By Jasmine Pascual, Staff Writer/Webmaster
High school students have argued about Kenosha Unified School District’s dress code for years. But in mid-October, the student-led Women’s Rights and Empowerment club at Indian Trail High School & Academy took action and started a petition drive on Change.org.
On Dec. 1, club members delivered that petition with more than 3,000 signatures to the KUSD school board, with several students addressing board members at the start of the KUSD meeting.
By the end of their discussion, the majority of board members had vowed to at least consider revising the dress code which students complained encourages body shaming of female students. The problem remains in how school officials plan to proceed with their discussions since some board members want an ad hoc committee formed while others want the full school board to deal with the issue.
The Women’s Rights and Empowerment club plans to keep talking to the school board. Its website claims “people everywhere are starting campaigns, mobilizing supporters, and working with decision makers to drive solutions.”
“Why we started this club is to provide a safe outlet for kids our age to talk about social issues that come up in daily life,” said club Co-President Alexa Grosz.
“We feel that the current dress code is derogatory in that it disproportionately targets female students and belittles the male students’ self control. We would like the dress code to be amended to eliminate the restriction of leggings, yoga pants, and exposed shoulders,” members stated in a post on the group’s website.
At the November and December school board meetings, club members also shared their feelings about the KUSD’s dress code. At the November meeting, Grosz wore an exposed-shoulder top, a shirt that she was told to change out of at school because she was breaking dress code.
“It worries me that we have a district with such low expectations of our student body that the minute that we see an exposed collarbone we must halt the problem with the so-called perpetrator in fear of being a distraction,” Grosz said.
Club member Victoria Shantaz said the dress code reinforces sexism and gender stereotypes.
“I do not believe the School Board is aware of how extreme this dress code has become and the shaming it has brought to the female population,” Shantz said. “Having adults, especially males, look me up and down and tell me that I’m dressing too provocatively is completely and utterly objectifying and revolting to me.”
As of press time, it was unclear when the school board will revisit the issue. But club members plan to remain vigilant and keep attending board meetings.
“Yes we are!” said club Co-President Alicia Lorta. “We are planning to go until the dress code is at least on the agenda. It may take the school year for them to add it to the agenda, but we hope that change will come sooner.”