In a world striving for equality and freedom of expression, it's time to question the impact of dress codes. Are they really necessary, or do they perpetuate harmful biases and stereotypes? The Objectification Saga: Here's the first thread we unravel – young girls stepping into the halls of education only to be labeled as 'distractions.' Let's delve deeper and examine how this narrative harms our potential future leading women.
Dress codes subtly place the blame on girls for 'distracting' boys. Imposing rules that regulate girls' clothing choices to prevent distraction latently implies that boys' behavior is influenced solely by the attire of their female peers. This viewpoint reinforces the idea that boys cannot control their actions and places the onus on girls to modify their appearance. Such dress codes contribute to a culture where girls are unfairly held accountable for boys' behavior, rather than teaching boys to respect others and exercise self-control. This sends out the message that it's the girls' responsibility to ensure a focused learning environment. And they can provide that by behaving in a way that is subordinate to men and a way that makes them look ‘modest’.
Such objectification also molds girls to view themselves through others' eyes, overshadowing their inner worth. This ultimately accrues to self-doubt and lack of self-confidence which can be a great impediment in the paths to dreams and goals.
The Unfounded 'Protection’: Now let’s look at the paradox of clothing as a shield-
Victim-Blaming Paradigm - These arbitrary dress code checks implicitly perpetuate the notion that women need to cover up their bodies to protect themselves from inappropriate behaviour of men around them and that they are responsible for any sort of sexual harassment and abuse being done to them.
This 'protection' myth deepens patriarchal norms, enabling misogynists to dictate women's choices and their place in society. Besides that, instead of safety, the 'protection' argument instills a kind of unknown fear, which disempowers women in the process.
The Silent Unfaltering Crusade of Body Shaming
Dress codes endorse singular beauty ideals, suppressing diverse body forms. They favour specific beauty norms that only end up in conformity and leave an individual befuddled about whether there is something inherently wrong with the way they naturally look.
The sizing up of someone’s body creates an environment of comparison with other individuals who seem to just “fit in” with these norms effortlessly. This fosters a veiled unhealthy competition of external appearances. The stress of conforming to dress codes can amplify insecurity, leading to constant self-evaluation and anxiety.
Liberation of Transgender Expression: Certain institutions compel transgendered humans to wear a kind of dress that “stereotypically conforms” to their birth gender. Dress codes that limit transgender individuals stifle their authentic selves, and the suppression of self-expression can add to a lot of stress in the long run and decrease productivity. Why? Because such conformity exacts a mental toll that magnifies the already existing pressure put upon them by society.
Exclusion of the non-binary: Clothing and dressing ourselves is a big part of our self-expression. Many individuals don’t fit into the binary system of male and female. Dress code checks completely ignore the facts and promote an either/or mentality. This reinforces traditional ideas of how people of different genders “should” dress. This creates problems for individuals who don't conform to these gender norms, as they might not feel comfortable or accepted within the limited options provided by these rules.
Productivity or Pretense?: So many institutes allegedly make false claims about the increase in productivity by the creation of dress codes. They will say things like “This keeps the employee or the student away from unnecessary distractions”, or “this causes an increase in focus” and whatnot. Dress codes and productivity are like the most distant cousins at best. The true driver of productivity at work is a healthy work culture.
Productivity is enhanced not by the specific attire you make your employees wear but by the inclusive and accepting environment you create at work. It is increased by the expression of the self. It is increased by the expression of one’s unique creative potential which is something that dress codes aim at suppressing.
Gender Stereotypes: Dress codes bolster gender stereotypes. Girls and Boys are made to wear outfits of what has been in the tradition. Boys are asked to wear pants. Girls are compelled to wear, say, some dress, that is considered “feminine”. Society shouldn’t decide what clothes fit your gender! It’s a very personal thing that goes with the likes and dislikes of an individual. You get to decide, as a human being, what fits your personality. You have the right to dress yourself the way you want, regardless of your gender. Your body is your temple that you get to embellish. Only you have the power to make these personal choices for yourself.