Outline for Third paper

Thesis: The sexually biased manner in which many schools across the country make girls’ dress codes shows the misogyny that is deeply ingrained in our society today.

Intro:

1. History of the dress code:
1. Constitutionality of dress code thanks to Tinker vs. Des Moines School District in December 1965
1. Students wore black armbands to protest US involvement in Vietnam
2. John and Mary Tinker were suspended, District court ruled “school upheld the constitutionality of the school authorities’ action on the ground that it was reasonable in order to prevent disturbance of school discipline.”- the nation
3. This case laid the groundwork allowing schools to discipline students’ right to free speech and expression.

1. Promotes Rape culture “Rape culture is the normalization of rape. It teaches it is the victim’s fault rather than the rapist’s fault.” - news paper clip tumblr
1. Girls wearing crop tops or tank tops are “asking for it” (harassment) because of what they’re wearing.
1. “My body is not a sinful temptation that needs to be hidden. My body is not your personal, sexual object. My body is not any more sexual than a man’s body. My body is not here to look ‘hot’ for you.” - huff post
2. “Teaches people that girls’ bodies are dangerous, powerful and sexualized, and that boys are biologically programmed to objectify and harass them” - Times
1. condones harassment, showing that the victim is at fault for it.
2. Makes sex seem like a dangerous, bad and dirty act, when in reality with consent, sex can be a positive and harmless thing.
3. One in five women is sexually assaulted in college
4. 1 in 9 teens are forced to have sex (1is2many) ^ -- Rape is never the victim's fault poster
5. We have received thousands of testimonies from girls who have complained about being verbally harassed, touched, groped, chased, followed, licked, and assaulted at school, only to be told: “he just likes you”, or: “boys will be boys”. The hypocrisy is breathtaking. - Times
1. “being a boy refers to your gender. That’s all.” - Huff post
2. “society has come to the conclusion that you are this stereotype (making boys constantly sexually aroused, animalistic or sexually uncontrollable” -Huff
2. Girl’s revealing clothes makes school a “distracting” environment (for boys)
1. “when a girl is taken out of class on a hot day for wearing a strappy top, because she is ‘distracting’ her male classmates, his education is prioritized over hers.” - Time
1. Further shows the deeply ingrained misogyny, that no matter what, the males education is more important.
2. “My principal constantly says that the main reason for it is to create a          ‘distraction-free learning zone’ for our male counterparts.” - the atlantic
1. Males not being able to control their behavior and stay on task - “male entitlement to your body in public space is socially acceptable”  the atlantic
2. Shows the lack of effort in teaching boys about respect and harassment: “Boys are not sexually uncontrollable. Boys do not have a genetic, animalistic, violent nature. Boys are not born with a natural desire for destruction or control.” - being a man shouldn’t be the only necessary justification for sexual harassment. - Huff post
3. We need to teach boys about respect and sexual harassment
1. Educate our boys “not to be distracted by their peers and not engage in misogyny and objectification of women’s bodies” - Riddhi Sandil (psychologist, founder of Sexuality, Women and Gender Project at Teachers College at Columbia University
2. Focus the energy on teaching boys how not to harass, rather than teaching girls how not to dress and how to avoid said harassment.
3. Real examples and emotional / physical effects on students:
1. Boys have been known to wear inappropriate clothing (with swear words, half naked girls, or anti-semitic signs) with little to no punishment. What’s more distracting? A girl wearing shorts, or a tank top, or a boy wearing an offensive shirt?
2. Example 1:
1. This girl was sent home for wearing revealing clothing. Can you see it? Apparently a teacher sent her to the office because her collar bones were showing. Since when were collar bones consider sexual or too revealing? To avoid showing her collar bones, she would have to wear a crewneck sweater or shirt. This leaves little to no wiggle room for the girls at this school.
3. Example 2:
1. This example is even more horrendous. This girl was sent home to change on the day of a test, which resulted in her missing the test. Where is she at fault? Her dress barely rises above her knees, and since when have knees been considered sexual? This is a prime example of when teachers made the dress code and boys level of focus seem more important than the girls education.
4. Emotional effects of these situations:
1. Embarrassment and ridicule from your peers
1. Amelie Meltzer expressed feeling “ashamed and confused” for wearing a tank top with straps less than three finger lengths apart.
2. She was given a bright yellow shirt saying “loaner” which can be interpreted in other negative ways.
3. On her way to the office, her fellow students did the usual “oooh you’re in trouble” which can be extremely humiliating for anyone.
2. Ruining self confidence:
1. Tumblr post: student expresses feeling insecure about her shoulders and legs after tank tops and shorter shorts were banned at her high school. She now even dreads wearing them into public outside of school, because school gave them a negative, and inherently sexual vibe.
2. “When you control a girl’s body - even if it is ostensibly for her ‘own good’ - you take away her agency. You tell her that her body is not her own.” MSmagazine
1. Obviously this can be catastrophic for someone’s confidence, when they try to dress up and look good, and they are shamed and made to change.
3. Strips girls of many opportunities and events:
1. Girls have been sent home, banned from school dances (like prom) and sometimes even suspended for their attire.

https://41.media.tumblr.com/e9548f450777a98b44425dab5e5d344b/tumblr_nvwn1ztlII1rr8pvto1_1280.jpg

http://mic.com/articles/127660/this-high-school-principal-believes-dress-codes-protect-women-from-being-sexualized?utm_source=policymicTBLR&utm_medium=main&utm_campaign=social#.cDbxXlVxY

https://41.media.tumblr.com/c99c856550d85a42e88107cf513b03f9/tumblr_ntw7my1aGw1rega7so1_500.jpg

https://40.media.tumblr.com/661277903c50ddd6b3ec14079b5af1e3/tumblr_nxip5dZlzQ1t8s3r2o1_500.png

https://36.media.tumblr.com/8ac42433235e5afa88ce0c83c90d6997/tumblr_nua0jcY4F11sss2a9o1_500.jpg

https://www.whitehouse.gov/1is2many

https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/v/t1.0-9/12274512_1199690913515437_3490998824347945041_n.png?oh=0ef284ae2a19c4840c24d4a05df12633&oe=56F3CC4C

http://omgimakatt.tumblr.com/

http://www.opposingviews.com/i/society/student-sent-home-her-inappropriate-outfit

https://40.media.tumblr.com/d4d64efcead3b8fa597048516231d964/tumblr_nt4gxjbh961qlv7eqo1_1280.jpg

Tags: #IAmMoreThanADistraction, #yesallgirls

Tbh school has made me really insecure about my shoulders. Ever since the banned us from showing them I’ve been really self conscious about them. Wearing shorts too, I can’t go into public anymore wearing shorts or a tank top. I really hate school for doing this and to be honest they really should stop with these dumb rules. What ever happened to teaching the next generations how to be smart? When your in a nursing home and can’t do things on your own would you rather have some one smart helping you, or someone to focused on their outfit to even pay attention to you. Think about it.

http://moralcommunities.com/school-dress-codes-and-the-sexual-objectification-of-girls/