Assignment 4 - Grace Payne

I was born in 2001, and things have changed a lot since then. Now, I obviously don't remember what things were like in 2001, but I do remember times like 2006-2007, and things have changed a lot since then as well.

One view that I've challenged that has been around for a while is women's dress code in schools. Certain rules make sense, like showing your stomach and certain symbols on t-shirts. However, there are other rules that make a lot less sense to me. First of all, the shoulder rule. I've been at Henry Clay for three years now and I have no idea what the shoulder rule is. Can I show my shoulder at all? Does it have to be three finger length? Is it a collarbone thing like the incident in Woodford County a few years ago? I understand that cleavage can be distracting, but my shoulder, really? Second of all, shorts length for women. Six inches above the knee is the rule for shorts, I believe. I don't know if the people who created the dress code have ever had to take a teenage girl shopping before, but they don't exactly make girls shorts that long. Even if they do, let's face it, most girls don't like them. It makes sense to have a rule on the length of shorts and skirts, but let's at least make it realistic. One thing I do have to say is that many teachers realize the absurdity of certain parts of the dress code, so they don't always enforce it.

I do have to say that I haven't actually done much to "challenge" the belief, besides going on extended rants to my friends. However, I fully intend to. My club, the Women's Leadership Club, intends to discuss the dress code at Henry Clay and discuss ways to make it more appropriate for men and women. For that reason, the outcome of my questioning has yet to be determined, but ask me again before I graduate next year and hopefully I'll have a better outcome.