Dress codes: same issue in the USA and in France ?

Monday, 30 September 2013

Written by Mathilde Winninger 1°ES1

“Welcome to school, girls and mind those breasts” is the title of an article taken from the Guardian, a British daily newspaper and written by Nancy L. Cohen.

 It deals with how dress codes discriminate girls at school.

 Indeed, this American mother explains that there is a new rule at her daughter’s school in Chicago “The three B’s: no bellies, no buns and no breasts”. She was stunned because this rule only concerned girls and not the mal body parts! So the principal changed the rule: “The 4^th Bs: …with Boxers”!

 Finally, the article relates that until our society achieves real gender equality, school dress codes can never be fair! It may be better to abolish them. In France, the situation isn’t exactly the same. We are free to wear what we want, except snapback in classroom. Of course, we need to respect the other people.

 I think that the dress code avoid the student to express themselves in obscene of libellous ways.

 But, it mustn’t be too strict! In France, it depends on the school:  if it is a public one or not…

  In my opinion, it is better to have a dress code but the students must learn to be more responsible when they choose their clothes.

 Do we have to change the dress code at school ?

                                                                                         Monday, the 30^th September 2013

                                               Article written by Anne-Laure Lehmann from 1ES1

 Come on girls and boys! I come back again so as to talk about different school dress codes! Do you have a special point of view about it? Because I have one! First of all, I made researches on dress codes in American High schools in order to compare them with the French system.

Thus, I read an article “Welcome back to school, girls. And mind those breasts!” written by Nancy L. Cohen  on September the third 2013 taken from the Guardian which said that the dress code in Chicago was unfair for girls. Indeed, it described the fact that girls aren’t allowed to show their breasts bellies and buns, that was called the “3Bs” rule. However, some parents complained about this rule because they didn’t talk about male bodies, so they deduced that this rule was sexist!

I would like to tell you that the dress code system in France isn’t as strict as in Chicago! I’ll especially compare it with our Lycée. To my mind, if I remember well, only hats are prohibited! However, if I go to another French school, some of them might prohibit too short skirts or cleavages for girls. What is very important in France is not to wear clothes which are linked with religion! France is a secular country. You are allowed to have any religion, but not in the public space!

 Now, I’ll give you my opinion on this issue! To my mind, it is impossible to create a suitable dress code for everybody, so we have to abolish them! Even though some students  may be slanderous with their clothes, teachers can’t spend their time scrutinizing the girls’ bodies! 

What to wear at school ?

Monday, October 14^th 2013

by SALMON Charlotte

The article taken from the Guardian newspaper is talking about the dress code in an american high school in Chicago. The journalist of the article critizes the 3Bs ( no bellies, no buns, no breasts). She was also talking about the discrimination between boys and girls. Girls are more concerned by the dress code than boys ; it's not fair to them, they should be equal.

In France, it's absolutely different : students can wear what they want, there isn't a dress code. If we take the 'Lycée Leclerc' for example, students wear the clothes they want to. No one would say anything as long as it doesn't shock anyone. However, we need to have a minimum of respect, you can't wear too short tee-shirts, dresses or skirts ; it would be inapropriate to wear those things at school. It is also forbidden to wear hats and caps inside the school. The Lycee Leclerc is not as strict as some other schools in France. In some private schools, students need to wear uniform.

For my point of view, I think wearing uniform at school would be a good idea. It would stop descrimination between people who wear expensive clothes and the people who can afford brend clothes. In my school, the Lycee Leclerc, it starts to be a competition to be the prettiest or the one who wear the most beautiful clothes. With the uniform everyone would be equal.

Ce blog a été créé pour publier les articles réalisés par les élèves de Première - section européenne - du Lycée Leclerc. Les élèves travaillent avec Mme Willé, professeur d'anglais et Mme Huffschmitt, professeur d'histoire-géographie, en collaboration avec M. Schwoerer, professeur documentaliste sur les thèmes d'actualité, notamment les enjeux du 4ème pouvoir, celui de la presse, ainsi que sur d'autres lieux et formes de pouvoir. Les articles sont rédigés en langue anglaise pour pouvoir être lus par les élèves du lycée mais aussi par d'autres élèves du monde anglophone, particulièrement par nos partenaires en Australie et en Norvège.