Illustration by William Rerick/The Dakota Student.

There is a place for dress codes in any environment — work, religious gatherings, concerts, schools, etc. Having such codes established provides a sense of general consistency for the situation, and they’re nothing new.

Dress codes have never been static; they change as years pass and fashions evolve.

There’s always going to be opposition to a mandatory ruling of any kind. There will also always be those wishing for more strict rules.

Both perspectives play a huge role in the modifications of these policies.

I remember in elementary school, there was a normal day that turned into that of scandal — make up residue was found on the sink of the girls bathroom. Who dun’ it? Make-up wasn’t allowed! What sort of rebel applied makeup that morning as well as brought the illegal substance into the school? Such corruption in such a safe neighborhood! Where have we gone wrong?

The suspect was found later that day and sent to the principal’s office; we were lucky they didn’t have to send in the SWAT team.

As I progressed through my years of schooling, I was told my skirts and shorts were to be a certain length and tank tops were strictly forbidden. As a child who wore whatever she pleased whether it was fashionable or not, I was slightly disgruntled that I couldn’t wear my favorite pair of shorts or tanks to school, especially on hot days.

Even in winter, I would try and wear the fattest strapped tank tops because I would become too warm in school. Though I was never tried in high court for wearing them, I often got the pursed-lip look from teachers or aids and, at most, was told to put on a sweater.

Starting college was a haven for my odd choices of clothing — I’m all about those crop tops, flannels and beanies as an outfit — though the social sanctions that teachers engraved in our minds still exist. These can often manifest in situations of victim blaming: “She was wearing what? It’s a little ‘slutty’…Well, she was surely asking for it!” No one asks for such attention, especially with what they are wearing (heaven forbid someone dresses for themselves).

Girls developing earlier than boys also plays into this issue — a more developed young girl might have more difficulty keeping covered as well as being comfortable because of cuts of tops or bottoms that would not be an issue for other girls. This combined with hormonally confused boys leads to awkward and sometimes distressing situations for these girls who are at school to get an education, not to be ogled at by a stinky boy with a peach colored mustache.

This kind of situation is not uncommon. A school in Devils Lake, N.D. is dealing with this right now with yoga pants/jeggings/leggings.

School officials say they are too distracting to the male students and faculty. The school even went so far as to show girls segments of the movie “Pretty Woman.”

The truth is you have teachers who are distracted by female minors who say those female minors who decided to wear something comfortable and popular are behaving like prostitutes. As if teenage girls need to be anymore reproved than they already are.

I don’t know a girl who doesn’t own yoga pants or leggings, even if they’re simply worn in-house. As we are visited with a lovely, monthly gift of womanhood, such pant-wear is often the best bet to lessen pressure on our abdomens. But even if that’s not the case, they’re comfortable and easily dressed up to fit almost any occasion. Even within a fairly close proximity, it can be difficult to distinguish black bottoms as trousers, skinny jeans, or a type of legging.

Looking at Devils Lake today, does this mean girls are distracting guys with their dress pants, jeans or sweatpants? If these men are so incredibly distracted by these girls’ bodies, should they really have a guardian-like position of power over them in the first place ? The fact that they are is incredibly concerning. Any girl or woman has the right to enter any environment with absolutely whatever outfit and not be harassed in any way.

If such banning policies are seriously being considered, shouldn’t boys not be allowed to wear basketball shorts or sweatpants? They aren’t exactly subtle when adjusting themselves, even more, containing their manhood in these sorts of bottoms. I haven’t heard anything from female faculty about boys who wear these, except for the fact they need to be more discreet with their adjustments as it is just awkward to be around.

This entire circumstance is quite obviously a prime example of how patriarchal our society is still today. Girls forced to make themselves even more subservient to their male peers because they can’t control their urges. No one person should feel objectified, especially girls by male adults who have quite a significant position of power over them. The comparison to prostitution as well as the reminiscence of pedophilia needs to be addressed vigorously and promptly. The whole pointing of fingers by unclean hands (male to female) has been commonplace for too long. We are from the Middle Ages, but we no longer have to behave like it.

We are all human and have a right to dignity.

Steph Gartner is a staff writer for The Dakota Student. She can be reached at [email protected].