Dress Coded

Dress Coded follows Molly Frost and her friends as they start a podcast to protest the unfairness of the existence and enforcement of their middle-school dress code. The question of dress codes in schools across the US, particularly with respect to whether they safeguard children or restrict their identity, is one that has been debated over recent years. Historically, dress codes were implemented in schools as a response to gang violence and the discipline problems it led to, as different gangs adorned specific clothing and paraphernalia. However, even with the diversification of the student population, the dress codes in place continue to cater to the male, white population, and often contain racist and sexist overtones.

Clothes prohibited by school dress codes usually include items considered “revealing” or “distracting,” ideas targeted at feminine clothing. Similarly, hairstyles often banned at school, such as braids or dreadlocks, are usually associated with specific racial, ethnic, or cultural groups (Pendharkar, Eesha. “School Dress Code Debates, Explained.” Education Week, 2023). In the novel, this is the experience of the students at Fisher Middle School. The dress code lists feminine clothing, such as those that display cleavage or midriff, as prohibited.