Dress Code Quotes

“The idea that girls are somehow responsible for 'provoking' harassment from boys is shamefully exacerbated by an epidemic of increasingly sexist school dress codes. Across the United States, stories have recently emerged about girls being hauled out of class, publicly humiliated, sent home, and even threatened with expulsion for such transgressions as wearing tops with 'spaghetti straps,' wearing leggings or (brace yourself) revealing their shoulders. The reasoning behind such dress codes, which almost always focus on the girls' clothing to a far greater extent than the boys', is often euphemistically described as the preservation of an effective 'learning environment.' Often schools go all out and explain that girls wearing certain clothing might 'distract' their male peers, or even their male teachers....in reality these messages privilege boys' apparent 'needs' over those of the girls, sending the insidious message that girls' bodies are dangerous and provoke harassment, and boys can't be expected to control their behavior, so girls are responsible for covering up....his education is being prioritized over hers.”
― Laura Bates, Everyday Sexism

“True. The school admin decided that a girls clothes were more important than her education.”
― Svetlana Chmakova, Brave

“The next time you are heading out the door, pause at the mirror and make sure that what you see reflects your purpose and value. That doesn’t mean donning the burka, but it probably doesn’t mean having words on your butt either.”
― Amy E. Spiegel, Letting Go of Perfect: Women, Expectations, and Authenticity

“I do not see the point in dressing and acting and speaking in a way that makes you feel more comfortable and me feel less comfortable.”
― Dan Pearce, Single Dad Laughing: The Best of Year One

“For me, the times that I dressed provocatively had been empowering. It felt good. It's those times that I felt comfortable in my own skin. Like really, really comfortable. And let's face it, body self-esteem issues are a hurdle many women struggle to overcome.

So when a person tears a woman down for how's she's dressed, they are tearing her down at a moment she feels at the top of her game. That's where the real shame is—not in how a woman is dressed, but in the desire to minimise her self-worth and empowerment. That's not kind, or well meaning. It's rude and cruel.”
― Annastacia Dickerson

“Schoolgirls are not distractions.
They are students.
Teach them something other than misogyny.”
― Merlyn Gabriel Miller, Sex, Death, Drugs & Madness

“All right, let's consider some history here. I see a number of girls are wearing pants. This used to be frowned upon. In 1938, Helen Hulick was jailed for wearing slacks -- put behind bars.

Do you think society should have the right to jail or punish you for what you choose to wear?”
― Svetlana Chmakova, Brave

“What to wear: An employee chooses. How to dress: His employer chose.”
― Mokokoma Mokhonoana, Divided & Conquered

“The primary difference between sex and death is, with death there is no dress code”
― Josh Stern

“What if, instead of seeing us as covered or uncovered body parts, you saw us as people and you learned our names?”
― Carrie Firestone, Dress Coded

“Not being well-paid is even more painful to those who are obliged to come to work well-dressed.”
― Mokokoma Mokhonoana

“Your choice of my dress doesn't fit into the prescription of my health”
― P.S. Jagadeesh Kumar

“I grew up with the understanding that personal presentation is a way to show respect. I might be most comfortable in jeans and an old T-shirt, but I dress up to go to the theater out of admiration for the performers. I wouldn’t dream of wearing sweatpants to temple, or to church.”
― Sue Klebold, A Mother's Reckoning: Living in the Aftermath of Tragedy

“The hijab-related deaths and death sentences in Iran show that breaking the attire laws is more dangerous adventure than breaking the nudity laws.”
― R. N. Prasher

“Lucien ran his one eye over me- my casual attire, then the Illyrians in their leathers, and Amren in her usual grey, and Mor in her flowing red gown, and said, 'What is the dress code?'

I shrugged, passing him the glass of wine I'd brought over. 'It's... whatever we feel like.”
― Sarah J. Maas, A Court of Wings and Ruin

“And the evening dress protocol? Shoulders exposed, plunging neckline, all my wealth in my hair, around my neck, on fingers and wrists? I expect that’s how they dress in high society?”
― Byrd Nash, Ghost Talker