We know that many high schools have a dress code for its students even if there isn't a mandatory uniform. Often these codes try to police what kids can wear, and they're often more controlling over what girls can and can't wear than the guys. If students are determined to have broken the dress code, they're often sent home and/or shamed by the staff and told to change the "offending" outfit. One teen found herself on the offending side after a teacher at her high school had concerns about what she was wearing.
The teen took to Reddit to get the community's opinion on the school's dress code and how she decided to handle it.
Posting to Reddit's AITA, a teen sought some advice on a situation at school. "I am a 17 year old female and started my senior year of high school," she began her post.
Classes started last week, and everyone is following the guidelines recommended for the current health crisis, she explained before sharing what happened to her at school the day before her Reddit post.
She got called out by the teacher.
"Yesterday I was told I need to go to the office because apparently my pants were 'too revealing' said my teacher. They were just your standard pair of leggings," the teen explained. She explained they were not see-through, which sometimes happens with leggings, and they were black.
"I love these leggings and have worn them to school many times," she wrote.
The teen thinks the teacher who called her out for being "too revealing" has his own issues.
"My (38M) teacher just went though a divorce over the summer," she explained. "I do feel sorry for him and have known him for a few years. (He taught my brother) But I feel like the only reason they were a problem was because he is sensitive and sending a bunch of students to the office for no reason."
She shared that she was really careful before wearing the leggings this year so she didn't break the dress code. "I checked before I wore them this year just in case they changed the dress code(they didn’t) so when I got down to the office and he told me I had to call my parents and have them bring clothes I was confused and asked him why," she wrote.
Then the principal used a line we've heard before.
"He then reposed with 'You were distracting other kids is what your teacher said.'"
We're fuming because we've heard this before and there is ZERO way a teenager wearing leggings is "too revealing," and she's not responsible for what another student may or may not feel about her clothing.
So, she stood her ground.
"I told him that I wasn’t going to change since the dress code didn’t say anything about me not being able to wear leggings," she explained. "Not even in a rude way just me trying to figure out what was going on," she clarified.
She was then told, "if you don’t change you can leave," so she did. "I wasn’t about to be pushed around just because my teacher is in a sensitive place. My entire family is saying that I was out of line. But I don’t think so."
She asked the Reddit community if she was the one in the wrong in this situation.
"NTA," someone quickly agreed. "You did your research and were following the rules, so I'm glad you stuck up for yourself! I don't know why your family wouldn't have your back here."
"NTA — you read the dress code," a second person agreed. "He's taking his frustrations out on you because he thinks he has the power to do so. Also, the excuse that it's 'distracting' other people is bulls-t. Good for you for standing up for yourself."
"NTA," another person commented. "Its absolutely disgusting that your teacher (who gives a crap if he's in a sensitive place) sexualized you. And even worse that your principal did the same. Your family should have your back. Your parent should be raising h–l on your behalf not scolding you. Every adult in this situation was a sexist a—–e. Every single one."
"NTA," replied someone else. "And do not make the excuse about his divorce. This implies that it's ok for him to police your clothing when he's going through issues. It's NOT ok."
Can people stop trying to police what women wear? We're over it.
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