Does Dress Code Limit Students' Ability to Express Themselves? By: Priscila Roque

For many students, fashion is more than just clothing, it’s a form of self-expression. With this big of an impact on students, strict school dress codes can often feel like a restriction on their individuality. Hillgrove High Schools’ dress code consists of a few rules like the Six “B’s” and the restriction of wearing specific clothing. Hillgrove High School’s official Cobb County website states, “As a rule of thumb, the Six “B’s” to avoid overall are: Buttocks, Bosoms, Boxers, Bellies, Bras and Backs (lower). Exposure of any of the “B’s” will be addressed immediately.” The administration at Hillgrove is very good at making sure the dress code rules are put in place, with teachers consistently monitoring hallways and students to ensure students are following the dress code. The same website mentions other information like not allowing chains or spiked accessories, pants with holes, unfastened belts, clothing with suggestive designs/markings, and bandanas or hats. As these rules keep the school appropriate and safe, it can challenge how students express themselves through clothing, as these rules may lead to more restriction. 

The halls of Hillgrove High School are filled with a variety of styles and outfits that represent students’ personalities, providing an accepting environment for students who may be shy to show off their style. The Tartan Gordan website states, “Clothes can also aid our sense of belonging, signifying what social or aesthetic subgroups we belong to. While seemingly superficial, certain clothing students and their enclothed cognition can draw others towards us or away from us. In other words, items of clothing are subtle indicators of our personalities and can allow us to find others like ourselves or consciously differentiate ourselves from certain subgroups.” Alana Brown, a Junior at Hillgrove High school explains how she feels when she sees someone at school with a similar style to her. She says, “I feel like, when you see people who wear stuff that like is similar to what you like, it just makes you smile and you want to, like, talk to them and like it helps build connections in a way. When I see people who dress really well, it makes me really inspired. And like, I want to get to know them. And I look up to people like that." This shows that fashion is not just about what students wear, but it is a way for them to express who they are, connect with others, and feel more comfortable being themselves at school. 

Many outfits revolve around accessories and creative clothing. At Hillgrove, accessories like hats, bandanas, belts, chains and more are restricted due to the dress code. For many students, these small details are what make their outfits unique, so having them restricted can feel like a limit on their creativity and personal style. A speaker from the Parker Weekly website says, “My style has changed greatly through the years, but without the freedom to have dressed the way I wanted, I wouldn’t have been able to discover who I was. I believe I wouldn’t have nearly as strong a feeling of who I am if I wasn’t able to dress how I want and express myself freely.” Brody Lauderdale, a Junior at Hillgrove High school describes how he feels the dress code limits his expression through clothing, “Um, I just think it takes away from the creativity that could be put into an outfit and like the overall thought behind it. Because I think the way you can express yourself, there's so many different ways, I think having a dress code just takes away a lot of possibilities.” This quote focuses on the effect dress code can have on a student who might get stopped from putting much creativity into an outfit. Overall, while Hillgrove’s dress code is maintains an appropriate environment, many students feel it also limits their ability to express their individuality and creativity, which are two things that play a big part in shaping who they are.