Dress Coded

Dress Coded follows Molly Frost and her friends as they start a podcast to protest the unfairness of the existence and enforcement of their middle-school dress code. The question of dress codes in schools across the US, particularly with respect to whether they safeguard children or restrict their identity, is one that has been debated over recent years. Historically, dress codes were implemented in schools as a response to gang violence and the discipline problems it led to, as different gangs adorned specific clothing and paraphernalia. However, even with the diversification of the student population, the dress codes in place continue to cater to the male, white population, and often contain racist and sexist overtones.

Clothes prohibited by school dress codes usually include items considered “revealing” or “distracting,” ideas targeted at feminine clothing. Similarly, hairstyles often banned at school, such as braids or dreadlocks, are usually associated with specific racial, ethnic, or cultural groups (Pendharkar, Eesha. “School Dress Code Debates, Explained.” Education Week, 2023). In the novel, this is the experience of the students at Fisher Middle School. The dress code lists feminine clothing, such as those that display cleavage or midriff, as prohibited. Molly and her friends complain about how it is only ever girls who are dress coded. Similarly, Talia is told by a teacher to “fix” her natural hair, although she is the one made uncomfortable by a fellow student touching her hair.

Molly and her friends’ experiences are in concert with a federal Government Accountability Office (GAO) report, which found that the enforcement of dress codes in American schools are often discriminatory, targeting girls and students of color (Pendharkar). Real-life examples support this claim as well: In 2020, two Black students were suspended from a Houston school for having their hair in dreadlocks, which administrators determined was in violation of school policy. On another occasion, female athletes at a New York high school were penalized for not wearing shirts over their sports bras, despite male athletes being allowed to go shirtless (Claybourn, Cole. “Why School Dress Codes Are Often Unfair.” US News, 2022).

Besides the topic of discrimination, the debate about dress codes also looks at how certain words in dress codes, such as “provocative” and “revealing,” carry dangerous implications (Pendharkar). These words send a problematic message that girls dress a certain way to attract sexual attention, which not only dictates how they should present themselves, but also anticipates and even permits problematic behavior in boys. Furthermore, it contributes to the hypersexualization of children. In the final board meeting in the novel, Molly and her friends talk about how uncomfortable they feel, being told how not to dress. They want to be left alone and allowed to be children for a little longer. This discomfort is intensified by the rigorous checking carried out by both male and female teachers at the middle school, from Dr. Couchman to Fingertip. This, again, is in concert with the GAO report findings, which show that “about 60 percent of dress codes require staff members to measure students’ bodies and clothing to make sure they comply, which can involve adults touching students” (Claybourn). This can result in students, particularly girls, feeling uncomfortable and unsafe at school.

Dress code protests that have taken place across the country have historically been organized by students, which happens at Fisher Middle School as well. Molly and her friends look to federal law to further their cause, specifically the US Constitution’s equal protection guarantee that “dress codes cannot be explicitly discriminatory. While dress codes may specify acceptable types of attire, they cannot differ ‘based on students’ gender, race, religion or other protected characteristics’” (Claybourn). The final, amended dress code appears to do the actual, intended job of a dress code: It looks to protect students against hate speech or associated symbology, especially with respect to racism, homophobia, and other kinds of intolerance (Pendharkar).