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Why Students Should not Wear Uniforms: an Analysis of Arguments

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Published: Sep 7, 2023

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Limiting expression and creativity, promoting conformity and obedience, financial burden and inequality, promoting inclusivity and equality.

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School Dress Codes

• Masters Thesis

• Dana Collins California State University, Fullerton
• LaTosha Traylor California State University, Fullerton
• Maria Malagon California State University, Fullerton
• College of Humanities and Social Sciences
• Department of Sociology
• California State University, Fullerton
• dress codes
• https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5911985

Items in ScholarWorks are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.

Dress Codes

• Living reference work entry
• First Online: 01 February 2023
• Cite this living reference work entry

• Shauna Pomerantz 3 &
• Rebecca Raby 4  

126 Accesses

In 2014, a group of students at three high schools in Fredericton, Canada, formed the Youth Feminist Collective to fight their school district’s dress code and organize against sexual assault. Tired of experiencing and witnessing what they felt were sexist disciplinary actions over what girls were wearing, the members launched a change.org petition. The petition claimed that rules around how students dress perpetuate rape culture and the organizers urged the district to abolish dress codes, implementing instead policies that help girls feel safe from violence (Youth Feminists, 2014 ). Members organized walkouts at their schools and demanded that the school board hear their concerns. The video they produced as part of the petition included the following statements: “I had a teacher who called herself the ‘Dress Code Nazi’ and told the girls they dressed like sluts,” “What’s so inappropriate about my thighs anyway?” And “You can’t tell a woman to cover up, you have to address the men who...

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Bahadur, N. (2015). The amazing way teens are protesting a new dress code policy. Huffpost . https://huffpost.netblogpro.com/entry/teens-wear-scarlet-letters-to-protest-new-dress-code-policy_n_560eb0e3e4b0af3706e07cc3

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CBC. (2022). Orléans high school students protest dress code enforcement blitz. CBC News . https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/dress-code-protest-french-catholic-high-school-b%C3%A9atrice-desloges-1.6453624

Cramer, M. & Levenson, M. (2021). Yearbook photos of girls were altered to hide their chests. New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/23/us/yearbook-photos-st-johns-girls-altering.html?smid=tw-nytimes&smtyp=cur

Edwards, T., & Marshall, C. (2020). Undressing policy: A critical analysis of North Carolina (USA) public school dress codes. Gender and Education, 32 (6), 732–750. https://doi.org/10.1080/09540253.2018.1503234

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Knipp, H., & Stevenson, R. (2022). “A powerful visual statement”: Race, class, and gender in uniform and dress code policies in New Orleans public charter schools. Affilia: Feminist Inquiry in Social Work, 37 (1), 79–96. https://doi.org/10.1177/08861099211010026

Krischer, H. (2018). Is your body appropriate to wear to school? New York Times . https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/17/style/student-bra-nipples-school.html

Lapolla, K. (2016). A conflict of sexual identity: Problems of findings special occasion dresses for girls at secondary school with dress codes. Fashion, Style & Popular Culture, 3 (3), 327–338. https://doi.org/10.1386/fspc.3.3.327_1

Lowe, L. (2018). School district relaxes its ‘sexist’ dress code allowing ripped jeans, leggings. Today.com . https://www.today.com/style/alameda-school-district-relaxes-its-sexist-dress-code-t138304

Mendes, K., Ringrose, J., & Keller, J. (2019). Teen feminist digital activisms: Resisting rape culture in and around school. In K. Mendes, J. Ringrose, & J. Keller (Eds.), Digital feminist activism: Girls and women fight back against rape culture (pp. 145–174). Oxford University Press.

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Morris, E. (2005). “Tuck in that shirt!” race, class, gender and discipline in an urban school. Sociological Perspectives, 48 (1), 25–48. https://doi.org/10.1525/sop.2005.48.1.25

Morris, E. W., & Perry, B. L. (2017). Girls behaving badly? Race, gender, and subjective evaluation in the discipline of African American girls. Sociology of Education, 90 (2), 127–148. https://doi.org/10.1177/0038040717694876

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National Women’s Law Center. (2019). Dress coded II: Protest, progress, and power in D.C. schools. Washington, DC. https://nwlc.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/final_nwlc_DressCodedII_Report.pdf

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Pavlakis, A., & Roegman, R. (2018). How dress codes criminalize males and sexualize females of color. The Phi Delta Kappan, 100 (2), 54–58. https://www.jstor.org/stable/26552445

Pomerantz, S. (2007). Cleavage in a tank top: Bodily prohibition and the discourses of school dress codes. Alberta Journal of Educational Research, 53 , 373–386. https://doi.org/10.11575/ajer.v53i4.55303

Pomerantz, S. (2008). Girls, style, and school identities: Dressing the part . Palgrave.

