In a viral video, a TikToker shared how she was given a dress code violation for her shorts being too short. The teen was wearing the shorts because she has a thigh high leg brace for a leg injury.
In the video, TikToker Kyles (@kyles._.w) showed her leg brace as she sits waiting for a change of pants.
The text over the video said:
"How are [you] gonna dress code someone who can't even wear pants."
"Now I'm missing almost my entire class for this BS."
@kyles._.w this is why i have fucking school
The video has gotten over 10 thousands likes and 53.2 thousand views.
Most people in the comments were appalled at the school's judgment.
@jarstrying/TikTok
@lexiekrueger/TikTok
@iamrobinleewilliams/TikTok
@jenntay1931/TikTok
@educatingwithanxiety/TikTok
@turntmemrvaldus/TikTok
Kyles wasn't the only student who had this happen to them.
Several students commented they experienced this too when they were injured.
@sherbear195/TikTok
@dylaneymcnerney/TikTok
@emshel704/TikTok
@lmaospicy/TikTok
Kyles posted a follow up video showing the new shorts she had to wear that were apparently not in violation of the dress code.
The text over this video said:
"I guess [I'm gonna] dress like a guy now."
"Haven't got dress coded."
@kyles._.w Visit TikTok to discover videos!
Some people asked why she couldn't wear leggings or long pants over the brace.
@souldoctor101/TikTok; @kyles._.w/TikTok
@kyles._.w/TikTok
This is a trend we've been seeing for a while now, where students and parents are fighting schools for disrupting their education over dress codes.
From an instance between a principal and a middle school student over her exposed shoulders, to a mom being ignored by a principal for her daughter's top, to a medical student being given a reprimand for showing ankles in an exam.
Schools all over the country, at every level, are no strangers to misogynistic dress codes.
One TikToker even tested to see if he would get a dress code violation for wearing the same thing as his female peers.
Turned out, they really do only attack the girls.
@paaoowow/TikTok
Most dress codes started back in 1969, but not for the reasons of "distraction" like most schools now say.
"The Supreme Court has never directly addressed school dress codes."
"In Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District (1969), which involved high school students wearing black armbands to protest the Vietnam War, the Court affirmed students' First Amendment rights to free speech."
"Although the Court's decision upheld students' right to express themselves through certain items they wear, the Court has never specified whether that right bars uniforms, dress codes, or grooming requirements."
A study done on a school in the Midwest back in 2018 showed the majority of students who were affected were Black and brown.
"When we look at the likelihood of students being 'coded' (i.e., having a school adult ask them to remove or cover a clothing item), we see a different picture."
"Black males, Black females, and multiracial females stand out as students who reported being disproportionately coded."
It's time to rid our schools of these harmful codes so students can actually learn
