As the weather slowly begins its ascent into above-arctic temperatures, faculty and staff at schools in the great nation of the United States are arming themselves in preparation for the oncoming storm. This storm composed of “inappropriately” dressed girls and these teachers armed with rulers, or, in some cases, half-folded dollar bills.
The reason for these strictly enforced guidelines? That boys find girls’ body parts, such as their shoulders, legs and even arms, distracting. Yet boys are allowed to run shirtless throughout athletic practices, and during school events they’re allowed to slide by those shirt and short-length codes. All of this occurs under the false pretence that girls remain unaffected by bare torsos and that boys are significantly distracted by a few centimeters of bare shoulders, stubborn bra straps, or lower thighs.
According to the rape crisis center, 1 in every 4 women will be sexually assaulted, 44% of which takes place under the age of eighteen. Time and time again, these victims are told that they “deserved” or “were asking for” what they endured. Instead of being told that girls deserve rape, why aren’t young boys taught that rape is wrong, or that perhaps being sexually active is not the greatest achievement of one’s lifetime.
Just as girls are expected to be perfect virgin vestals, boys are told by society that they must be the opposite. The result of veering from either social norm results in ostracization, humiliation, and name calling. Girls who are sexually active and don’t cover their ankles are considered sordid. Boys who refrain from sexual relations, or are not distracted by a girl’s sizzling biceps, are seen as effeminate. Boys who care about their appearance and maintain regular personal hygiene habits can also fall victim to social abuse.
Bigoted terms thoughtlessly said create fears about challenging social norms, and easily turn something good into something bad. Over the past decade, violent acts against LGBT members have steadily risen to make up more than a fifth of all hate crimes. This makes it third after race and religion. These acts also include psychological and mental abuse to members of the LGBT community and those perceived as so. Judging people based on appearances and tormenting them because someone finds pleasure in it is sick, twisted, and disgusting.
Just as things seemed to be lightening up for the victims of American culture, America has created her own polar vortex of judgement, condemnation, and sexism. While sunny skies and nice temperatures can literally make weather problems vanish into thin air, those associated with American culture cannot. These disputes will not and cannot go away unless the American populace decides it is time to make a difference, and it is time to make a change. The beginning of this change is located in the very halls of every high school around the nation, and the rulers that govern them.