The Problem with the Dress Code

By Yasmin Elgamal

One of the most controversial topics in Pinelands, and American schools in general, is the dress code; regardless of what side of the fence you are on, there is no denying it has sparked quite a debate. So, what is the right answer? Is the dress code fair, or does it target a certain group of people? To get more perspective I interviewed teachers, students, and an administrator to answer questions before making my opinion.

Firstly, let’s dive into what the students think, because after all we are the ones the rules are made for. I interviewed Pinelands junior Eric Gizzi, who thought the rules itself were fair, but the enforcement of it targeted females, which is an excellent point. Gizzi also pointed out that the dress code is fairly loose compared to other schools. Meanwhile, Pinelands senior Jessica Capriglione stated she believes flat out that it was unfair, and if she could change it she would enforce it on both genders.

It’s no secret that one of the main issues is that it seems to target girls, and that clothing deemed inappropriate is written up. But many claim if a male wore something seemingly inappropriate, they would not get written up. I interviewed English teacher Mrs. Martelli, and she said that the dress code is fair, and as far as expressing yourself with you wardrobe, you should dress for success. For her, it is more about the setting, which is a fair point. It is school, and people mainly agree there should be a limit to what you can wear.

But still the enforcement of it, in the opinions of some, seems to marginalize girls. I asked Ms. Smith, also an English teacher, and she said she believes it’s unfair, and that it comes down way harder on girls. She also pointed out the poor air conditioning in some rooms makes it difficult to adhere to specific rules.

Finally, I interviewed Mrs. McCooley for further insight on the matter. She does not believe that girls are marginalized, and it is in fact fair to both genders. McCooley also argued the dress code is not in place to limit distraction, but to set rules suitable for the setting. I asked if she thought it would be more beneficial to teach males consequences for their actions, rather than teach females to adhere to rules that make others comfortable, and she replied it needs to be a combination of both. However, it seems only the latter is being enforced.

Based on the insight and knowledge I’ve gathered, I think the dress code should be enforced to a certain limit, and some aspects of it are unfair. But I don’t think Pinelands is to blame; it’s in every American school district. Despite what this reporter thinks, the argument continues, so what do you think?