This is part three of a series of rants inspired by this lovely meme:
Maybe you’re bored with discussing school dress codes and sexism. Believe me, it was tedious to be confronted with it day in and day out when I worked for the school district.
Why can’t the kids just follow the rules?
Because they’re teenagers, and that means they push every boundary, looking for inconsistencies to exploit. It helps them form their own worldview.
And the physiology of this age group is mostly what I’ll address today, as I approach the teenage boy ogling the girl in a dress that reveals more than it conceals.
Dear Teenage Boy-
Do you know why we’re meeting today? No?
Let’s talk about first period. What happened in there that might have prompted me to call you down to the office?
You’re right. She was uncomfortable with you staring at her chest. It was highly inappropriate.
Again, you’re right. She shouldn’t have worn that dress, but not for the reason you said. Let me direct your attention to the Student Handbook. (See the reference here)
The same physiology that makes girls burst into tears over the slightest thing, makes you unable to look away from visual stimulation. In fact, men are visual creatures, attracted by what they see.
That’s the reason we have these rules. We understand that you’re hard-wired to pay attention to what you see. We’re trying to keep you from seeing things that would distract you from learning.
That’s why you’re here at school, you know, to learn. And one thing we want to teach you is to respect other people.
That’s not our job? You’re probably right. But if no one else is going to do it, then we’ll take up the banner.
Back to how to treat people with respect. In the future, what might be the right response in a situation like this?
Now, get back to class. I don’t want to take up too much of the in-class instructional time with this meeting.
Sincerely,
Your School Administrator
******
No shame and no blame placed on either student in these encounters. Facts – the written rules – were presented.
Will that boy stop having sexual thoughts when he sees girls? Doubtful. That’s part of his physiology.
Should he learn to control his reactions? Yes, but that comes with maturity. And isn’t a guaranteed outcome. I’ve had full-grown, gray-haired men give me the heebie-jeebies by staring too long.
Did the school reinforce his misconception that women are sex objects? (Can we say for certain he thinks that?) I don’t think so.
And every school administrator I know addresses these things as quickly as possible so students can get back where they belong. In the classroom.
Plenty of students think school is all about socializing with their friends. That’s why they don’t take the rules seriously. Or show up late to class. Or forget about doing homework.
The real concern that should be spurred by the meme above is that school has become another platform for protest. Is that really in the best interest of those young people who need to learn to read, write and balance their checkbooks?
Yes, this is the end of my lengthy soapbox discussion of dress codes NOT being about sexism.
What else might you say to this young man? To the school?
Thank you for humoring my long-winded diatribe. I hope it was a little bit entertaining or thought-provoking.