Students worry dress code has gender bias

No sooner had the two new student members of the Pottsgrove School Board taken their seats Tuesday, then they received their first mission.

Following up on online Facebook conversations about the dress code in both Pottsgrove Middle School and high school, new student members Maya Stehle and Mason Mason McIntyre raised the subject with the school board Tuesday.

Both said they would like to explore some changes and School Board President Rick Rabinowitz said he too has become interested in encouraging “gender neutral” language in the dress code.

“I also agree that language in the handbooks that justify dress codes in a sexist manner such as ‘distracting the boys’ is highly inappropriate,” Rabinowitz wrote in a post on the PGSD Discussion Facebook page.

“I am more than happy to revisit the issue to see if there is need for further modification, either in the code itself, the language in our handbooks or the manner in which the code is enforced,” he wrote.

The discussion was sparked by the posting of an article about middle school girls who challenged the dress code (and its enforcement) of the Portland (Oregon) Public Schools.

“Ana Luiza, a seventhgrader, told a story of a friend who was pulled aside one day for wearing a skirt deemed to be too short. The friend sat in the principal’s office for hours while the staff tried to get ahold of her parents. She missed important classwork, and worse yet, felt humiliated by the ordeal,” according to the article, posted on the web site UpWorthy.

“The only reason I go to school is to get my education,” Luiza told the Portland School Board. “When I get dressed in the morning, my intention is not to provoke or be sexualized. My intention is to feel comfortable in my own skin.”

The article went on to note that according to many school dress codes in America, “you can get a dress code violation for almost anything: showing your midriff, shoulder, collarbone, leg, bra strap, or, in some cases, for just wearing something as harmless as spaghetti straps.”

And indeed, many of those same prohibitions can be found in the school dress code for Pottsgrove Middle

“I look forward to hearing what our student reps have to say.” Rick Rabinowitz, Pottsgrove School Board President

School, which Rabinowitz posted in the Facebook discussion.

The policy cites as examples of clothing “likely to create a disruption with classroom and school order” to include “unsuitably short, tight, transparent, and immodest clothing. Examples would include clothing with exposed midriffs, mesh shirts without undershirt, halter tops, tank tops, spaghetti straps, narrow strap tops, tops off the shoulder, and cut off clothing” among others.

Board member Bill Parker said at Tuesday’s meeting that he agrees with the need to give the policies another look.

Acting Superintendent William Shirk suggested that the conversation should “start with the student reps,” who should get input from students and report back to the board, a suggestion with which the board agreed.

Online, the conversation is ongoing.

Parker posted: “1) I agreed terms like ‘distracting to boys’ should have been removed (which they were) 2) I do not agree that dress codes discriminate against one gender over another. If a particular school does not hold one gender accountable equally as another, that’s different. ALL students should be held accountable for ALL rules, including dress code. I just did a quick read of the h.s. dress

code and see no concerns, but of course would be open to hearing opinions. For example, I feel strongly that midriffs should not be seen (on males OR females), spaghetti straps, I don’t feel as strong about one way or another initially.”

Rabinowitz posted after the meeting that although he had intended to raise the issue with the board, “Maya brought the issue up herself, indicating to me that at very least there is a perception of an issue from the student body (mirroring the sentiments expressed by some on this thread (and in other places on FB). I look forward to hearing what our student reps have to say. Worst case, the result is a validation of what we already have. Best case, revisions are made that resolve the concerns expressed by parents of girls, both from a policy perspective and from the enforcement of that policy perspective.”

“I do not agree that dress codes discriminate against one gender over another.” Bill Parker, Pottsgrove School Board member