Ladies, listen up! You need to read this article, think deeply about it, hopefully agree with it, and share it with all the men, or shall I say boys, in your life . . .

You may have heard about the dress code policy, or maybe one of your friends got pulled out of class on the first day of school to get lectured about the outfit they were wearing. Yes, on the first day of school the dress code patrol was already armed and ready to break down girls’ self-esteem.

Under the “Dress” section of the NASH Student Handbook, it is stated that the following type of clothing is prohibited: “Attire that is overly revealing (no bare midriffs, short skirts, or shorts).” Maybe when they were updating the policies someone said, “But oh no, what are the poor, hormonal boys going to do when they see a girl’s stomach?! We’d better cover their stomachs up and make girls conform to accommodate men.”

I should have the freedom, within reason, to express myself in my school the way I want to.  Boys need to know that girls will not conform to their needs. Ladies, we are strong and independent, and we should not let the school take our freedom of expression away just because boys will be “distracted”.

Telling girls that they need to cover up is demeaning and degrading. And yes, I’m going to say it — sexist. How is it not sexist to allow guys to go shirtless in the pool in gym class when the girls aren’t even allowed to show their stomachs? Sexism is the act of showing prejudice, stereotyping, or discriminating, typically against women, on the basis of sex. Based on that definition, the attire rules at this school — or how they’re enforced — are sexist.

Of course, I understand there needs to be some sort of dress code so people are not walking around naked, but I don’t think the world is going to end if someone shows off a little stomach. This rule implies that a bare stomach is inappropriate, which it’s not.  The only problem is that men have sexualized the female body, and now the stomach of a female is some kind of sexy secret that needs to be hidden from view. I mean, what’s next? Thighs? Am I going to have to cover up my thighs, too, because they’ve been sexualized? What about my fingers, are they sexy? Should I put on some gloves so I don’t disturb the education of boys?

Also, let’s talk about the one-piece bathing suits that girls are obligated to wear during the swimming unit in gym. This rule is not new, but I still have issues with it. Now, this one I can understand for one reason, and one reason only. Bikinis could possibly be untied easier — but there is a solution to that. Simply get a non-tie bikini. They’re not hard to find. If girls can’t show their bodies by wearing crop tops or bikinis, why are guys allowed to swim in gym class only wearing swimming trunks? They’re exposing their midriffs, aren’t they? As it clearly states in the Student Handbook, “no bare midriffs”. But do the boys get reprimanded for it?

I have not talked to one girl who does not agree with what I’m saying. Michaela Hinkson said, “I think you should be able to show your stomach because it’s just a stomach.” Caroline Lucas said, “I mean, if you’re confident enough to rock a crop top and show your stomach, you should be able to. It just means you’re confident in yourself.”  Hannah Tomachesky said, “I don’t wear a lot of crop tops, but I think I should be allowed to if I wanted to.” And I could get ten more quotes just like those in a matter of five minutes.

The moral of the story is that if boys get to show their stomachs so should girls. We don’t want NA to get a reputation for being sexist, now do we?