. Don't you have a mother, Silver? What's my mom gotta do with this? Well, she's a woman, and this includes all women. Say your mom was wearing a dress, and she decided to go to the store where she got assaulted by some creep. What are you trying to say? Was it her fault for wearing that dress? Heck no. Joanne Sinclair's a saint. Nobody should ever touch her. What are you trying to say? You're verbally assaulting us.

and we don't deserve it. I never thought of it like that. So, you don't want my attention? No. Why did I think that you did? Societal conditioning. It's not your fault, but now that you know, maybe you could do better, make different decisions, stand up for a good cause. [Music] Girls, I'm afraid this means suspension. The school board is very clear about this. If you suspend us, you have to suspend all of us. Yep, Miss Schumer, a little help here. Every student signed the petition, even Sterling. Mr. Levin, it's time we start doing things differently around here. Making girls and women feel responsible for behavior that's completely in our control is unfair. I admitted I was wrong, and so should you, Mr. Lovin. Come on, don't you think it's a little odd that there are no rules for boys' clothing and a ton of rules for the girls? We should not hold the girls responsible if the boys are being inappropriate. We have to teach them to be better, but the rules are out of date, outdated.

meaning that we know better now, so we should do better. Once the light bulb was invented, we didn't keep reading by candlelight. I can't believe I've been so uptight. I was gonna say narrow-minded, but okay, you guys are right. You're all right. I will go to the school board. I will get them to give the same rules to everyone. I can't believe we did it. I'm gonna go down in history as the best class president this school has ever had. It's not your fault when someone decides to be inappropriate with you. Don't be afraid to stand your ground. Self-expression is just that: self-expression, meaning you decide how to express yourself. Don't let outdated ideologies keep you down. Thanks for watching. See you next time.

STUDENT Is SUSPENDED For VIOLATING Dress Code, What Happens Next Is Shocking | LOVE XO

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First Day of School: Leticia's Experience

Leticia is nervous but excited for her first day of school, receiving encouragement from a friend.

She learns about the school's swim team and encounters a mean classmate, Sterling.

In chemistry class, she faces a strict dress code enforcement from Mr.

Taking a Stand Against Inappropriate Behavior

The speaker is frustrated with the culture of blaming individuals for inappropriate behavior, particularly in relation to their physical appearance.

They discuss the idea of protesting and challenging the norm by wearing what they want, despite the attention it may bring.

The conversation shifts to strategizing for real change, seeking support from a teacher who is also on the school board.

Advocating for Body Diversity in Clothing

The class president is rallying support to address the issue of clothing expectations for different body types.

There's tension between students, with a plan to throw a party for those getting suspended.

The group is determined to make a positive impact, despite the fear of getting in trouble, and they discuss creating a logo and t-shirts for their cause.

Confrontation Over Dress Code and Double Standards

A group is discussing a petition for equality, with one person, Sterling, making inappropriate comments about the others' clothing.

The conversation escalates, with Jordan defending Leticia and questioning the blame placed on her for the boys' behavior.

The situation leads to both Leticia and Jordan receiving write-ups for their disruption.

The students are facing suspension for protesting the school's dress code, which they believe is unfairly targeting girls.

They argue that the lack of rules for boys' clothing and the outdated policies are contributing to the problem.

The students seek support from their drama teacher, Natalie Schumer, to help them fight against the oppressive system.

The speaker realizes the need for change and plans to advocate for equal rules for everyone at school.

They encourage self-expression and standing up against inappropriate behavior.

The group discusses gathering support through a petition and standing in solidarity to challenge the dress code, which they believe is oppressive.