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What if your middle school girl came home from school one day and told you that she had to wear boy's gym shorts because the yoga pants she was wearing turned boys on. Well, this happened to a 13 year old girl for two days in a row at her school. Most schools in the United States have a dress code policy containing many rules for what kids have to wear. In the United States dress code has a very controversial background with many opinions for and against it. First, there are many dress code rules in schools. A handful of these rules include, no hats, no illegal substances can be advertised on garments, no sunglasses, and jackets must be worn with good taste ("Student"). Rules directed at a specific gender includes, "Female student can wear unsleeved garments that adequately cover their undergarments" ("Student"), and, "Male students have to wear sleeved garments" ("Student"). With rules comes opinions, and with opinions comes arguments. Second, Because of these rules there are many people with opinions againsts the dress code policy. Many student argue that a forced manner of dress is a infaction of their First Amendment rights ("School"). Meaning that the rules restrict them from doing what the first amendment says they can do. Other people argue that dress codes send the wrong messages to students. They declare that forcing students to wear similar clothing tells students that they cannot be trusted to make their own decisions. In the United States, parents spend

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What if your middle school girl came home from school one day and told you that she had to wear boy's gym shorts because the yoga pants she was wearing turned boys on. Well, this happened to a 13 year old girl for two days in a row at her school.

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Some offices have strict professional dress codes while others allow workers to don casual attire. For a company that is looking to project a certain image or to maintain good working relationships, a dress code may be an appealing idea. However, there are pros and cons to having a dress code, and many employers now feel that insisting on a dress code can do more harm than good. Let us take a look at the argument from both sides.

Pros of professional dress codes

Some companies require employees to wear specific types of clothing to make it easy to identify their roles. For example, banks typically require that all employees wear shirts with a logo or name tag to allow customers to be able to identify them easily. Likewise, most doctors' offices require that their staff wear white coats to help patients identify them as medical professionals. Even in corporate environments, items such as plain black lanyards versus logo lanyards can create a sense of distinction that differentiates higher-level employees from regular ones.

Dress codes are typically considered a useful way of maintaining professionalism in the workplace and promoting a consistent corporate culture. Business attire such as suits or blazers demonstrates a commitment to one's work. It is common for business leaders to encourage employees to dress professionally in the workplace to maintain a cohesive team image. This is particularly relevant for small and medium-sized businesses where team members may not interact daily but still want to present a professional image when interacting with clients.

Dress codes can help workers feel more comfortable and confident in the office. Research suggests that individuals who wear business clothing feel more competent and authoritative in their positions, which in turn leads to greater productivity. Some employees may feel that it is easier to pull off a professional image compared to wasting time worrying about personal style choices. This can also help employees to keep their work and private life separate. Workplaces that have uniforms may also promote a sense of unity, community, and belonging among colleagues.

Cons of professional dress codes

Dress codes can inhibit employee creativity by preventing them from expressing their individuality and creativity in their everyday work attire. Some people may have particular clothing items that they feel more comfortable wearing, but this may not be consistent with the company's dress codes. This can lead to employees feeling restricted at work or self-conscious about their appearance. It can also negatively impact a company's culture as people feel disconnected from the organization's values . Over time, employees may begin to feel resentment and discontent at work.

Dressing formally and staying crisp and clean can be a challenge for employees who need to travel to and from work on public transportation. It can lead to more financial pressure for employees who now not only have to pay for professional clothing but feel an increased need to choose more private forms of transport. This can create an additional burden on lower-income workers and increase the social gap between employees from different economic backgrounds. Some employees may face barriers to career advancement if they lack the necessary resources to purchase and maintain a high-quality professional wardrobe.

On the company's front, the costs associated with implementing and maintaining a professional dress code can be expensive as well. This is especially true for small businesses that do not have the resources to implement formal policies in this area. Companies may also experience backlash from their employees if they implement strict dress codes that are seen to be unnecessarily restrictive and discriminatory towards certain groups. The company may end up having to spend extra time and resources on mediation efforts with employees.

Which is best for your company?

Ultimately, businesses should decide what works best for their organizational culture and values. There are many factors to consider before deciding to implement a dress code at your workplace. You may want to spend some time researching different dress code models such as casual Fridays and business casual. This will help you to better understand your options. You can also look at how other successful companies approach this issue and identify strategies that may suit your business.

You should also consider the type of industry in which your business operates. For example, industries such as the legal profession are much more formal than others and require their employees to have a more professional and less individualistic appearance. Meanwhile, industries like design or technology benefit from the creativity and employees can wear whatever they want as long as they can get the job done. If you are unsure what is appropriate for your industry, take a look at key industry players and take a leaf from their book.

Finally, It is a good idea to consult with your employees before making any changes. This will help avoid employee frustration and resentment and ensure that the new policy will be well received by everyone involved. Employees should also be asked to provide feedback about any policies before they are implemented. This will ensure that your team members feel that they have a stake in the company and their work environment. Be sure to communicate any changes to your employees clearly and thoroughly so that everyone is on the same page.

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What Are the Pros and Cons of Office Dress Codes?

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Some offices have strict professional dress codes while others allow workers to don casual attire. For a company that is looking to project a certain image or to maintain good working relationships, a dress code may be an appealing idea.

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Fresno Pacific University News & Magazine

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Thanksgiving is coming, which means Christmas sales loom on the horizon. This week Scholars Speak offers a two-for-one offer on school dress codes from faculty of the Fresno Pacific University School of Education:

Scott Key opposes school dress codes because they teach students that conformity is more important than adaptability and do not prepare young people for the workplace and its emphasis on flexibility and problem-solving.

Larry Wilder favors school dress codes because they lead to a safer educational environment that increases students' ability to learn, increases equality between the sexes and tolerance among ethnic and social groups.

