Students at a public school in Boston are upset with their new dress code, which they say unfairly targets minorities and women. Interestingly, this particular dress code seems rather mundane. No short skirts. No short shorts. No gang symbols. No spaghetti straps. No leggings. No shirts with profanity. No see-through clothing. But apparently, the students at Boston Latin School aren’t taking well to it. So far, more than 1,200 people have signed an online petition, begging the administration to reconsider. They say the school’s dress code caters to a “patriarchal society where men can decide whether a female’s clothing is appropriate or inappropriate.”
“It enforces the sexualization of a young girl’s body. It’s unacceptable to be teaching them that at a young age, especially considering we have 12-year-olds at school,” student Liliana Severin told The Boston Herald.
The students also have a problem with the dress code’s barring of gang symbols.
“It’s hard to tell what’s a gang and what’s not, and that will target some students of color more than it will target white students, and that could lead to conflicts in the future,” Severin told the CBS local station.
This week, students apparently met with the headmaster, and they have come to some kind of understanding with the students.
“We agreed on most of these issues. We agreed also to disagree about a couple of things,” headmaster Michael Contompasis told WBZ-TV. “I’ve indicated and made it clear that leggings are appropriate.”
BPS also released this statement:
The policy is intended to promote a safe and respectful learning environment for all students and staff; and teaches students about expectations for appearance in professional settings. Boston Latin School respects the power of student voice and encourages students to share any concerns about school policy directly to school administrators.
[screengrab via CBS Boston]