Skirt Lengths, Provocative Clothing Stitch Together Meaningless Stereotypes, Harsh Assumptions Measuring the Rules by | Meredith Moderi Ly
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Features | Feb. 5, 2016 | Eagle Edition 15 photo illustration by Meredith Moderi Skirt lengths, provocative clothing stitch together meaningless stereotypes, harsh assumptions Measuring the rules By | Meredith Moderi ly. But to her, it is a way to separate, to be different, Weber sees parents’ efforts to protect daughters to rebel, but people act like it is a bad thing to do.” sometimes too harsh, even demoralizing. peeding down Senior Hall, Georgia McGill Victoria Hammett [‘17] sports her short skirt at “It is protective nature of a parent to keep a girl [‘17] hurries to her class when her phone school because it’s right for her. Still, a common be- safe; they don’t want her to get harmed, raped or as- buzzes. She halts, clicks on a notification from lief within society is that “scandalous” clothing is a saulted, but sometimes they come down too hard,” Administrative Assistant Helen Skalniak. distraction to boys. Not for Hammett. Weber said, “shaming as a way to control.” SSkirt demerit per Dr. Hull. “A lot of times, when I get a demerit for my skirt, Areeb Afridi [‘16] picked up discrepancies in his She glances down. Her plaid skirt stops just below the teacher acts like I was trying to make it short house concerning rules for him versus his sister. 20% her fingertips, within the regulated limit. Once again, to look good for guys,” Hammett said. “They don’t “When my sister [college sophomore] was in high her long legs single her out. Embarrassed to fight the realize I am wearing my skirt for myself. Girls have school, she had more restrictions than I do: I can go of boys don’t demerit, she spends her next lunch period serving restraints on their clothing in order to not distract out more, for longer and go on trips with my friends detention, cleaning tables other guys, which is not right.” alone,” Afridi said. “Part of [this] double standard has notice skirt in the Dining Commons. But, McGill acknowledges the no- to do with dads wanting to protect daughters.” ESD’s dress codes orig- tion a skirt can be too short. This protection, while often well-meaning, im- length inally neutralized differ- When I wear something “I notice a girl’s skirt when she’s pedes young women developing their own styles. ences by taking economic bending over, and I can notice her “Clothing, at least for me, is a big part of how I status out of attire. Today’s more provocative, it’s spandex,” McGill said. “School is a express myself,” McGill said. “If I get constantly scru- women fight these codes about looking in the mirror professional environment, so skirts tinized for how short my skirt is, that is insulting who that single girls out as ob- shouldn’t be that short because I am as a person. Girls wear short skirts to show fash- jects and distractions. and feeling good.” there is a point where it gets inap- ion sense and what they feel confident in. If that’s a Last year, administra- “ propriate and a little too much.” tight shirt or a short skirt, so be it.” tion disallowed shorts for —Victoria Hammett Holmes Davis [‘17] said the Self-expression boosts self-esteem. females on free dress days [‘17] majority of boys don’t judge a girl “If I went to a party wearing something tight, because tight-fitting or based on skirt length. I would be wearing it for myself,” Hammett said. 6” “too short” bottoms were “I will notice if a girl’s skirt is re- “When I wear something more provocative, it’s about not appropriate. So, Ellery Marshall [‘18], along with ally long,” Davis said, “but not usually if it is short.” looking in the mirror and feeling good.” her field hockey team, fought this rule. Weber, agreeing dress codes have benefits, said However, self-confidence can quickly be bro- “I typed out ‘don’t judge girls on what they wear,’ they produce more harm than good. ken down by derogatory comments referred to as ESD’s legal printed it and hung [it] up,” Marshall said. “We post- “Generally, I don’t feel like dress codes are a good “slut-shaming”—judging a woman for presumed ed the signs up around school, and by 2nd period, idea because they seem to be prejudicial towards sexual activity by her acts or her outfits. Women are skirt length they were taken down, and the rule was changed.” girls,” Weber said. “Even if boys and girls are both the main aggressors and judge harsher than men. Head of Upper School Donna Hull altered dress wearing uniforms, there are very tight rules about “There’s safety in slut-shaming other girls because code options to be fair. the length of the skirt at school. The rules project it means you are not the slut,” Weber said. “There’s a “The rule changed because we decided that there to the girl that she is the gatekeeper. If her skirt or lot of fear in these dynamics. Judging others is a way were shorts available for girls that cover appropriate- clothing is not the right length and a boy objectifies to feel safe, to feel as if your problems aren’t as bad.” ly,” Hull said. “I will add that the word ‘appropriate’ her or assaults her, it is her fault.” Over time, insults and restrictions stack up and is in the eye of the beholder; we still have mixed feel- Limitations on women appear change a woman’s perception ings amongst the faculty about girls wearing shorts. in many cultures. believe girls of herself. And having allowed shorts back into the casual dress “If a man is sexually attracted 59% “People don’t realize the ef- day options, we are once again tackling the problem to a woman and he feels weird should dress to please fect their words have on oth- of a few girls wearing too-short shorts.” about it, he will almost blame ers,” Davis said. “They just say 19% But, regulations may increase women’s objectifica- her by saying, ‘oh, she shouldn’t themselves and not worry it thinking that ‘oh, she won’t tion. Schools tell students to cover up, it is improper be wearing that,’” Weber said. about what others think. care if she hears rude com- to wear revealing clothing, but social media displays “This is present in some of the ments,’ but she obviously does, believe it could celebrities who use their bodies as symbols of em- less developed countries where a survey of 132 students, Jan. 29 and should care.” powerment. Mixed messages confuse women, espe- woman wears a burka or covers Harsh comments lead to indicate cially younger more self-conscious ones. her face, as if a man sees any part psychological questions. something Washington, DC, clinical psychologist Jill Weber of her he won’t be able to control himself. We know “Girls start to think that the comments and rules studies the impact of gender inequalities and culture men can control themselves, but if we keep enabling are all she is,” Weber said. “When something bad about her on personal identity, confidence and development. them, they never have to control themselves.” happens to her, she begins to think that it is her fault She views self-discovery as key in a girl’s maturity. Social media judgment is inevitable to Hull. and she doesn’t deserve to have a good life. In a way, morals “When girls wear their skirt short, it is part of “While I understand that girls don’t want to be [she] absorbs the negative things.” development—trying to figure out their identity,” judged by their clothing, I think it is unavoidable,” Abusive jabs prompt pessimistic thoughts. Weber said. “Women have to experiment and decide Hull said. “Of course, all the images and messages in “Any time a person tells a girl her upper thigh is what’s the right style. It is not a bad thing, but the media get imprinted in their heads. What I want for something she should be ashamed of, it is sexist and issue that comes up is people then draw huge conclu- my girls is that they are modest, treated well, thought demoralizing,” Hammett said. “A girl’s personality sions. A girl may go really far in a non-conservative of well, respected, and they respect themselves. should determine her status in society more than her direction, maybe too far, so people see her different- Clothing, whether we like it or not, is part of that.” skirt length does.” survey of 132 students, Jan. 29.