Pros of school dress code: helping students dress for safety

Each year more and more schools adopt some form of dress code. While some challenges have been made concerning their constitutionality, in general court rulings have supported codes that are instituted properly and can be shown to be rationally related to a legitimate pedagogical purpose. The safety of the children in the schools appears to be the overriding concern considered by the courts.

Public schools have the responsibility to have safe and orderly schools that maintain an environment conducive to learning. The National School Board Association estimates that approximately 135,000 guns are brought to America's 85,000 public schools each day. This is one reason school districts use to implement dress codes. Some schools even require students to have the belt line exposed at all times for fear of guns concealed under clothing. Additionally, educators report a decrease in violence, a reduction of fights in schools and improved student achievement when dress codes have been implemented.

Safety is one reason for a dress code; however, many educators believe that a dress code also promotes a positive educational environment. In an attempt to counter violence, many public schools implement a dress code or require students to wear uniforms. The idea of uniforms even reached the halls of Congress when then-President Clinton endorsed them in his 1996 State of the Union address. After this speech, the U.S. Department of Education disseminated the Manual of School Uniforms to all 16,000 school districts in the nation. The manual stated potential benefits, such as decreasing violence and theft, preventing students from wearing gang-related colors to school, instilling student discipline, helping to resist peer pressure, helping students concentrate on academics and aiding in recognition of intruders.

It is estimated that almost 25 percent of the nation's public schools are expected to have a dress code this year. In September, Philadelphia public school students started wearing uniforms for the first time. They joined districts like Long Beach, Clovis, Fresno, Huston and Dade County, Florida, in having a dress or uniform code. These codes were established because of the success demonstrated by districts with a dress code.

A survey reported by the New York Police Department listed many positive results after a uniform policy was begun in 2000: overall crime was down 14.7 percent and there was an improved sense of belonging and tolerance.

Other results of the research revealed that 68 percent of the parents believed the uniform policy improved overall academic performance. Eighty-eight percent of the parents thought the code reduced teasing between boys and girls. Eighty-four percent felt the uniform code promoted equality between the sexes. Perhaps most revealing was the fact that 80 percent of the girls and 62 percent of the boys reported liking to wear uniforms.

The United States has changed drastically since the early common schools. Horace Mann thought the best school was on a log with the student on one end and the teacher on the other. This was truly individualized instruction. With the number of students growing every year, problems arise. There are more people living in California than live in the entire nation of Canada. One out of every eight students in school in the United States is in school in California. Larger numbers bring different problems from those faced by Horace Mann.

It seems that if a dress or uniform code can possibly improve academic success, reduce violence, increase the safety of students, reduce class/economic envy and improve deteriorating schools, why not implement a code? The public schools must take whatever actions are needed to protect the children. If a dress code helps, then one should be implemented within the constitutional boundaries established by the courts. This issue seems not to be about civil liberties or freedom of speech but about improving our public schools.
Larry Wilder, Ed.D., directs the administrative services program in the Fresno Pacific University School of Education. He served the Clovis and Selma unified school districts in various capacities and spent 19 years at the Fresno County Office of Education, retiring as assistant superintendent
Cons of school dress code: helping students dress for success

The last days of summer saw students and parents shopping for school supplies and clothes from the list given out by their schools. Parents spent precious dollars, being told that this investment would pay dividends in increased student learning.

According to Yolanda Valdez, principal of Dinuba High School, "The dress code sets the tone for the atmosphere on your campus." While there are different types of dress codes, from school uniforms to acceptable attire, the primary rationale is increasing student safety through easing gang tensions. If students feel safe, they will learn more. Yet, perhaps the more important question may be: What are students learning?

Many educators suggest dress codes are intended to teach students what is acceptable in the workforce. This seems reasonable. However, it assumes there are uniform workplace expectations. Work does not only take place in offices and factories. Some employers-some dotcom companies, for example-care less about how their employees dress and more about their work. In addition, as technological advances continue, some traditionalcorporations encourage employees to work at home, with no dress codes required. There are also the people who run their own home businesses.

The lack of uniform approach to acceptable workplace dress does not mean each workplace does not have expectations. Rather, it means students need to adapt, not conform. Students need to learn to dress appropriately based on context. Dress codes do not facilitate this learning. Instead, dress codes teach students that conformity and obedience to authority are most important. Individuality is suppressed. Student voice is suppressed.

These outcomes do not match the qualities employers look for. Employers want adaptable workers adept at creative and critical thinking, good decision-making and effective problem-solving. While schools are charged with helping students develop these qualities, the purpose of schools has changed very little over the past 170 years.

During the early years of our republic, children went to private school, had a private tutor or learned at home. These approaches worked because the population was fairly homogenous, with a common language and set of values. However, increased immigration led many to conclude there was a need for an institution to Americanize children. Horace Mann started public schools to promote a common set of values through a common language used to teach a common curriculum. The structure, rules and expectations of the school also conveyed these mainstream values. Success in school depended on children learning both hidden and taught curriculum.

Today, children from diverse backgrounds come together in the giant melting pot called public schools. Mainstream values are still conveyed through expectations, rules, structure and curriculum. Dress codes are part of the hidden curriculum. It isn't enough for students to graduate with basic and advanced skills. Society expects them to be committed to capitalism and democracy, to hard work, honesty and the American Dream-and to dress appropriately.

Public schools are supposed to prepare students to participate in and contribute to American society. One way to succeed is to assimilate into the mainstream: to develop competence and internalize certain values. This means that conformity is the rule and students fit in or are left behind.

