Summer weather has hit Sterling with full force with 80 and even 90 degree days. With warmer weather comes shorts and tank tops, and with these articles of clothing also come dress code violations. Girls are continually being stopped for what they are wearing, the reasons being that their clothes are “inappropriate” and that they could “distract the boys”. God forbid a boy sees my shoulders. So scandalous!

I too was stopped for my outfit,(I was wearing loose black shorts, that weren’t that short, and matching top). I was milling about the cafeteria, working on the senior superlatives, minding my own business when I was pulled aside by an unnamed administrator. I was then asked “Aren’t those shorts a little short?” I stammered an apology and pulled my shorts down and tried to walk away. The administrator continued and insisted I do something to cover it up. I once again apologized and promised to fix it later since I was very busy at the time. Spoiler Alert: I didn’t bother to cover up my shorts. I had better things to worry about.

Now this was honestly a mild incident. The administrator didn’t stop me again after I left, and no other adults had a problem with my outfit. I actually received several compliments on it. The problem is the principle of the whole thing. Why are adults so preoccupied with what teenage girls are wearing? And if the dress code is such a hot button issue for administrators, why isn’t it enforced on everyone? No one had a problem when the boy’s swim team came to school in their super short spandex. If anything, there should be a rule that boys can’t show their pasty white thighs. Now that’s obscene.

On many occasions I’ve watched an administrator prowl the lunch room looking for dress code violations. Stopping any unfortunate girl that happens to cross their path wearing something deemed inappropriate. It’s creepy knowing that you are being watched and judged for what you are wearing by adults that are there to make you feel safe. Instead of telling girls how to dress, society should teach men not to objectify women.

What most girls wear to school really isn’t that bad. They’re hardly showing up in their underwear. It is unfair that girls have a whole list of rules on what they can and can’t wear. Girls should be able to wear what they want, within reason, without fear that they will get in trouble.