Dress to Impress

A very controversial topic among teenagers not just at Boulder City High School, but at schools nationwide, is the dress code. Many students disagree with the dress code and inability to express their true selves because of the rules that are ending that.

The Boulder City High School dress code mainly targets females, and prohibits crop tops and spaghetti straps. Shorts, skirts, and dresses have to be fingertip length and all undergarments have to be covered at all times. 

Junior, Ethan Wagstaff said, “The dress code is very sexist. I’ve never seen a boy get dress-coded.” Only 5 out of the 9 dress code rules apply to boys while all 9 apply to girls. I have been dress-coded for the simplest things but even if a boy has a graphic slogan or image on his shirt, the staff will let it slide.

In the mornings, I feel myself getting overwhelmed and stressed out over picking out what to wear to school wondering if I’m gonna get sent up to the office or embarrassed by getting called out during class.

 Freshman, Lyla Gunson said, “I wanted to wear shorts but the only shorts I own are too short for school so I just settled with this outfit.” I know Lyla and I aren’t the only ones who feel themselves settling for less and not feeling as joyous as we possibly could as we head to school each day.

Some teenagers, boys and girls alike, don’t have the funding to purchase new clothing to make it follow the dress code. For example, last school year the dress code was much more lenient and the staff was barely dress-coding students. The drastic change in the strictness of the dress code from the 2023-2024 school year to now may cause problems for families and their budgeting. 

I think a school dress code is very important, but a dress code needs to be more lenient and equal for all students. A dress code should not mainly target one group of students.