While developing skills and values is a good starting point, should conformity be the goal of public education? No. Our community and nation face many challenges such as discrimination, health care and pollution. New challenges will emerge. We need competent young people to meet these challenges and offer ways to move us toward a more just society. We need schools that help students develop skills-based competencies and critical thinking skills to become agents of change.
Scott Key, Ph.D., is a faculty member in the Fresno Pacific University School of Education. Before coming to FPU, he was at the University of Illinois and a member of the Small Schools Workshop in Chicago.
Schools need to move away from conformity to adaptability. Instead of suppressing students, schools should promote the development of individuality and voice to better prepare them for life after school. This means dress codes have no place in schools.

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Thanksgiving is coming, which means Christmas sales loom on the horizon. This week Scholars Speak offers a two-for-one offer on school dress codes from faculty of the Fresno Pacific University School of Education: Scott Key opposes school dress codes because they teach students that conformity is more important than adaptability and do not prepare young people for the workplace and its emphasis on flexibility and problem-solving.

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Clothing is one of the primary ways that students express their personalities and ideas when attending school. It can also be a way to show off the wealth of their family, express gang representation, or create inflammatory situations in an educational environment because of the graphics or words shared. That is why many schools in the United States and around the world struggle with the idea of a school dress code.

When there is a strict dress code policy enforced at individual schools or across an entire district, then those actions may interfere directly with the student's right to self-expression in some countries. Although most governments allow the local school board the authority to create, enforce, or avoid dress code programs, these policies cannot be instituted if they violate student rights.

The first school dress code law in the United States became active in 1969 after Tinker vs. Des Moines Independent School District allowed educational institutions to limit student expression if there are legitimate concerns that such an activity becomes disruptive to the learning environment. This incident involves several high school students wearing dark armbands to school as a planned protest against the Vietnam War.

A school dress code must balance the need to provide a safe educational environment with the freedom of speech granted to students in most developed nations.

List of the Pros of a School Dress Code

1. It allows students to focus on the educational environment instead of their clothing.
The goal of a school dress code is to create more equality within the student body. When you have a similar style being worn by everyone, then you can set the tone for the atmosphere in your school, on campus, or throughout the school district. This structure gives each child an opportunity to focus more on their studies because the visual discrepancies in socioeconomic status are much fewer. When students feel safe, then the information presented to them for learning can remain more relevant.

2. It reduces the amount of teasing that occurs in the classroom.
When dress codes were implemented in New York City, 68% of parents participating in the program said that their children experienced a general increase in their academic performance. 88% even said that there was reduced teasing between boys and girls because the policy promoted equality throughout the classroom. A vast majority of students also report that they like wearing clothes that are associated with a school dress code, which reduces the amount of tension experienced when trying to get ready for school.

3. It makes it easier for students to get ready for the school day.
When there is a clear school dress code available to follow, then there are fewer decisions for students to make when they are getting ready for the day. If a uniform is mandatory, then there are a handful of color options and clothing styles available that can be worn when in the classroom. You save time when shopping for these items as well because there are only a handful of choices available. Although the cost of new clothes can be a significant expense, the amount of time that parents and kids save when shopping for school apparel can help to offset some of that issue.

4. It offers the potential for hand-me-down clothes in some families.
When a school district offers a consistent dress code policy to follow, then families can save some money on their apparel needs because the uniform or mandated clothing can pass down from one child to the next. When you add this advantage to the opportunities for donated or low-cost items through the PTA and other local organizations, you can avoid the expense of purchasing new items for everyone each year. There will still be some challenges to face since you'll be storing more clothes for the year in your closets, but the issues tend to be more organizational than financial for many families.

5. It reduces the number of distractions that are present in the classroom.
As children get older, they begin to pay attention to each other more than they do to the curriculum. Clothing choices can make this problem even worse. If the apparel shows off the body, encourages violence, or creates other distractions, then it can impact the performance of every student in the classroom. By creating an effective policy that limits these issues, grades can go up, violence levels can begin to go down, and if there is a lack of branding as part of the school dress code, it can even reduce problems with economic envy.

"A dress code promotes a more serious school atmosphere which emphasizes academics and promotes good behavior," published Kosher Casual. "Dress codes have proven to increase student achievement by encouraging students to concentrate more on their studies and less on their wardrobe. A de-emphasis on clothing can also save money, as there will be less pressure to keep up with expensive trends.

6. It does not need to be a uniform to create environmental benefits.
When you have a school dress code policy in place, then you have several options available to you that do not necessarily include uniforms. The goal with this option is to create consistency while on campus without being too intrusive on the rights of the individual. You want to allow self-expression in healthy, positive ways while encouraging negative viewpoints to be offered in a manner that is appropriate for the environment.

When this advantage occurs, then it can create a sense of community in the school. Kids find it easier to make friends because there are no artificial barriers in place that suggest it isn't possible. This loyalty extends well beyond the school years, with alumni from the district often coming together with their children to support the learning process.

7. It allows the community to recognize students for their age.
Because some schools require a specific uniform to be worn when attending classes, any movement with this apparel on in the community identifies that individual as being in the K-12 system (or whatever grade levels are present in the family's specific school). This requirement makes it easier to identify who might be underage when purchasing a restricted item, such as cold medicine, alcohol, or tobacco products. Teachers can also use this advantage to pick out which kids are their responsibility because they will all be dressed alike.

Some students will try to get around this issue by wearing clothing under their uniform or packing a bag with alternative apparel. Because both decisions can still be controlled by the school dress code policy, it becomes easier to see who might be trying to break the rules.

8. It can help school administrators identify potential strangers on campus.
There were 82 school shooting incidents in 2018, which is the most there have ever been since 1970. Since statistics were first kept in this area in that year, there have been 1,300 total incidents. The next closest year was 2006 when there were 59 incidents. Over 50 kids, teachers, and administrators were killed at their school during 2018 because of this issue. When students must wear specific clothing items, it becomes easier to know who is supposed to be on campus and those who should not be around.

About 50% of the incidents which occur in the United States involve an individual who is not a current student at the school. Knowing who is coming and who is going can help someone stop an incident before it has a chance to start.

