The Dress Code Needs To Be 'Dress Coded'

IF I HAVE HAD ONE ENEMY, ONE FEAR, ONE MENACE IN MY HIGH SCHOOL CAREER, IT WOULD BE THE DRESS CODEEEEEEEEE

and yes I did scream this sentence while I actually wrote it... that's how traumatized I am :)

If anything needs to be dress coded, it's the dress code itself. And I hereby sentence it. 

The funny thing about the dress code is that it targets girls. And at my school, specifically black and latina girls. Now, are we surprised that the American school systems have errors that target marginalized groups. Well, no. But that doesn't make it any better. It's even more irritatable that they put the blame on young girls by telling us that we are causing a distraction. Well first off, what is SO distracting. My arms? My back? My belly button? My legs that I rarely shave because I am too lazy? (definitely a TMI but we will keep it in there for comedic purposes.) I truly do not understand how I am distracting anyone. My female peers seem to be minding their business. Even my male peers are starting to mind their business. I'm starting to think this is just a code made for teachers who forget not to sexualize young women. 

Now I'm not saying let's free the nipple at school. But some of these dress codes are ridiculous. Why am I getting in trouble for wearing leggings Mr. Administrator? Or is Mr. Administrator looking at something else? Now if young men got the same treatment, then maybe I would be less irritated, still irritated, just to a slightly smaller extent. Why aren't their shoulders distracting? Their legs? Their belly buttons? 

It's 2021, almost 2022. This 20th-century mindset and sexualization of young girls and women needs to be addressed and needs to end. It's not a cute look (although think of all the cute looks I would've had in school if it wasn't due to the dress code). It promotes insecurities and pushes the blame on girls who just want to be girls. Not to be accused of dressing like whores or strippers at the age of 14. 

It's not us that needs to be dress coded, it's the system that needs to be changed and the mindset of gross adults that needs to be shifted.