Leggings, Straps, Yoga Pants Okay, But Shaming Is Not: New ETHS Dress Code

EVANSTON, IL — The latest edition of Evanston Township High School dress code has been getting national attention but not for what it bans. Instead of placing detailed and specific restrictions on the clothes that students are allowed to wear, the new student dress code aims to ensure fair enforcement and to avoid reinforcing stereotypes. Students and staff, according to the code, should know they are responsible for "managing their own personal 'distractions' without regulating individual students' clothing/self expression."

The district's main responsibility is making sure "student attire does not interfere with the health or safety of any student,...does not contribute to a hostile or intimidating atmosphere for any student, and that dress code enforcement does not reinforce or increase marginalization or oppression of any group," the code said.

The code's basic premise holds that "genitals, buttocks, breasts, and nipples are fully covered with opaque fabric," should be covered at all time, although "cleavage should not have coverage requirements."

The new dress code specifically bans "shaming" of students over what they choose to wear. There is to be no measuring of skirts, or straps, no accusing students of distracting other students, no "asking students to account for their attire" in class or in front of others in the hallway. That includes no "calling out students" about "perceived dress code violations...in particular, directing students to correct sagged pants that do not expose the entire undergarment, or confronting students about visible bra straps." The code also restricts staff from enforcing the code any differently for students of different racial, religious or ethnic gender identities. (Get Patch real-time email alerts for the latest news for Evanston — or your community. And iPhone users: Check out Patch's new app.)

Some of the pieces of clothing specifically allowed by the updated dress code: yoga pants, opaque leggings, pajamas, tank tops, athletic attire, hats and ripped jeans (as long as underwear or buttocks are not exposed.) Other newly allowed fashion options include exposed bra straps, midriffs and shoulders.

There are still plenty of restrictions on school clothes under the new code. No depictions of drugs, alcohol, violence, pornography, profanity, hate speech or any "speech that incites others to imminent lawless action" are permitted on students clothes, for instance. Although hats and hoodies are allowed, no items that obscure the face or ears can be worn except as a religious observance.

The district said the code was developed with some inspiration from the Oregon NOW Model Dress Code, which holds dress codes should aim to ensure "equitable educational access and should not reinforce gender stereotypes."

Related:

• Student's Shoulders In Senior Photo Spark Sexism Debate
• Leggings, Yoga Pants Rule 'Perpetuates Shame Cycle,' Illinois Teen Says
• Should Yoga Pants and Leggings Be Banned in Schools?
  

Read the complete ETHS dress code below:

_{Top photo via Patch archive}