LCI students feel school dress code targets females
PROTESTERS CONFUSED ABOUT WHAT THEY CAN WEAR
Emma Heyburn wants the teachers and staff at her school to know that a woman is more than her body.
On Friday, the LCI Grade 10 student and some of her friends wore white shirts with the message “A woman is more than her body” on the fronts in protest to what they say is unfair and confusing treatment of female students when it comes to the school’s dress code.
After students concerned with the dress code approached administration with their issue, posters were put up around the school which included additional restrictions on clothing.
“There’s a big difference between what was listed in the handbook at the beginning of the year compared to the posters that were put around the school,” said Heyburn.
“We’re asking for some clarity. We’re confused. We’re not sure what we can wear.”
Heyburn said part of the concern lies in how the dress code is interpreted differently by different teachers — creating many different versions of the dress code which students — almost overwhelmingly female, must navigate.
“There’s a potential for 53 different dress codes in the school,” she said.
Additionally, she says there is a double standard in the dress code when it comes to athletes and the rest of the student body.
The girls’ rugby team wears shorts that do not meet length requirements in the dress code; basketball jerseys show the side of the bra; volleyball shorts are “extremely” short and the shoulders show bare skin and bra straps.
“These are all things we’ve been told is unacceptable in LCI,” Heyburn said. “But those outfits all have LCI logos on them and are purchased for the students.”
The fact the school itself is providing clothing for students which violates their dress code policies is in itself confusing. Heyburn said the slogan was made because the dress code and the posters which were put up primarily targeted female students.
“The majority of the time at LCI, students who are dress coded are females. It’s embarrassing, and it can lead to bullying if you get called out on how you are dressed more than once, and by more than one teacher,” she said. “We wanted to call attention to the fact there is no dress code for the guys, and they dress however they want to. They wear similarcut tops as the girls, but the girls are told that it is not appropriate. It’s not a fair treatment in the school.”
Heyburn said she has not spoken with staff or administration about the issue other than someone asking her how many people were protesting.
School officials turned down a request to be interviewed, but the Lethbridge School District No. 51 issued the following statement:
“The dress code at (LCI) is consistent with that of the District’s three largest high schools, including Chinook High School and Winston Churchill.
“A poster which included additions to how the dress code could be applied, was posted in error as a result of a miscommunication, which has led to some confusion.
“In fact, the LCI dress code has not been updated, and remains consistent with the dress code currently found in the student handbook.”
As to Heyburn’s concerns regarding differential treatment between students on sports teams and the rest of the student body, LSD51 stated:
“LCI does not have a separate dress code for athletes, and recognizes there is a difference between clothing used for athletic purposes, and clothing worn by students on a day-to-day basis in the regular school setting.”
Heyburn says she hopes LCI officials will go back and really clarify the dress code in order to avoid relying on teachers to interpret it for themselves.
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