COMMODORE MEDIA GROUP

Lafayette students have been complaining about the dress code for years, but not until now has someone decided to protest against the dress code.

Abigail West has started an online petition to protest against the dress code. Abigail is a senior at Lafayette High School, she is 17 and has always been a student at Lafayette. She is trying to change the school dress code because she believes that it is unnecessary and contains sexist undertones.

“I find the dress code wrong because it is specifically aimed at young girls. As someone who has been dress-coded multiple times every year since she started middle school, I have begun to notice that when I wear one of my church skirts to school I get in trouble, but boys wear much shorter shorts and no one ever says anything.” Abigail said, “As a young girl, growing up I realized that it’s not that I’m wearing something inappropriate, it’s my body that’s ‘inappropriate.”

Abigail believes that the school singles out certain students and want to see a change. “I believe that the dress code singles out women because our current dress code bans almost all comfortable summer options for girls to wear while saying little to nothing about the boy’s options and what little is said has never been enforced. I am hoping through the protest we can get a dress code similar to Oxford’s because everyone wants to be comfortable and it’s a shame that us girls are forced to wear jeans in 90-degree weather.”

Abigail does have some concerns when it comes to protesting the dress code. “I have not received an extreme amount of pushback from students, however, while talking to some of my friends, they informed me that they were concerned because the last protest concerning the school dress code got students written up and sent home. I am hoping that none of that will happen this time, and am hoping that the school board recognizes our protest as what it is: free speech!” Abigail is also hoping that the boys will become involved in her protest. “I really hope the boys become involved in the protest because I feel their support will really help further our goals. I also hope that we can get parents involved since I am sure the school board is much more likely to listen to them than us.”

Abigail has shared memories of the way that the dress code has affected her. “When I first got dress-coded I remember feeling angry, but unfortunately I grew used to most of the comments about inappropriate clothing. I just don’t want other girls to go through what I did and being insecure by thinking that their natural body was somehow ‘inappropriate’.”

After such an inspiring protest Abigail wanted to reach out to the other girls here at Lafayette. “I would say to my fellow girls that you don’t need to feel insecure about your body and there is nothing wrong with you. Your voice matters in the world even if Lafayette won’t listen to it. Even if the school board doesn’t change its mind and we still have stupid dress codes, you spoke out and that’s what matters. Of course, it does suck that we are treated like our opinions don’t matter, but you can still have one. Each and every one of you are beautiful and never let someone dictate how you view yourself.”