OOTD + Sexist Dress Codes Are Sexist

So, I wore this. Today.

The black shirt is from Wet Seal, the skirt is from my friend, the tights are from Hot Topic, the shoes are converse, and the jewelry is from the Renaissance Festival.

So...my school has a dress code. It's semi-strict. They're being more lenient with it this year than the previous ones, not that it makes it any better. Because today, I was the one who got dress coded.

First, let's think about what must go through my assistant principal's head when he decides a person's clothes are "too inappropriate for school."

And when I say person, I mean girl, because let's face it; dress codes, well at least the ones I know of, are sexist as fuck.

Anyway. I'm still confused as to how someone even notices one's clothes don't fit the dress code. Like, do they specifically look for extra short shorts, or skirts that ride up to high for them? Or do they pick out the girls they notice, the ones who...are attractive to them?

Okay, I apologize. It's really hard to put these thoughts into words, and this post may be longer than anyone wants to read, but I'm going to attempt to get it all down.

What's the point of a dress code? According to the administration, it's purpose is basically to "prevent problems in the work place," or something. Are you aware of what this implies? I wish when he told me this, I would've asked what problems he meant, because for now I can only assume he meant sexual problems.  

Which, of course, means that if I were to be harassed sexually, or any other student were to run into problems like that, it would be our fault. Because my skirt was too short in his opinion. Because they wore a shirt with a low neckline.

There are many problems with the idea of a dress code, and I'm going to try to list them:

1. Everyone has different...preferences. So trying to avoid all types of, well, whatever they're trying to avoid, by banning certain types of clothing...all it tells me is that these people running my school think girls with their shoulders showing are too attractive for them to get their work done. Same with short shorts. Or short skirts. Or low necklines. You see what I'm getting at? I mean, what if baggy purple t-shirts with bear-paw prints on them made a couple of people wayyyyyyyyyyyy horny. Would they ban them? I'm trying to point out the fact that just because the majority of people attracted to girls find legs and cleavage sexual, doesn't necessarily mean it's like that for everyone. Which makes my next point more reasonable...
2. Ever noticed how the victim is the one who did the wring thing? Every year at the beginning of school, we have an assembly which has a sole purpose of making sure each and every student understands what they can and cannot wear. But you know what I've never ever ever heard ever since I set foot in any school? That it's wrong to be sexual with someone, to make inappropriate comments to them, to make them feel...gross (because that's exactly how I felt when Mr. Valadez started speaking with me about my skirt). No one has ever told the students that it's wrong to do the very things they're trying to prevent. This, of course, would probably be much more effective. Also...
3. This is indeed a common topic on some parts of the Internet: Victim blaming needs to stop. The very thing dress codes do is victim blame. "He grabbed her ass? Well, how short were her shorts? She was wearing yoga pants?" "She can't actually be complaining about him groping her...did you see that slutty top?" "Young woman, do you have a jacket to put over that top? Your shoulders are showing!!!" "She was totally asking for that attention, I mean, like, she looked like a fuckin hooker!" "To my office this instant! You are putting these sweatpants on in the peak of summer, look how distressed your shorts are!" Okay, I need to stop there. I could go on and on and on. The point is, the majority of people seem to think the weird ass hormonal kids aren't doing anything wrong, and in a way, they're breeding rapists..........I mean..........how else are these kids supposed to take this? I think some of them will grow up thinking if a girl is dressed in a way that arouses them, then they would be doing nothing wrong at all my acting on their impulses.
4. THEY'RE NOT EFFECTIVE. So many girls have been humiliated throughout the years, but to no avail. All of the administrations' attempts have been useless. Girls are still getting terribly inappropriate comments made to them, and, other stuff...even when they're wearing the most basic t-shirt and sweatpants. If a person likes a person, like a lot, their clothes aren't going to change the nasty-doer's minds.
5. They're sexist as fuck. Sure, out of context, each rule can be applied to both genders. But in school, the only ones that are enforced at an insane point are the ones where certain parts of a girl's body are exposed. There are many sources online about dress codes being sexist, and I suggest looking into them.
6. Fuck dress codes.

Goodbye.