Parents and their teenage children often argue about the way young people dress. Some schools are taking on the battle by making rules about what students may wear. Many school officials want to reduce skin exposure and ban t-shirts with offensive language. They argue that this type of clothing can be distracting or upsetting to other students. Some schools want to make even greater adjustments to their dress codes by requiring school uniforms.

Many parents support a stricter dress code. Some parents also favor a transition to uniforms. They believe that uniforms contribute to a more structured classroom environment and help students focus on their schoolwork, instead of worrying about how they look. These parents think that requiring uniforms reduces the pressure on students to look like their peers. They point out that students who can’t afford expensive clothes often feel left out when they can’t keep up with the latest trends. 

Some teens who have been teased for wearing the “wrong thing” agree that stricter dress codes are a good idea. They may even think that uniforms would make their lives easier. But other students don’t want the dress code to require uniforms because they like to express themselves through their clothing choices. For example, some students like to wear shirts that advertise their favorite musicians or sports teams, and others choose distinctive outfits to show their individual fashion sense. 

Still other teens think that dress codes are necessary but should be modified. They don’t want dress codes to be more strict, but to be more fair. They say that current dress codes unfairly target girls and students of color. For instance, some dress codes may prevent students from wearing hairstyles such as dreadlocks or cornrows. Many dress code policies also focus on girls by saying that cropped tops and leggings are too distracting to boys. Some students argue schools should monitor behavior instead of treating outfits or hairstyles as the problem. They point out that dress code bias doesn’t just affect how students look at school. If students violate school dress code policies, they may be taken out of important classes.

What’s your opinion? Should your school have a stricter dress code? Is a school uniform a good idea? How could a dress code have an impact on a school’s culture?