Like many other schools is the U.S, Eastmont High School has a dress code. However, we don’t enforce it, which might seem to others like a bad thing but it has actually created a more positive environment within the school. 

Enforcing dress code heavily, has in the past stressed student and teacher relationships but the tension seems to be dimming. A teacher within the school, who wishes to remain anonymous, says, “ I do feel that it creates less conflict between staff and students.” 

Most often when dress code is brought up in a conversation it is most aimed towards women and the biases they face but the matter of effect on the LGBTQ+ community, specifically transgender, non-binary, genderfluid, and gender experimenting students, is brought up rarely. Its frequently found that LGBTQ+ kids are dress coded for wearing clothes of the opposite sex their were assigned at birth, 19% according to a recent GLSEN study. But because Eastmont isn’t enforcing their dress code, students are free to express themselves in whatever way they want. They can feel reassured that they won’t be judged for what they wear or who they are. Isn’t that the goal? 

Another teacher employed at Eastmont when asked if they think these students feel more free to express themselves without dress code interfering responded, “It would be difficult to follow a code if you were more fluid.” 

To follow up they added, “ If we wish to be inclusive, it is likely that a broader acceptance of style helps those who don’t fit a specific box.” 

The teacher concluded, “Tolerance is important.” 

When interviewed about the comfort of students and how the dress code affects how we learn, Sophomore Madison Herdt says, “We learn better when we dress how we want because we are more comfortable.” 

Dress code, when brought up in conversation, can be construed as gender bias. KayLynn Hall, a Sophomore at EHJS, agrees with this statement. “Some of the dress codes are a little overboard.” To give an example she said, “Guys can show their shoulders and girls can’t really show their shoulders at all.” 

On the contrary, Eastmont is now a non-bias school because of the lack of enforcement. Kids can express themselves freely, feel comfortable as they learn, and the school deals with less conflict.