9. It is a policy which can save families some money when it includes a uniform.
The average cost for a school uniform is about $30 in most markets, with some families seeing some significant local savings. Pants and skirts are usually in the $17 range, while the shirts or tops are about $13 each. For the price of one designer outfit, the average family can purchase three uniform outfits that can be worn during the week. Then a shift in the routine to do a load of laundry during the week before doing it all on the weekend can help to manage the overall expense of this issue.

Families who rely on thrift stores, donations, and gifts for their school clothing will still struggle with the cost of a dress code policy. When funds are tight, it is usually easier to find clothes that match the regulations without paying for expensive brands.

10. It creates a disciplined atmosphere.
Students and families must follow a disciplined routine to ensure that they are in compliance with a school's dress code. By creating this expectation before a child ever steps into the classroom, it becomes easier to apply the lessons learned with this advantage in other areas of their life. Some children find it easier to plan for their future career, work on their homework assignments, and even make new friends because they made the choice to be in compliance with this policy, even if it was something that they didn't agree with in the first place.

11. It can stop gangs, cliques, or unhealthy social groups from forming.
Students of a specific age typically rebel against rules of some type. Since a school dress code seeks to create unity through equality, it can stop unhealthy cliques from forming on campus. When one social group believes they are superior to another one, then the foundation for bullying starts. That is often there are proactive interventions with uniforms or restrictions on clothing items in the first place.

List of the Cons of a School Dress Code

1. It creates another expense that parents must pay, even if they cannot afford the cost.
A school dress code can require parents to follow a specific uniform that their children must abide by when on school grounds. Although most policies only place limits on lewd, graphic, vulgar, or suggestive clothing, there are times when a public school district can require a uniform to be worn. When students must dress a specific way using particular clothing items, then the parents (not the school district) bear the responsibility for the expense. Even if there are scholarships, grants, or hand-me-down opportunities available, some households cannot afford this expense.

Catherine Pearlman had this issue happen with her daughter Casey, so her response to an issue with the school's dress code was that they could go find the clothing themselves. "I'd schedule a few afternoons and weekends for this endeavor," she wrote. "I can tell you from experiencing that just heading to the mall, Target, and the outlets won't cut it.

2. It forces households to do laundry much more often.
Let's say that you have a family of six at home and all four children in the household go to school where there is a uniform policy in place. Instead of wearing the school clothes all day, the kids will change when they return home to prevent ruining the items. That means you face double the laundry problems at home each week because of the requirement to follow a school dress code. Since your local district isn't going to compensate you for this extra utility cost, this disadvantage can offset any cost advantage that households might try to find. Over 40% of your utility expenses can come from this one chore in some communities.

3. It creates the potential for a gender bias.
When students have permission to dress the same way no matter what their gender identity or expression may be, then it can create a sense of unity for the classroom. Far too often, the goal of a school dress code is to limit boys to slacks and girls to skirts, which can create conflict with the administrative staff of the school. These traditional garments are not always the preference of this generation. Some girls prefer to wear slacks, while boys would appreciate the benefit of shorts.

If a student is unsure of where they stand on the gender spectrum, then forcing the child to conform to a specific role offers the potential of educational harm for the student in the future. Tori DiPaolo went viral with her yearbook photo in 2017 with the quote she included underneath it: "I'm sorry, did my shoulders distract you from reading this quote?"

4. It won't eliminate all of the teasing that happens at school.
Kids will find a way to differentiate themselves from one another. Even when a school wants clothing items without brand identification on it, most classmates know which families can spend more on items than others. There are the children who receive discounted school lunches, those who always bring a sack lunch, and then those who pay for a hot meal during the day as well. Even the difference in shoe brands can be enough to create enough socioeconomic differences between students to become a teasing issue.

Then there are all of the physical differences that can start teasing and bullying that a school dress code or uniform cannot cover. It might lessen problems in this area, but the policy cannot stop it 100% of the time.

5. It may create a poor reputation for some schools or districts.
Students who must wear a specific dress code become a reflection of the reputation of that school. When they cause trouble in their community when wearing a uniform, the school's colors, or some other item associated with the institution, then it can begin to give the district, administrators, and teachers a poor reputation. Should enough of these incidents occur involving groups of kids or families from the same area, then it can reduce enrollments in future years. This disadvantage occurs frequently when there are school voucher programs, waivers, or transfer opportunities available to families.

This disadvantage can occur because of the actions of the school as well. Kelsey Anderson was reportedly told to leave her classroom because her teacher said that she was "plus size" and "busty," which was distracting to the other students. Not only is this issue a body shaming concern, the incident could lead to potential legal action.

6. It forces the kids to wear clothing options which are not fashionable.
School uniforms create conformity by sacrificing usability. Many of the apparel choices involve institutional branding in some way. They are usually composed of bright colors, often representing the school as well, and made from tough canvas to promote better wear and tear. This design element creates an outcome where the students might not mind wearing the clothing when they go to the classroom, but then they get out of the apparel once they get back home. It is not unusual for kids to split their day into "school clothes" and "after-school clothes," which can impact how they approach their day.

7. It can cause teasing and bullying outside of the district.
If students must wear a uniform or follow a strict dress code policy as part of their learning experience, then it is not unusual for them to experience bullying and teasing when they are out in the community. Some schools, even if they are in the same district, do not follow the same standards or policies when it relates to what the kids can wear to the classroom. You might find more opportunities for unity on school grounds, but head out into the community and the story can be very different.

8. It can be enforced punitively, indiscriminately, or through the bias of an administrator.
A seventh-grader was asked to cover up a t-shirt that she wore to school that said, "Why be racist, sexist, homophobic, or transphobic when you could just be quiet?" Her teacher reportedly claimed that the text was offensive. A high school girl was given an in-school suspension for wearing torn clothing, and when confronted the staff told her mother that "she needed to consider the guys in her class and their hormones when choosing her wardrobe."