Pomerantz, S. & Raby, R. (2015). Taking on school dress codes: Teen rebels with a cause. Globe & Mail . https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/taking-on-school-dress-codesteen-rebels-with-a-cause/article24704035/

Raby, R. (2005). Polite, well-dressed and on time: Secondary school conduct codes and the production of docile citizens. The Canadian Review of Sociology and Anthropology, 42 (1), 71–92. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1755-618X.2005.tb00791.x

Raby, R. (2010). “Tank tops should be ok but I don't want to see her thong”: Girls, dress codes and the regulation of femininity. Youth and Society, 41 , 333–356. https://doi.org/10.1177/0044118X09333663

Raby, R. (2012). School rules: Obedience, discipline and elusive democracy . UTP.

Raby, R., & Pomerantz, S. (2017). Dress codes as gender politics: Feminist action in Canadian high schools. In X. Chen, R. Raby, & P. Albanese (Eds.), The sociology of childhood and youth in Canada (pp. 293–313). Canadian Scholars’ Press.

Rukavina, S. (2020). Boys in several Quebec high schools wear skirts to protest dress code. CBC News. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/boys-in-several-quebec-high-schools-wear-skirts-to-protest-dress-code-1.5755570

Schmidt, S. (2019). Black girls say D.C. school dress codes unfairly target them. Now they’re speaking up. The Washington Post . https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2019/09/05/black-girls-say-dc-school-dress-codes-unfairly-target-them-now-theyre-speaking-up/?arc404=true

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Superior District School. (2019). Dress code language for student handbook. Douglas County. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1SzW-vFIC5l03JdzVGM7Yc%2D%2DttAk0mWa_/view

Strapagiel, L. (2015). These teens are trying to end oppressive dress codes in Toronto. BuzzFeed. https://www.buzzfeed.com/laurenstrapagiel/a-group-of-teens-are-trying-to-end-oppressive-dress-codes-in

Toronto District School Board. (2019). Student dress policy. Toronto. https://www.tdsb.on.ca/High-School/Your-School-Day/Student-Dress

Woods, M., van Rooey, N., & Pringle, J. (2022). Ottawa students, parents outraged at humiliating high school dress code blitz. CTV News. https://ottawa.ctvnews.ca/ottawa-students-parents-outraged-at-humiliating-high-school-dress-code-blitz-1.5901789

Youth Feminists. (2014). Abolish the dress code and create a sexual assault policy. Change.org petition. https://www.change.org/p/anglophone-west-school-district-abolish-the-dress-code-and-create-a-sexual-assault-policy

Zaslow, E. (2018). #Iammorethanadistraction: Connecting local body polities to a digital feminist movement. In J. Keller & M. E. Ryan (Eds.), Emergent feminisms: Complicating a postfeminist media culture (pp. 93–107). Routledge.

Video Resources

Black students in Kentucky protesting a “no natural hair” policy and how it sparked a national conversation in the United States: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DxfdANEv04

CBC news report about Fredericton students protesting against school dress code: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/fredericton-high-school-dress-code-targeted-by-young-feminists-1.2838222

Discussion of dress code protest in an Alberta high school and responding comments disparaging the girls: https://globalnews.ca/news/3503389/note-telling-girls-to-dress-conservatively-in-school-to-avoid-distracting-boys-sparks-outrage-in-alberta-village/

Dr. Jessica Ringrose speaks about how dress codes are a key site of girls’ concern about sexism in schools and the rise of hashtag feminism: https://www.sexgenlab.org/post/sgl-video-presents-dr-jessica-ringrose-on-digital-feminism

Fredericton’s young feminists speaking out about their experiences with dress codes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jacX5CHF08E

