dress code

*Featured image contains photo by Andrea PiacquadioIt's no secret that many school dress codes could use a boost into the 21st century. Outdated and archaic, they disproportionately target girls and feed into the notion that girls are responsible for the choices and behaviors of boys. They are not. Even when girls do cover up their bodies completely? They still can't seem to win. And one mom has had enough. The Phone CallWhen mom, Shasty Leah, picked up the phone, the last thing she expected to hear was that her daughter was being sent home for a dress code violation.After all, she wasn't wearing any of the standard pieces that normally get cited, like crop tops or mini-skirts. The offending outfit? A brown long-sleeved t-shirt with a crew neck paired with some Halara black jeggings with pocket details. In other words, the standard type of outfit worn by literally every tween and teenage girl everywhere. (And a lot of teachers too.)And while her daughter being sent home two hours before the end of the school day for wearing the unofficial uniform of teens was upsetting, it was the reason the school administration gave that really set her off. “Two hours before school gets out, she's being sent home for school violations because her outfit is distracting to the boys," Shasty said in a now-viral video on TikTok. "[It's] 2024 and we're still teaching the boys that girls are their sexual playtoys," she continued. “We're not teaching the boys: You don't have a right to put your hands on any girl. You don't have a right to call her anything outside her God-given name, and you don't have a right to think that she is your sexual object. We're not teaching the boys that. No."She was just warming up. In a fiery 4 minute and 7 second rant, Shasty didn't hold anything back. The Viral TikTok Video In her video that has been viewed more than 3.2 MILLION times, Shasty covers everything from the hypocrisy of girls' school cheerleading outfits and volleyball team uniforms — that are "practically under-f**king-wear" — to the responsibility of parents of boys to teach them not to sexualize women.“It's 2024. We've got to do better as a society.” Shasty Leah via TikTokAnd for anyone who thinks she doesn't understand boys and their adolescent experiences, she assures viewers that as a mother of FOUR boys, ages 15-29, she's more than qualified to have an opinion. “I have four boys ages 29 to 15. They were taught the same thing: Don't sexualize women,” she said.Reaction to the Viral VideoIn a follow-up video, Shasty reveals the outfit in question, giving viewers a glimpse of the "provocative" t-shirt and jeggings. Take a look:Turns out, Shasty isn't the only one appalled by the school's response. Her post quickly gained traction. More than 18,000 people weighed in, and they were overwhelmingly supportive.“There is NOTHING wrong with this outfit,” one commenter wrote.“I'm a teacher. I see nothing wrong with that outfit,” another said."We just had that discussion the other day. Can't wear a tank top, but cheerleader and volleyball uniforms are what they are..." someone else commented.Others shared their own experiences with school dress codes. "My school tried banning leggings. big mistake. BIG. all the boys showed up for 3 days wearing leggings. for 3 days. in protest," wrote one. Another said, "At my high school we were all “dress code checked” at the beginning of each day. Only the girls." (And there lies in the problem.)"It’s never about the clothes, it’s about the girl’s body type. I’m pretty skinny so I never get dress coded, but my friend who is a bit curvier gets dress coded left and right," one person shared.It's a valid point. The Problem With Unfair Dress CodesThe grim reality is that dress code shaming and policing, specifically in regards to young girls’ bodies, is still very much alive and well.Schools are still sending the message that girls should be reprimanded and punished for having bodies, even when those bodies are actually completely covered up. But the message this school sent isn't just detrimental to the girls, it is to the boys as well. Adolescent boys are more than capable of respecting their female peers and exercising control over their thoughts and behavior. The narrative needs to change. If schools are going to continue using dress codes, they need to update them to ensure that they are equitable and fair, for everyone. More from Goalcast:Student Is Told to “Put Pants On” After Wearing Her Cheerleading Uniform to School – Outraged Mom Fights BackLowe’s Employee Is Fired After She Tries to Stop 3 Shoplifters – Outraged Strangers Have the Best ResponseBrave Employee Is Fired After He Stands Up to the Thieves Who Stole From His Store – Outraged Strangers Have the Best Response