The opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent the views of The Prowler.

Every day I walk out of my house with pepper spray and a small alarm just in case I get harassed or followed. I’m fifteen years old, and I’m worried I will be raped or followed by a man because I’m wearing shorts or a skirt. 

Ever since elementary school, I have been taught to dress a certain way so I’m not a distraction. I could never go to school in shorts or a skirt, starting at ten years old.

At ten years old, I was being shamed for wearing shorts or showing my shoulders. I was taught that I was a  distraction to the boys in my class, and their education was more important than mine.

Dress codes start in elementary school, where kids are 5-10 years old. At such a young age, boys and girls are being taught that it’s “wrong” or “unprofessional” to wear certain clothes.

Having dress codes is essential. A student shouldn’t dress in a bathing suit or sleepwear, but there are certain aspects of schools’ dress codes that shouldn’t be tolerated. Teaching young girls that they are a distraction to boys teaches girls that men are dominant. Schools should be teaching boys to respect women instead of forcing girls to hide themselves so the men are comfortable. 

Using the word distracting is such an awful term, as it objectifies women. Dress codes are often focused on what a woman can and cannot wear and don’t regard men’s dress codes as much. I believe it’s because women are oversexualized and objectified, and schools are supporting it rather than preventing it by creating these dress codes. Additionally, it seems like schools believe women dress for men, which implies that men are superior.

Girls are targeted. Men will rape girls because they were wearing a short dress, and they will say the girls were asking for it. Or guys will catcall girls in the street and follow them, harassing girls for their number. In many rape trials, what a woman is wearing is brought up as evidence.  If a woman is wearing a nightdress with no underwear, for example, that will be twisted into evidence of consent. Men think it’s okay to rape a woman because she is wearing a red dress.

If we ask ourselves, “Where did they learn this?” it all goes back to the school dress codes starting in elementary school. 

Teaching young men to respect women at a young age could prevent catcalling, raping because of what a girl wears, and harassment. Instead, boys learn that it’s inappropriate for girls to show their shoulders or their legs.

Unless schools can understand that policing what girls wear, like tank tops or spaghetti straps, and making them measure a three-inch inseam on shorts and skirts are unacceptable policies, it will never change. A strategy to get started is to teach boys to respect girls and not sexualize them. I hope one day schools’ policies will change, and girls will be able to fearlessly go out into the world wearing what they want.