Girls involved in the National Women’s Law Center’s 2018 report: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3LYZa7SlhQU

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Child and Youth Studies, Brock University, St. Catharines, Canada

Shauna Pomerantz

Rebecca Raby

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Pomerantz, S., Raby, R. (2023). Dress Codes. In: The Palgrave Encyclopedia of Sexuality Education. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-95352-2_72-1

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DOI : https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-95352-2_72-1

Received : 14 September 2022

Accepted : 19 September 2022

Published : 01 February 2023

Publisher Name : Palgrave Macmillan, Cham

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Online ISBN : 978-3-030-95352-2

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What to wear for a PhD/ MSc thesis defense?

Is it better to wear formal clothes for a PhD or MSc thesis defense or can we wear something as simple as a T-shirt?

• outward-appearance

• Can you clarify presentation ? Are you presenting an informal talk on your research, or is this a formal defense? –  Moriarty Commented Jul 10, 2014 at 8:13
• 5 So is it a formal defense or not? Either way, it's going to ultimately depend on the culture of your country and department. For an informal talk, your everyday dress will usually be fine. For a formal defense, it might be a good idea to wear a long-sleeved shirt and pants. –  Moriarty Commented Jul 10, 2014 at 8:18
• 9 I think it really depends on the country and culture. E.g. mine was in the hot summer (35+ degrees Celsius). As a girl, I went in a dress (not too formal, but as I usually don't wear dresses/skirts at all, for me it was a big step up). But, I've seen boys present in jeans and T-shirts, jeans and (short sleeve) shirts, jeans with shirts and ties, suit-pants and shirts (and ties), one with a wacky tie, but also several in short pants and T-shirts... and they all defended successfully. –  penelope Commented Jul 10, 2014 at 8:45
• 6 The appropriate attire is the one that won't distract the audience form the content of your talk. Don't try to be original or to make a statement ('I'm a genius, I can dress the way I want' etc.). I think a bit formal never hurts, it shows that you are taking it seriously but ultimately it's highly unlikely that your attire will influence your grade. –  Cape Code Commented Jul 10, 2014 at 11:30
• 3 Have you asked your advisor? –  Thorbjørn Ravn Andersen Commented Mar 15, 2015 at 22:33

4 Answers 4

Almost anything will be fine, provided you feel comfortable on them. The clothes you are wearing will influence the first impression, but you are going to be talking about your project for at least 20 min, and the confidence and clarity will wipe whatever the first idea was. Make sure they are you feel good on them, and don't use them for the first time this day in case they itch or something (specially important for underwear!).

The right level of formalism is very dependent on the culture and setting, but it is probably not so important. It will also depend on whether the event is public or not: if the audience are going to be the people that have been seeing you in normal clothes all year round, or if the public is going to attend and the University wants to shine. Of course, a frock and a top hat or just a swimming suit will look ridiculous, but anywhere in the middle would work.

For reference, I have been present to two PhD defences in Sweden (where they are quite lax in formalities). In one, the doctorand was wearing plain business-like clothes, slightly more formal than a normal day; in the other, he was wearing a normal shirt, quite less formal than his normal attire. And, for the record, both passed.

Edit: Jigg is right in pointing that some universities do require a certain dress code. In this case, it will probably be clearly stated by the centre. Being rejected is possible, but extremely unlikely, as it can get the university in all sorts of legal troubles. Also, these regulations can get to absurd levels (the story seems to be a legend, but the third comment may be legit).

• 10 +1 for formalism depending on the setting. A friend of mine who got his Masters in an Italian engineering school was dismissed from the exam before saying the first word because he didn't wear a tie. –  Cape Code Commented Jul 10, 2014 at 12:21
• 1 @Jigg really ??????!!!! –  user14487 Commented Jul 10, 2014 at 12:33
• 2 @begueradj a doctor told me that in his first day of work in a hospital in the UK he was sent back home for the same reason; being a pathologist, so he never interacts with alive patients. In cases like Jigg's friend (very uncommon, I must say), the school should specify the dress code somewhere. –  Davidmh Commented Jul 10, 2014 at 12:44
• 2 Yes, it's an anecdote. I doubt it was an official university dress code, just the opinion of an old prof with a penchant for conservatism. –  Cape Code Commented Jul 10, 2014 at 13:03
• 2 At Oxford vivas (defences) count as examinations, and full academic dress is required, meaning a dark suit, white shirt or blouse, white bow tie or black ribbon, mortarboard and gown. This is, of course, made very clear to candidates beforehand, though. –  dbmag9 Commented Dec 18, 2014 at 22:15

