Administration a’dresses’ student needs through thoughtful, enlightened code

Much to the surprise of the students here at West, a number of unforeseen alterations have been made to the “infamous” dress code. In years prior, the rules were a bit more detailed as the dress code harped on a directive called “The 5 B’s,” which meant that there could be no visibility of one's bra, belly, boxers, buttocks, or breasts. The new general rule states that all students must wear a shirt, bottom, and shoes, with continued enforcement that bans profanity, drugs or alcohol, hate speech, and other forms of offensive imagery. These rules are sensible and concise in order to maintain a friendly learning environment. Within this revision of the dress code, a number of benefits are to be recognized. 

These open ended guidelines allow students to more freely express their authentic selves. Clothing is one of the most powerful forms of expression; it serves as an indubitable introduction to others, as well as being a window into one's personality, hobbies, and aesthetic. By allowing students to use clothing as a form of expression, they are able to confidently display their self-identities. As the month of September dwindles away, it is without a doubt that this school is blossoming with creative and personalized fashion.

Furthermore, it’s notable that many students are much more confident in their clothing as they no longer feel objectified and punished for being possible “distractions” to others. To be viewed as an object is to be stripped of a level of humanity. It makes students feel unvalued and uncomfortable in their own skin. Moreover, the past dress code was detrimental to high schoolers' already fragile self esteem. Especially considering female students were often under the scrutiny of the previous dress code, shown through the fact that four out of the 5 “B’s” applied to them.

 Ultimately, the “5 B’s” mentioned above presented unfair challenges to students, as female-targeted clothing does not always cater to the full coverage of undergarments. A common appearance of this is bra straps being an inappropriate thickness to be concealed by a shirt. Although this may seem like a minuscule issue, it’s actually very uncomfortable for a teenager to feel as if their harmless clothing choices are being misinterpreted as scandalous gestures. 

In the same vein, current fashion trends embrace cropped shirts for both males and females. This style of clothing is sold throughout the majority of popular retail brands and, as expected, teens are drawn to it by the magnetizing nature of staying trendy. However, when the “no exposed bellies or breasts” of the “5 B’s” was being enforced in past years, males seemed to be granted some form of immunity in regards to cut-off shirts. Of course, there were other instances in which this went the other way and neither were fair. This is just one example in which sexisim wormed its way into everyday school life through the constricting dress code. 

On the other hand, despite the liberation West’s students may feel with the new regulations, it is not to be overlooked that students may have lost a valuable lesson in the process. Dress codes and uniforms could also be implemented to prepare students for life after high school where, unfortunately, appearances can affect career opportunities. The incentive that dress codes provide is a way to familiarise high schoolers with the concept of dressing modestly and respectably for professional settings. Dressing appropriately demonstrates one's reputability in these situations. 

At the same time, however, society is rapidly changing; taking on more progressive expectations in the learning environment and the workplace. Students and others alike are embracing their ethnicity, religion, culture, and natural physical features. What used to be considered “proper attire” has shifted. Thus, it has to be said that our school has clearly made what looks to be a step in the right direction, considering student voices seem to be much more comfortable overall.

By Trinity Funnell 

Oshkosh West Index Volume 118 Issue I

October 6th, 2021