School District Adopts A Gender-Neutral Dress Code, And People Want Them Everywhere
One school district in Virginia has grown tired of arguments about uniforms and decided to break student dress code norms that some think is unfairly strict on girls. The public schools in Roanoke County introduced a single gender-neutral dress code for all of its students for the 2019-2020 school year.
The Roanoke County School Board decided on its new school uniform after it conducted a massive survey: 59 percent of 1,370 parents gave the board the thumbs up to go ahead with its plan and introduce standards for a school dress code that’s the same for everyone, no matter their gender.
Roanoke County Public Schools introduced their new guidelines for students’ dress code for the upcoming school year
Image credits: Roanoke County School
According to the new Roanoke County guidelines, every single student needs to wear clothes that cover the area from armpit to armpit, down to 3-4 inches in length on the upper thighs. Meanwhile, the top part of the clothes needs to have straps. Everyone had a part in drafting the new gender neutral rules, from parents and teachers to students themselves.
Some people believe girls’ clothing in schools is regulated far more harshly than boys’ clothes ever will be. Girls are called in to see the principal due to their clothing, not fitting school norms. The reasons for getting into trouble sometimes might seem random and arbitrary, and girls are often punished for wearing undergarments showing ‘too much’ skin or wearing ‘sexualized’ clothing.
“We wanted to develop a dress code that is easier for parents and students to understand and promotes gender equality,” Chuck Lionberger, the media spokesperson for the Roanoke County School District, told Bored Panda. “This new dress code removes much of the ambiguity over what is appropriate, while also allowing ypung kids and students more flexibility to be expressive in an appropriate manner,”
“We have been working on this new dress code for about a year. Following an extensive effort to gather input from students, parents, principals, and teachers, through surveys and focus groups, we collected this data to develop a draft dress code to present to the school board. The board suggested some adjustments, and after implementing these positive changes, the board approved the dress code on July 11.”
Lionberger added that “this dress code will remain in place until the next time we feel we need to make adjustments. Every few years, we revisit our dress code to make sure it is current and reflects the interests of students and parents.”
The new dress code was created to be gender-neutral, after careful deliberation between students, parents and teachers
Image credits: ACLU of Virginia
“The old dress codes we had and that many schools have today single out girls for bra straps and undergarments and many things girls wear,” Don Butzer, the Chairman of the Roanoke County School Board told Today Style.
“The new policy is probably the most progressive in Virginia,” claimed Butzer. “Our goal was to make it as simple as possible.”
Some people believe that the dress code adopted by Roanoke County Public Schools should become mandatory everywhere in the United States
Image credits: Shelby Henderson
Meanwhile, Roanoke County Public Schools superintendent Ken Nicely told Yahoo Lifestyle that they are “promoting a school and classroom climate in which all students have a sense of belonging and inclusiveness.”
“Adopting a more gender-neutral dress code is an important part of helping us achieve that goal,” said Nicely.
Please watch the video below to get a better understanding of the changes taking place in Virginia
The old Roanoke County Public Schools’ uniform guidelines from 2016 stated that shorts and skirt length should be no higher than mid-thigh, undergarments (including bra straps), cleavage, or midriffs should not be exposed, while shoes are required at all times.
Furthermore, the Roanoke County School Board had previously banned sleeves with oversized armholes, see-through garments, torn, or ripped clothing, oversized clothing, shirts with spaghetti straps, tube tops, pajamas, bedroom slippers, metal chains, accessories with spikes, dog chains or collars, sunglasses and headgear.
Here’s what people had to say about the Roanoke County School Boards decision
Great idea to establish only a single dresscode for all!! BUT, I'm so happy I went to a german school in the early 90ies. We didn't have and didn't need a dresscode at all. If someone ever dressed "inappropriate" a teacher might have made a heartfelt advice but overall there was no need to. We were allowed to wear torn clothes, punk hair, and most students just dressed in a "normal" way nobody felt odd about.