Then there was the high school principal in South Carolina who told students not to wear leggings unless the girls were a size 0 or a size 2. When there is an ambiguous dress code policy in place for a school that is based on personal bias for implementation, then it creates a circumstance where the only people the regulations benefit or those who are enforcing it on the kids.

A Final Thought on the Pros and Cons of a School Dress Code

A school dress code will typically follow common-sense rules that work to maintain the overall learning environment. Shorts might need to go to the knee, while t-shirts shouldn't have anything vulgar on them - such as swear words or verbiage that could contribute to violence on campus. Some schools will take this idea a step further to create a uniform policy that creates more equality in the classroom.

The only problem with a dress code is that it leads to the policing of students when they arrive at school each day. Administrators monitoring the clothing, and then punish anyone who does not follow it to the letter. There may be benefits to the learning process when there is more equality, but those advantages might wash out when the adults try to enforce the rules aggressively.

The pros and cons of a school dress code work to offer a balance that encourages healthy learning while still offering personal choices whenever possible. With some proactive efforts to resolve the potential disadvantages, most families can manage the issue in positive ways.

Author Bio
Natalie Regoli is a child of God, devoted wife, and mother of two boys. She has a Master's Degree in Law from The University of Texas. Natalie has been published in several national journals and has been practicing law for 18 years.

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Clothing is one of the primary ways that students express their personalities and ideas when attending school. It can also be a way to show off the wealth of their family, express gang representation, or

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Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
To access extended pro and con arguments, sources, and discussion questions about whether dress codes should be implemented and enforced, go to ProCon.org.
While the most frequent debate about dress codes may be centered around K-12 schools, dress codes impact just about everyone's daily life. From the "no shirt, no shoes, no service" signs (which exploded in popularity in the 1960s and 70s in reaction to the rise of hippies) to COVID-19 pandemic mask mandates, employer restrictions on tattoos and hairstyles, and clothing regulations on airlines, dress codes are more prevalent than we might think.

While it's difficult to pinpoint the first dress code-humans started wearing clothes around 170,000 years ago-nearly every culture and country throughout history, formally or informally, have had strictures on what to wear and not to wear. These dress codes are common "cultural signifiers," reflecting social beliefs and cultural values, most often of the social class dominating the culture. Such codes have been prevalent in Islamic countries since the founding of the religion in the seventh century, and they continue to cause controversy today-are they appropriate regulations for maintaining piety, community, and public decency, or are they demeaning and oppressive, especially for Islamic women?

In the West, people were arrested and imprisoned as early as ​​1565 in England for violating dress codes. The man in question, a servant named Richard Walweyn, was arrested for wearing "a very monsterous and outraygeous great payre of hose" (or trunk hose) and was imprisoned until he could show he owned other hose "of a decent & lawfull facyon." Other dress codes of the time reserved expensive garments made of silk, fur, and velvet for nobility only, reinforcing how dress codes have been implemented for purposes of social distinction. Informal dress codes-such as high-fashion clothes with logos and the unofficial " Midtown Uniform" worn by men working in finance-underscore how often dress codes have been used to mark and maintain visual distinctions between classes and occupations. Other dress codes have been enacted overtly to police morality, as with the bans on bobbed hair and flapper dresses of the 1920s. Still other dress codes are intended to spur an atmosphere of inclusiveness and professionalism or specifically to maintain safety in the workplace.

PRO

Dress codes enforce decorum and a serious, professional atmosphere conducive to success.

Uniformly mandated dress codes promote safety.

Dress codes promote inclusiveness and a comfortable, cooperative environment while eliminating individualistic attire that can distract from common goals.

CON

Dress codes reinforce racist standards of beauty and dress.

Uniformly mandated dress codes are seldom uniformly mandated, often discriminating against women and marginalized groups.

Dress codes bolster religious and cultural intolerance.

This article was published on May 6, 2022, at Britannica's ProCon.org, a nonpartisan issue-information source.

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To access extended pro and con arguments, sources, and discussion questions about whether dress codes should be implemented and enforced, go to ProCon.org. While the most frequent debate about dress codes may be centered around K-12 schools, dress codes impact just about everyone's daily life.

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History of School Uniforms
Traditionally favored by private and parochial institutions, school uniforms are being adopted by US public schools in increasing numbers. According to a 2020 report, the percentage of public schools that required school uniforms jumped from 12% in the 1999-2000 school year to 20% in the 2017-18 school year. School uniforms were most frequently required by elementary schools (23%), followed by middle (18%), and high schools (10%).

The first recorded use of standardized dress in education may have been in England in 1222, when the Archbishop of Canterbury mandated that students wear a robe-like outfit called the " cappa clausa." The origin of the modern school uniform can be traced to 16th Century England, when the impoverished "charity children" attending the Christ's Hospital boarding school wore blue cloaks reminiscent of the cassocks worn by clergy, along with yellow stockings. As of Sep. 2014, students at Christ's Hospital were still wearing the same uniform, and according to the school it is the oldest school uniform still in use. When Christ's Hospital surveyed its students in 2011, 95% voted to keep the traditional uniforms. Read more history...

Pro & Con Arguments

Pro 1

School uniforms deter crime and increase student safety.

In Long Beach, California, after two years of a district-wide K-8 mandatory uniform policy, reports of assault and battery in the district's schools decreased by 34%, assault with a deadly weapon dropped by 50%, fighting incidents went down by 51%, sex offenses were cut by 74%, robbery dropped by 65%, possession of weapons (or weapon "look-alikes") decreased by 52%, possession of drugs went down by 69%, and vandalism was lowered by 18%.

