American School Dress Codes: A (Brief) History of Racial and Gender Oppression through Clothing
by Erica Murphey and Dr. Benjamin Drury
Dress codes in American schools have been a contentious issue for decades. According to usnews.com, forty-four percent of public schools enforced a “strict” dress code in the 2019–2020 school year. While many schools claim that these policies promote learning, safety, and image, there are concerns about their impact on oppressed people.
The history of dress codes in American schools is rooted in a desire to control students’ behavior and promote conformity. In the landmark case of Tinker vs. Des Moines in 1969, several students wore black armbands to school to protest the Vietnam War. The school’s principal threatened to suspend the students, citing concerns that the protest could disrupt the learning environment. The Supreme Court ultimately ruled in favor of the students, establishing that students do not lose their constitutional rights to free speech in a school setting. This case established an important precedent for students’ rights to express themselves through their clothing choices.
Despite this ruling, many schools continue to enforce dress codes that limit students’ clothing choices. Girls are often targeted in these policies, with many school officials claiming that certain…