High five. Same here with me in Croatia. My high school did have a dress code, though, but not too strict (although sometimes nonsensical).
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You immoral sex-obsessed excuses for a Freudian slip are the problem. Stop sexualizing everything and everyone. Maybe start with the parents and their worldview. I'm sure the biggest pearl-clutchers were the greatest sluts and whoremongers when they were young. And if you are distracted by a tight pair of pants or a short skirt on a 14 year old girl, YOU'RE A FREAKING PEDOPHILE, get help.
I don’t think it’s the teachers they’re worried about it’s the students. I don’t think the clothes themselves are necessarily always so distracting, but it causes drama and that’s distracting. So you get a girl with low cut top cleavage on display talking to a guy another girl sees her and calls her a s**t, or you have a guy talking to a girl and as he’s “stretching” he pulls up his shirt abit and strokes his abs another guy sees this and goes and pushes him tells him to get lost “you’re harassing her” etc. Teens are bad enough to control without the added drama that comes with clothes and fashion statements.
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This isn’t a huge issue in Australia coz schools whether public or private, lower primary or upper primary etc have a school uniform. There is no guess work in what is appropriate or not. Everyone wears pretty much the same clothes. If you disobey the school uniform then you either get a warning or uniform detention.
That's what I just said in an earlier comment. Uniforms would take the problem of dress code out of it.
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Not sure why girls are made into victims...they have more choices when it comes to clothes in general.. And yes girls tend to wear tighter clothes or those that show skin.. Why blame the boys for wearing attire that conforms to the rules
No one designs their own clothing. We are all victims of fashion and societal norms when it comes to clothing. Girls wear tight, revealing stuff not because they like that style so much but because that's what's available to buy!
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The problem with uniforms is it may not solve temperature control issues. "I must wear long pants, tuck in a shirt, and wear a vest...but I'm roasting"
Just like Foxxy, my school had a range of items you could wear in the school colours (for me I usually chose black slim trousers, shirt, tie (in my 'house' colour) and blazer (only in Autumn/Winter).. I wasn't into wearing skirts. A lot of girls did but a lot, like myself, chose to wear trousers
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I'm still disturbed schools in some places on this planet even HAVE dress codes. It's none of their business what their pupils wear.
No offence but that sounds like something an idiot would say
Load More Replies... Unfair targets girls?.. it's the girls that bend the rules by showing skin,wearing extremely tight pants etc...the boys would equally be reprimanded if they wore such attire..stop blaming boys for obeying the rules and dressing appropriately.
Have you even step foot into a women's/female juniors section of the store? So many clothes are like that, and the clothes that aren't look like potato sacks. Besides, how many d@mn times have you walked into a mens/male juniors section of the store and see revealing clothes? I'm guessing closer to 0 than 100. Besides, if someone has enough confidence to wear this stuff, they should be allowed to, as long as they are not in undergarments or naked. Most of the time administrations of schools are tougher on the girls about dress code because "BoYs WiLl Be BoYs iF tHeY aRe BeInG pErVeRtS tHeN iT's YoUr FaUlt." Just think logically, ok buddy?
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Being on the autistic spectrum, I hated my school uniform (I'm in the UK). I can only cope with certain fabric textures and clothing shapes due to sensory issues. I also needed to express myself through my clothing choices as I find it hard to communicate with other people verbally. I can see the need for rules on what is acceptable though.
How about no. Children need to be able to express their individuality. Turning them all into a mass of generic drones is NOT the way.
You are in school for 6 to 7 hours a day. Dress how ever you want after. School years are not forever. Uniforms solve a lot of problems, including helping kids who can not afford the latest fashion. My niece was harrassed for not dressing like the other girls. She was made so miserable.
