Reflection 5: Seeing Double—Exploring Double Standards in Male and Female Dress (Pathway 2 Assignment Only)

Today, girls and women encounter a myriad of double standards in dress codes across various settings, including school, the workplace, and sports. And it can be confusing when males are allowed to dress one way, but females cannot follow suit. For example, in many American schools, boys are allowed to wear tank tops, or even crop tops, while girls are often barred from displaying too much arm, cleavage, or midriff. Certain dress expectations and norms can also create a double standard for women. For instance, male professional attire is fairly simple and straightforward, typically slacks, shirt, tie, and jacket. Women, on the other hand, have the added expectation of makeup, which employers may have the right to require. Even in sports, female uniforms routinely show more skin than that of the males. In these, and other settings, all things are not equal as they pertain to male and female dress codes. What do you believe should be the rules, if any, for how men and women dress in certain places and situations? For example, do these rules, as some argue, only reinforce negative gender stereotypes that mostly hurt women? Or are differing rules sometimes appropriate?

Cite at least two of the following to include in your discussion:

• "Photo Series Explores 'Sexploitation' in Athletic Uniforms" (NBCNews)
• "Four Things Public Schools Can and Can’t Do When it Comes to Dress Code" (ACLU) 
• "Missouri State House Enforces Stricter and Sexist Dress Code for Women" (TheMontClarion)
• "Unequal Burden: Dress Code Expectations on Women in the Workforce" (HerCulture)
• "How Some Say This Washington Township School's Dress Code Blames Girls for Boys' Bad Behavior" (IndianapolisStar)

Requirement: 

• Approx. 500 words

Due: Fri 5.3 (via Packback)

NOTE: This assignment is only for students opting for Pathway 2, which allows for the opportunity for a grade higher than a mid-B (Pathway 1). If you have completed all assignments thus far, and are satisfied with a B for you final grade, DO NOT do this assignment. See syllabus for further details.