And, school uniforms prevent the display of gang colors and insignia, reducing gang activity and pressure to join on school property. The U.S. Department of Education's Manual on School Uniforms stated that uniform policies can "prevent gang members from wearing gang colors and insignia at school" in order to "encourage a safe environment." Educators in the Long Beach Unified School District have speculated that the sharp reduction in crime following the introduction of school uniforms was a result of gang conflicts being curbed. Osceola County, Florida School Board member Jay Wheeler reports that the county's schools had a 46% drop in gang activity after their first full school year with a mandatory K-12 uniform policy. Wheeler explains that "clothing is integral to gang culture... Imagine a U.S. Armed Forces recruiter out of uniform trying to recruit new soldiers; the success rate goes down. The same applies to gang recruitment." [35] [37] [67]
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Pro 2

School uniforms keep students focused on their education, not their clothes.

Wearing uniforms also enhances school pride, unity, and community spirit, which can boost interest in education. A study of over 1,000 Texas middle school students found that students in uniform "reported significantly more positive perceptions of belonging in their school community than reported by students in the standard dress group." Christopher P. Clouet, former Superintendent of the New London Public Schools in Connecticut, stated that "the wearing of uniforms contributes to school pride." Arnold Goldstein, PhD, head of the Center for Research on Aggression at Syracuse University, points out that uniforms help troubled students feel they have the support of a community: "There is a sense of belonging." Further, "teachers perceived an increase in the level of respect, caring, and trust... throughout the school" and "students are made to feel 'important' and as if they are a part of a team by wearing a uniform," according to a peer-reviewed study.

Plus, school uniforms can improve attendance and discipline. A study by researchers at the University of Houston found that the average absence rate for girls in middle and high school decreased by 7% after the introduction of uniforms, and behavioral problems lessened in severity. School uniforms make getting ready for school easier, which can improve punctuality.
When uniforms are mandatory, parents and students do not spend time choosing appropriate outfits for the school day. According to a national survey, over 90% of US school leaders believe school uniform or formal dress code policies "eliminate wardrobe battles with kids," make it "easier to get kids ready in the morning," and create a "time saving in the morning." Tracey Marinelli, Superintendent of the Lyndhurst School District in New Jersey, credits the district's uniform policy for reducing the number of students running late. Lyndhurst student Mike Morreale agrees, stating that "it's so much easier to dress than having to search for clothes and find out that something doesn't match." A Youngstown State University study of secondary schools in Ohio's eight largest school districts found that school uniform policies improve rates of attendance, graduation, and suspension.
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Pro 3

Students' legal right to free expression remains intact with mandatory school uniforms.

Besides, students can still express their individuality in school uniforms by introducing variations and adding accessories. Junior high school student Amelia Jimenez wrote in her op-ed for the Pennsylvania Patriot-News that "contrary to popular belief, uniforms do not stop students from being themselves. Uniforms do not silence voices. Students can wear a variety of expressive items, such as buttons or jewlery." Students can inject their personal style into their daily look with hairstyles, nail polish, and colorful accessories such as bags, scarfs, and fun socks. 54% of eighth-graders said they could still express their individuality while wearing school uniforms.

Further, students dressed in uniform are better perceived by teachers and peers. A 1994 peer-reviewed study found that students in uniform were perceived by teachers and fellow students as being more academically proficient than students in regular clothes. The study also found that students in uniform were perceived by peers and teachers as having higher academic potential, and perceived by peers as being better behaved. Students need to learn a balance between free expression and working within the confines of expectations.
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Con 1

School uniforms do not stop bullying and can actually increase violent attacks.

Further, a peer-reviewed study found that "school uniforms increased the average number of assaults by about 14 [per year] in the most violent schools." A Texas Southern University study found that school discipline incidents rose by about 12% after the introduction of uniforms. And, according to the Miami-Dade County Public Schools Office of Education Evaluation and Management, fights in middle schools nearly doubled within one year of introducing mandatory uniforms.
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Con 2

School uniforms do not improve attendance, academic preparedness, or exam results.

The problems arise because focusing on uniforms takes attention away from finding genuine solutions to problems in education. Spending time and effort implementing uniform policies detracts from more effective efforts to reduce crime in schools and boost student performance. More substantive improvements to public education could be achieved with smaller class sizes, tightened security, increased parental involvement, improved facilities, and other measures. Tom Houlihan, former Superintendent of Schools in Oxford, North Carolina, stated that school uniforms "are a distraction from focusing on systematic and fundamental transformation to improve our schools."

That uniform policies are a distraction is most evident when we realize that the push for school uniforms is driven by commercial interests rather than educational ones. Americans spend around $1 billion on school uniforms every year. Retailer J.C. Penney Co. says school uniforms are "a huge, important business for us." In one year alone, uniform company Lands' End spent $3 million on marketing efforts directed at public schools and districts. Multiple studies used to promote the effectiveness of uniforms were partly funded by Lands' End, and at least one of those studies is "so wholly flawed as to render itself useless," according to David L. Brunsma. Reuters reported that retailers were "sensing their opportunity... stepping up competition in the uniform aisles and online. Walmart has set up 'uniform shops' or temporary boutiques within some stores."

The commercialization of school uniforms in public schools also undermines the promise of a free education by imposing an extra expense on families. Parents already pay taxes, and they still need to buy regular clothes for their children to wear when they're out of school and for dress-down days. The Children's Commission on Poverty (UK) found that over "95% of parents on low incomes reported difficulties in meeting school-related costs," including uniforms, despite their children attending tuition-free schools. Anderson, Indiana, parents Laura and Scott Bell argued against their children's school uniform policy, saying the $641 for their children's uniforms broke the guarantee of a free public education. In York County, Pennsylvania, a local NBC affiliate reported that some children were missing class because their families couldn't afford to purchase the required uniforms. And, all of that is before the uniform policies themselves are examined. Most operate like dress codes and are classist, racist, and sexist.
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Con 3

School uniforms restrict students' freedom of expression.