Load More Replies... They’re lucky I went to catholic girl school we wore a uniform everyday of long sleeved blouse buttoned from collar to thighs , thick wool jumper with long sleeves and a kilt from waist to about 1” below the knees. Knee socks (although I wore navy tights as did many), Black shoes no patent leather allowed, hair to be tied back not loose, no jewellery at all, no nail varnish, no make up. In primary school I had to wear long sleeve blouse a pinafore and a tie I tied myself every morning and black shoes again hair tied back no jewellery make up varnish etc. I liked it never had to worry about what to wear, and I wore the same uniform for 6 years :-D I dunno if they need to call it gender neutral though, just say student dress code no? I guess gender neutral sounds more topical like they’re doing something proactive. Give them uniforms for a week see how that goes :-D
In the schools I've been to, the girls always show more skin than the boys. People say that the girls are being treated unfairly, but the boys never wear revealing clothing which is why they never get in trouble for it. These new rules just make the rules less strict for boys rather than affecting girls at all.
so it's wrong now to be dress like a guy if you're a guy? and dress like a girl if you're a girl? in what F*cking timeline are we??? can i go back in the past?
Good idea, but if these are minimums, the "to 4" is redundant. The minimum is 3 inches period. It could be 5 inches, 7 inches, or capris or pants, right?
My daughter's school tried to adopt the longer-shorts dress code about two years ago. It was beginning of the school year and like 95F all the time, so the entire school revolted, including parents. Everyone wanted to wear as little clothes as possible and the school gave in after a few days.
l I never fail to be amused by the attitude expressed above regarding school uniforms. The idea that uniforms eliminate the need to keep up with fashion trends is a weak one considering said compulsory uniforms usually cost several month's pay for an average worker.
My brother's kids came to live with me for a few months when their parents were having some personal problems. I was shocked by some of the things my 15 year old niece tried to wear out of the house. There were times that so little of her was covered that she may as well have been walking out the door naked. She claimed her parents didn't care but I found out later that her dad did and her mom didn't pay much attention. To all of you saying "don't sexualize" kids aren't considering that there are plenty of pervs in the world who already do. She can dress as she pleases when she's an adult but as a teenager she has to live in my house she will certainly abide by my rules which I don't think are conservative by any stretch. Yes, school uniforms simplify everything and kids can focus on learning.
My school's dress code is getting ridiculous. The skirt lengths are getting longer - it went from being 2cm above the knee to a 22 inch skirt and staff have been cutting off any gold chains on shoes...
They get to wear straps? We HAVE to wear sleves. Teachers can wear straps, as can elementrary school kids. I think its because you might be able to see your bra, but seriously who cares? If you dont want somebody to see it you can hide it, but I think its unfair to pretend they don't exist. It makes girls unconfident, and makes them feel like they have to hide their curves to be "appropriate"
I support school uniforms forms having all mine in them for high school . They only issue is they were $$$ and not everyone can afford that kind of money especially if they have more than one child. Although many kids will complain about it at first, after a while they realize how easy dressing for school is when they don't need to stress over having the right brand and the current style.
I really like that! I like that it is just a guideline for how much needs to be covered and it seems pretty reasonable.
This is not a uniform, it is a diagram showing what parts of a student need to be covered. They are not making the kids all wear gray on gray uniforms. As a teacher I don't think most adults really know what kids wear to school. It is shocking at time, and at very young ages.
All schools should have a uniform in place. It would remove so many problems, especially for income challenged families.
Have you seen the cost of some school uniforms?
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We had this dresscode at my school back in 2002 already. And it was only to prevent everyone taking their shirts off as air-conditioning wasn't present in our school. How is this new?
Also having to wear sleves makes it hard to "dress up" they want us to dress up for diffrent things, or we are forced to dress up, but you have to wear sleves. Most people don't have dresses with sleves so they have to wear a swetter in 90 degree heat.
Great idea to establish only a single dresscode for all!! BUT, I'm so happy I went to a german school in the early 90ies. We didn't have and didn't need a dresscode at all. If someone ever dressed "inappropriate" a teacher might have made a heartfelt advice but overall there was no need to. We were allowed to wear torn clothes, punk hair, and most students just dressed in a "normal" way nobody felt odd about.