Think of it as a job interview, but actually much more important than that. There is such a thing as unconscious bias - first impressions count and you should therefore aim to make a good one. If you look professional, then they will think you are professional, and are more likely to trust and believe in you. It may not be fair, but that is how it is. I recommend being smartly dressed.

• 7 But keep in mind that in some fields, "professional" means a new T-shirt. –  JeffE Commented Apr 23, 2015 at 2:47

In job interviews it's actually a mistake to dress up fully formally for jobs (like software) that don't require it. Your grad student culture has a range probably from t-shirts to business casual.

I do think it's important to say, "Hey, I'm taking this seriously, this is a serious occasion, and I'm prepared." Comfort is the other important thing.

In one sentence, wear something in the top third of your wardrobe, but not in the top tenth. Smarter/sharper is good, fancy pants dinner or gala attire is bad.

That being said, here's my attempt at male fashion advice (sorry, I can't really help the women here too much) if you really do feel like a more detailed breakdown will help you.

• Street shoes (c.f. sneakers)
• dark wash jeans or slacks
• collared shirt tucked in, or similar such as nice sweater
• neatly shaven to your level of grooming (beard or clean okay, just whatever you wear)
• not looking like you "need a haircut" but don't get a fancy or special haircut. Wear your normal accessories, whether it be watch or necklace.
• If tattoos are part of your look they've got you this far, don't worry about covering them or not ("within reason").
• Try not to look like a sloppy student who never dresses up: wear clothes straight from the cleaner.
• A tie if you like, in my mind I picture that as a nice addition but not necessary.

I think a jacket is too much: it will make you look too "other" compared to the professors. If you over-dress you will make yourself look "on the spot" more than you already are, and who wants that?

This might sound too analytical for fashion (unless you're really into fashion in which case it sounds fun!), but this shouldn't sound daunting. Just dress normal, normal, normal, nice.

• 7 +1 for "wear something in the top third of your wardrobe, but not in the top tenth". –  J. Zimmerman Commented Dec 19, 2014 at 16:50
• What about a suit or a bow tie instead of a tie? –  Rrjrjtlokrthjji Commented Apr 22, 2015 at 21:05

You can wear something as informal as a t-shirt and, as others have said, it probably won't swing the decision one way or another. I've seen very informal defense dress from passing students. That said, most people dress up at least slightly more formally than normal and many wear business attire. If you're extremely uncomfortable or resistant to dressing up, don't worry too much. Otherwise: Why not?

Showing up wearing a suit and tie or similarly formal business attire is a strong signal that you are taking the defense seriously. Although they're not everything, first impressions matter and formal dress can also help you look (and feel) authoritative, knowledgeable, and a way you can show that you've taken the time to be prepared.

I am extremely casual on a day-to-day basis but I wore a suit for my defense. Although my own advisor teased me that my defense was the first time he'd seen me dressed up, the fact that he knew that I rarely dressed that way made it very clear how seriously I took the process. Would I have passed anyway? Sure. But even if the effect is one person challenges you a little bit less in the Q&A, that could be worth it.

• 1 This answer is probably rather country-specific. In Germany, I have seen an MSc student show up for his (CS) defense in a business attire exactly once, and by that, he made (later, in his absence) the whole department laugh about him because he was hopelessly overdressed (both compared to other students and compared to everyone in the department ...). We seriously wondered whether he was trying to be funny in a weird way. (That applies only to defenses by students, though; for PhD defenses, things are very different.) –  O. R. Mapper Commented Dec 19, 2014 at 15:58
• 1 @O.R.Mapper: I'm in the US and my opinion is pulling mostly from my experience. It's also going to vary based on the culture of the school and place in general. Folks dressed up for more defenses, and in general, at MIT and in Boston than they do at the University of Washington and in Seattle. –  mako Commented Dec 19, 2014 at 16:50

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