Uniforms take away the ability to use clothing as means of expressing support for social causes. Students at Friendly High School in Prince George's County, MD, were not allowed to wear pink shirts to support Breast Cancer Awareness Month and 75 students received suspensions for breaking the school's uniform restrictions. Removing these choices can delay the transition into adulthood. Adults make their own clothing choices and have the freedom to express themselves through their appearance. Denying children and teenagers the opportunity to make those choices may make them ill-prepared for the adult world. Adolescents see clothing choices as a means of identification, and seeking an identity is one of the critical stages of adolescence, according to the late developmental psychologist Erik Erikson.

When students have to wear the same outfits, rather than being allowed to select clothes that suit their body types, they can suffer embarrassment at school. Child and teen development specialist Robyn Silverman says that students, especially girls, tend to compare how each other looks in their uniforms: "As a body image expert, I hear from students all the time that they feel it allows for a lot of comparison... So if you have a body that's a plus-size body, a curvier body, a very tall body, a very short body, those girls often feel that they don't look their best." A study by researchers at Arizona State University found that "students from schools without uniforms reported higher self-perception scores than students from schools with uniform policies." Some students also find uniforms less comfortable than their regular clothes, which may not be conducive to learning.
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Did You Know?

1. The first school district in the United States to require all K-8 students to wear uniforms was Long Beach, CA, in Jan. 1994.

2. Americans spend around $1 billion per year on school uniforms.

3. Students at Eton, one of England's most prestigious schools, were required to wear black top hats and tails on and off campus until 1972.

4. US schools with a minority student population of 50% or more are four times as likely to require uniforms than schools with a minority population of 20-49%, and 24 times more likely than schools with minority populations of 5%-19%.

5. A government agency in Sweden declared that mandatory school uniforms were a human rights violation, stating that students should decide their dress and appearance as "a matter of the individual's freedom and integrity."

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School Uniforms Pros and Cons - 13 Arguments For and Against

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Proponents say uniforms may increase student safety. Opponents say uniforms restrict expression. Explore both sides of the debate.

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While the most frequent debate about dress codes may be centered around K-12 schools, dress codes impact just about everyone's daily life. From the "no shirt, no shoes, no service" signs (which exploded in popularity in the 1960s and 70s in reaction to the rise of hippies) to COVID-19 pandemic mask mandates, employer restrictions on tattoos and hairstyles, and clothing regulations on airlines, dress codes are more prevalent than we might think.

While it's difficult to pinpoint the first dress code-humans started wearing clothes around 170,000 years ago-nearly every culture and country throughout history, formally or informally, have had strictures on what to wear and not to wear. These dress codes are common "cultural signifiers," reflecting social beliefs and cultural values, most often of the social class dominating the culture. Such codes have been prevalent in Islamic countries since the founding of the religion in the seventh century, and they continue to cause controversy today-are they appropriate regulations for maintaining piety, community, and public decency, or are they demeaning and oppressive, especially for Islamic women?

In the West, people were arrested and imprisoned as early as ​​1565 in England for violating dress codes. The man in question, a servant named Richard Walweyn, was arrested for wearing "a very monsterous and outraygeous great payre of hose" (or trunk hose) and was imprisoned until he could show he owned other hose "of a decent & lawfull facyon." Other dress codes of the time reserved expensive garments made of silk, fur, and velvet for nobility only, reinforcing how dress codes have been implemented for purposes of social distinction. Informal dress codes-such as high-fashion clothes with logos and the unofficial " Midtown Uniform" worn by men working in finance-underscore how often dress codes have been used to mark and maintain visual distinctions between classes and occupations. Other dress codes have been enacted overtly to police morality, as with the bans on bobbed hair and flapper dresses of the 1920s. Still other dress codes are intended to spur an atmosphere of inclusiveness and professionalism or specifically to maintain safety in the workplace.

Should Dress Codes Be Implemented and Enforced?

Pro 1

Dress codes enforce decorum and a serious, professional atmosphere conducive to success.

High school athletes at St. Louis Park High School in Minnesota agreed that their teams' dress code days (which include dressing up on game days) positively contributed to team unity. Brendan Donahue, a hockey player, said participating in dress code days better prepared him for games. He stated, "The dress codes add a further feeling of connection, teamwork and bond by wearing the same thing. It acts as a uniform much like our jerseys. Our dress code of dressing up adds a feeling of professionalism to our team and sport."
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Pro 2

Uniformly mandated dress codes promote safety.

From school chemistry labs to manufacturing jobs, some dress code requirements are obviously about safety. Many places require protective glasses, steel-toed boots, fire-resistant jackets, hard hats, or reflective vests, for example.

Other items of clothing may be restricted for less obvious safety reasons. Leggings, for example, are frequently made from synthetic, flammable materials that could react with spilled chemicals and catch fire. Similarly, skin-baring clothing may also be banned around chemicals to prevent burns.

Religious headscarves have been banned in some settings, such as prisons, because wearers could be strangled by the garments in an altercation.

Still other dress codes, such as no full-face masks (like Halloween masks) allowed in movie theaters, are intended to help prevent shootings and other violence.

Other clothing restrictions at schools and public places may seem arbitrary but are used to protect against gang activity. Colors, brands, and logos may be gang-affiliated in certain locations. As Lincoln Public Schools in Nebraska explained, "Clothing and accessories associated with gangs and hate groups have the potential to disrupt the learning environment by bringing symbols that represent fear and intimidation of others into classrooms. The identification and prohibition of this clothing help decrease the impact of gangs and hate groups in school. These rules also protect students who are unaware they are wearing clothes with a gang or hate group affiliation."
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Pro 3

Dress codes promote inclusiveness and a comfortable, cooperative environment while eliminating individualistic attire that can distract from common goals.