High five. Same here with me in Croatia. My high school did have a dress code, though, but not too strict (although sometimes nonsensical).
Load More Replies... You immoral sex-obsessed excuses for a Freudian slip are the problem. Stop sexualizing everything and everyone. Maybe start with the parents and their worldview. I'm sure the biggest pearl-clutchers were the greatest sluts and whoremongers when they were young. And if you are distracted by a tight pair of pants or a short skirt on a 14 year old girl, YOU'RE A FREAKING PEDOPHILE, get help.
I don’t think it’s the teachers they’re worried about it’s the students. I don’t think the clothes themselves are necessarily always so distracting, but it causes drama and that’s distracting. So you get a girl with low cut top cleavage on display talking to a guy another girl sees her and calls her a s**t, or you have a guy talking to a girl and as he’s “stretching” he pulls up his shirt abit and strokes his abs another guy sees this and goes and pushes him tells him to get lost “you’re harassing her” etc. Teens are bad enough to control without the added drama that comes with clothes and fashion statements.
Load More Replies... This isn’t a huge issue in Australia coz schools whether public or private, lower primary or upper primary etc have a school uniform. There is no guess work in what is appropriate or not. Everyone wears pretty much the same clothes. If you disobey the school uniform then you either get a warning or uniform detention.
That's what I just said in an earlier comment. Uniforms would take the problem of dress code out of it.
Load More Replies... Not sure why girls are made into victims...they have more choices when it comes to clothes in general.. And yes girls tend to wear tighter clothes or those that show skin.. Why blame the boys for wearing attire that conforms to the rules
No one designs their own clothing. We are all victims of fashion and societal norms when it comes to clothing. Girls wear tight, revealing stuff not because they like that style so much but because that's what's available to buy!
Load More Replies... The problem with uniforms is it may not solve temperature control issues. "I must wear long pants, tuck in a shirt, and wear a vest...but I'm roasting"
Just like Foxxy, my school had a range of items you could wear in the school colours (for me I usually chose black slim trousers, shirt, tie (in my 'house' colour) and blazer (only in Autumn/Winter).. I wasn't into wearing skirts. A lot of girls did but a lot, like myself, chose to wear trousers
Load More Replies... I'm still disturbed schools in some places on this planet even HAVE dress codes. It's none of their business what their pupils wear.
No offence but that sounds like something an idiot would say
Load More Replies... Unfair targets girls?.. it's the girls that bend the rules by showing skin,wearing extremely tight pants etc...the boys would equally be reprimanded if they wore such attire..stop blaming boys for obeying the rules and dressing appropriately.
Have you even step foot into a women's/female juniors section of the store? So many clothes are like that, and the clothes that aren't look like potato sacks. Besides, how many d@mn times have you walked into a mens/male juniors section of the store and see revealing clothes? I'm guessing closer to 0 than 100. Besides, if someone has enough confidence to wear this stuff, they should be allowed to, as long as they are not in undergarments or naked. Most of the time administrations of schools are tougher on the girls about dress code because "BoYs WiLl Be BoYs iF tHeY aRe BeInG pErVeRtS tHeN iT's YoUr FaUlt." Just think logically, ok buddy?
Load More Replies... Being on the autistic spectrum, I hated my school uniform (I'm in the UK). I can only cope with certain fabric textures and clothing shapes due to sensory issues. I also needed to express myself through my clothing choices as I find it hard to communicate with other people verbally. I can see the need for rules on what is acceptable though.
How about no. Children need to be able to express their individuality. Turning them all into a mass of generic drones is NOT the way.
You are in school for 6 to 7 hours a day. Dress how ever you want after. School years are not forever. Uniforms solve a lot of problems, including helping kids who can not afford the latest fashion. My niece was harrassed for not dressing like the other girls. She was made so miserable.
