School Uniforms and Dress Code Policies Most Likely to Target Females, Latinos and Black Students : Culture : Latin Post: Bra straps exposed, shorts deemed "inappropriately" short and dresses that don't strike the knee have prompted suspensions in high schools across the country. Less than two months ago, more than 150 students were suspended in a single day from Duncanville High School in northern Texas during a dress code enforcement sweep. The school determined that the children were guilty of dress code violations, suspending them from school just two weeks before the end of the school year and days before their finals.
Similar disciplinary actions have been dealt out in recent months at other schools, involving young girls wearing leggings as pants, exposed shoulders and chests and "sagging" pants — all judged to be distracting and disruptive to the learning experience. The enforcement of these dress codes, implemented under the guise of discipline and lessons on formal dress, are most likely to be implemented at low-income public schools, and female students and students of color are the most likely to be punished for infractions.