As Bonneville Academy, a STEM school in Stansbury Park, Utah, explained, "The primary objective of a school dress code is to build constant equality among all the students. When all the students wear the same style of dress, then there will be the same kind of atmosphere across the school campus. This pattern encourages the student to concentrate more on their academic and co-curricular activities... then all the learning becomes more interesting and relevant... Students who are used to dress[ing] properly will be well equipped to evolve into the actual world, especially when they enter into the ever-competitive job market."

Susan M. Heathfield, a management and organization development consultant, stated, "Employees appreciate guidance about appropriate business attire for your workplace-especially when you specify a rationale for the dress code that your team has selected." Simply knowing whether suits are required or jeans are appropriate removes guesswork for employees, which leads to a more comfortable work environment. Similarly, dress codes can make a disparate group of people feel like a team-no one is left out or judged differently solely on the basis of the way they dress.

Dress codes can also make workplace hierarchies friendlier and more work-conducive. A manager who dresses in suits with ties may intimidate employees who wear branded polo shirts and khakis, preventing effective communication.

Further, dress codes mean employees and customers or clients won't be distracted by individualistic clothing. For example, a customer of Nebraska State Bank & Trust Co. complained to the bank's president about a branch employee's outfit of mismatched tunic and leggings, fringed boots, and large earrings. A customer complaint can not only alienate the customer but also distract employees from their tasks and potentially embarrass or shame the employee whose outfit sparked the complaint.
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Con 1

Dress codes reinforce racist standards of beauty and dress.

As the National Women's Law Center summarized, "Black girls face unique dress and hair code burdens. For example, some schools ban styles associated with Black girls and women, like hair wraps. Black girls also face adults' stereotyped perceptions that they are more sexually provocative because of their race, and thus more deserving of punishment for a low-cut shirt or short skirt."

Assistant Superintendent and Principal of Evanston Township High School, Marcus Campbell spoke about changing an outdated dress code: "if certain females were not a certain body type, if they had more curves or they had certain features that were developed, they were dress coded over another young lady who may not have the same features but were wearing the exact same items. Our young women of color were dress coded more than our white girls were. So we found it to be racist, we found it to be sexist, we found it to be antiquated. It was not body positive, and there was just trouble all around with our dress code, and we knew we needed to make a change."

Black male students are often "dress coded" at schools for hoodies, low-rise or baggy pants, and do-rags. Black boys were also more likely to be disciplined (suspended, for example) for a dress code violation than non-Black students.

As Dialectic, a company that counsels workplaces, concluded, "Traditional dress codes work to police certain kinds of bodies. They ensure that employees follow the practices of the dominant culture. Under the guise of professionalism, dress codes tend to punish marginalized groups of employees for refusing to conform."
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Con 2

Uniformly mandated dress codes are seldom uniformly mandated, often discriminating against women and marginalized groups.

Girls in school are frequently "dress-coded" for "too short" shorts and skirts, "too thin" tank top straps, leggings, and other clothing that might be a "distraction to boys."

Fourth-grade teacher ​​Marci Kutzer said these rules send a clear message to girls: "A boy's education can be compromised by your gender. Please do what you can to neutralize it."

The problems follow women into the workplace. A leaked training presentation from Ernst & Young coached women to "look healthy and fit" with a "good haircut, manicured nails, well-cut attire that complements your body type," but not to wear too-short skirts because "sexuality scrambles the mind."
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Con 3

Dress codes bolster religious and cultural intolerance.

Only in 2019 did US Congress change the 1837 rule that banned headwear of any sort, including religious headwear such as kippahs, hijabs, and turbans.

While the United States protects religious expression and cannot ban religious wear as France has banned burqas and hijabs, American dress codes frequently use acceptability standards to less explicitly ban religious garb.
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Discussion Questions
1. Consider the official dress codes in your daily life. How are dress codes implemented in your school, workplace, and/or religious institutions? Do you find these appropriate? Restrictive? Explain your answer(s).

2. Consider the unofficial dress codes in your life. What do your friends think is acceptable for various occasions? What do you wear when visiting a place of worship or to grandma's house for a special dinner? How do you dress differently when hanging around with friends than when going on a date? Do you find these formal and informal codes appropriate or restrictive? Explain your answer(s).

3. If you have to choose one, would you prefer a uniform policy for school and work, just a dress code, or neither? Explain your answer.
Take Action
1. Consider the pros of dress codes with Bonneville Academy.

2. Analyze students' rights about school dress codes with the ACLU.

3. Examine the history of rules and laws about clothing and the contemporary repercussions with law professor Richard Thompson Ford.

4. Consider how you felt about the issue before reading this article. After reading the pros and cons on this topic, has your thinking changed? If so, how? List two to three ways. If your thoughts have not changed, list two to three ways your better understanding of the "other side of the issue" now helps you better argue your position.

5. Push for the position and policies you support by writing US national senators and representatives.
Sources

23.

Lincoln Public Schools, "Increased Awareness of Dress Code Guidelines Related to Gangs, Hate Groups," lps.org (accessed Mar. 1, 2022)

More Social Debate Topics
1. Should Students Have to Wear School Uniforms? - Proponents say uniforms may increase student safety. Opponents say uniforms restrict expression.

2. Is Cancel Culture (or "Callout Culture") Good for Society? - Proponents say cancel culture allows people to seek accountability. Opponents say it amounts to online bullying.

3. Are Social Media Sites Good for Our Society?- Proponents say social media spreads information faster than any other media. Opponents say it enables the spread of unreliable information.

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Dress Codes - Top 3 Pros and Cons | ProCon.org

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Some argue that dress codes are important to promote success, safety, and inclusivity. While others argue that dress codes are racist, sexist, and culturally intolerant.