I am writing in response to the article on the “enforcement” of the dress code in Warren County schools. Upon reading this article, I was transported back to high school as if no time had passed. And it forced me to be more honest with myself than ever about the fear, anger, and confusion I felt regarding the dress code, during my years in school, and that I still feel even now.

During my time at Beaty and WAHS, my female friends and I mocked the dress code. We laughed at the ludicrous idea that our shoulders could be so distracting in class that a rule needed to be made to keep us in check. We stood measuring the length of our shorts to see if they made it past our fingertips and wondered if we were going to get in trouble for wearing the best we could find at the store. Other times, we defiantly pushed the boundaries of these seemingly arbitrary rules. My male friends, on the other hand, were not bothered by the dress code. The rules were clearly targeted at the girls, and we knew it.

Before my friends and I are written off as a group of troublemakers, it’s important to mention that we were good students. We took an interest in learning and wanted to do well in school. Our schedules were filled with Honors and AP classes. We worked hard to get into good colleges so we could continue our educations. We wanted to excel, not be controlled.

If the dress code is truly meant to “reflect the quality of the school, behavior, and the students’ schoolwork,” perhaps it is silently aggravating the ones who are already doing an excellent job representing their school and themselves.

Though I’m sure there are many good intentions behind the desire to adhere to the dress code, I’m wondering if there might be a better way forward. I would strongly encourage those in charge of creating and enforcing these policies to spend more time listening to how the presentation and enforcement of these rules may have negatively impacted those they are meant to benefit — namely girls and women.

Misogyny is in the very air we breathe, and it takes work to see it, understand how it’s being perpetuated, and find ways to move forward differently. It might not be easy, but honest, wholehearted conversations, where safety and listening are a priority can make the process of unlearning harmful belief systems possible.

Sarah Monticue is a member of the Warren Area High School Class of 2005.