Load More Replies... They’re lucky I went to catholic girl school we wore a uniform everyday of long sleeved blouse buttoned from collar to thighs , thick wool jumper with long sleeves and a kilt from waist to about 1” below the knees. Knee socks (although I wore navy tights as did many), Black shoes no patent leather allowed, hair to be tied back not loose, no jewellery at all, no nail varnish, no make up. In primary school I had to wear long sleeve blouse a pinafore and a tie I tied myself every morning and black shoes again hair tied back no jewellery make up varnish etc. I liked it never had to worry about what to wear, and I wore the same uniform for 6 years :-D I dunno if they need to call it gender neutral though, just say student dress code no? I guess gender neutral sounds more topical like they’re doing something proactive. Give them uniforms for a week see how that goes :-D
In the schools I've been to, the girls always show more skin than the boys. People say that the girls are being treated unfairly, but the boys never wear revealing clothing which is why they never get in trouble for it. These new rules just make the rules less strict for boys rather than affecting girls at all.
so it's wrong now to be dress like a guy if you're a guy? and dress like a girl if you're a girl? in what F*cking timeline are we??? can i go back in the past?
Good idea, but if these are minimums, the "to 4" is redundant. The minimum is 3 inches period. It could be 5 inches, 7 inches, or capris or pants, right?
My daughter's school tried to adopt the longer-shorts dress code about two years ago. It was beginning of the school year and like 95F all the time, so the entire school revolted, including parents. Everyone wanted to wear as little clothes as possible and the school gave in after a few days.
l I never fail to be amused by the attitude expressed above regarding school uniforms. The idea that uniforms eliminate the need to keep up with fashion trends is a weak one considering said compulsory uniforms usually cost several month's pay for an average worker.
My brother's kids came to live with me for a few months when their parents were having some personal problems. I was shocked by some of the things my 15 year old niece tried to wear out of the house. There were times that so little of her was covered that she may as well have been walking out the door naked. She claimed her parents didn't care but I found out later that her dad did and her mom didn't pay much attention. To all of you saying "don't sexualize" kids aren't considering that there are plenty of pervs in the world who already do. She can dress as she pleases when she's an adult but as a teenager she has to live in my house she will certainly abide by my rules which I don't think are conservative by any stretch. Yes, school uniforms simplify everything and kids can focus on learning.
My school's dress code is getting ridiculous. The skirt lengths are getting longer - it went from being 2cm above the knee to a 22 inch skirt and staff have been cutting off any gold chains on shoes...
They get to wear straps? We HAVE to wear sleves. Teachers can wear straps, as can elementrary school kids. I think its because you might be able to see your bra, but seriously who cares? If you dont want somebody to see it you can hide it, but I think its unfair to pretend they don't exist. It makes girls unconfident, and makes them feel like they have to hide their curves to be "appropriate"
I support school uniforms forms having all mine in them for high school . They only issue is they were $$$ and not everyone can afford that kind of money especially if they have more than one child. Although many kids will complain about it at first, after a while they realize how easy dressing for school is when they don't need to stress over having the right brand and the current style.
I really like that! I like that it is just a guideline for how much needs to be covered and it seems pretty reasonable.
This is not a uniform, it is a diagram showing what parts of a student need to be covered. They are not making the kids all wear gray on gray uniforms. As a teacher I don't think most adults really know what kids wear to school. It is shocking at time, and at very young ages.
All schools should have a uniform in place. It would remove so many problems, especially for income challenged families.
Have you seen the cost of some school uniforms?
Load More Replies... We had this dresscode at my school back in 2002 already. And it was only to prevent everyone taking their shirts off as air-conditioning wasn't present in our school. How is this new?
Also having to wear sleves makes it hard to "dress up" they want us to dress up for diffrent things, or we are forced to dress up, but you have to wear sleves. Most people don't have dresses with sleves so they have to wear a swetter in 90 degree heat.
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