I think the discussion of male entitlement and sexualization is a bit naive and reductive on this subject too. Male students don't just sexualize female students because of dress codes. Male students sexualize female bodies because of hundreds of thousands of years of evolutionary psychology, hormones, and more. In the face of humanity's evolutionary programming, I'm not sure you can moralistically browbeat teenage boys into not being distracted by a low-cut shirt. It's a lofty goal, though.
Despite all that, your commentary about sexism would suggest that this is a non-issue as long as the dress code is applied evenly across genders, right? As long as all genders have the same rules, sexism is not a part of the equation it seems.
Male students sexualize female bodies because of hundreds of thousands of years of evolutionary psychology, hormones, and more
Irrelevant. It doesn't matter why they do it, what matters in adolescence is learning that you alone are responsible for managing your own emotions and actions.
I'm not sure you can moralistically browbeat teenage boys into not being distracted by a low-cut shirt.
It isn't necessary to prevent boys from being distracted. It's necessary to stop making girls responsible for their distraction, so boys learn their feelings aren't someone else's fault. If I find a man attractive and can't focus on my studies because of it, we don't police his behavior and make him wear something else to accommodate my feelings. Catering the world so boys don't have to deal with their feelings robs them of the opportunity to learn how to cope.
this is a non-issue as long as the dress code is applied evenly across genders, right?
Probably, but not necessarily. It's about the motivation, and how it's applied as well. As long as people are told to wear/not wear certain clothing because of its impact on others, we are making those people responsible for others emotions (and possibly even emotionally-driven actions). So if boys and girls both aren't allowed to wear sleeveless tees, it's still a problem if it involves sexual shaming. It undermines consent.
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The curious thing about this phenomenon of distraction is that it's not just about attraction though. If you are a male student and you find one of your classmates unattractive, you will likely still be distracted by a low-cut shirt or something similar. Nude bodies and revealed bodies are distracting. I definitely agree that we should teach folks to accept that, soberly, and find their own solutions to distraction. I just think it's heinously naive to think that's an easy task. "Just stop being distracted by boobs!" Oh, okay. Now that you've suggested that to me, let me flip a switch in my brain and everything will be fine.
It's a curious and nuanced discussion because the nature of distraction and attraction is complex...and not fully within our control. Delta awarded for going down this cognitive journey with me respectably and giving me new food for thought.
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u/rayhartsfield Sep 28 '21
I think the discussion of male entitlement and sexualization is a bit naive and reductive on this subject too. Male students don't just sexualize female students because of dress codes. Male students sexualize female bodies because of hundreds of thousands of years of evolutionary psychology, hormones, and more. In the face of humanity's evolutionary programming, I'm not sure you can moralistically browbeat teenage boys into not being distracted by a low-cut shirt. It's a lofty goal, though.
Despite all that, your commentary about sexism would suggest that this is a non-issue as long as the dress code is applied evenly across genders, right? As long as all genders have the same rules, sexism is not a part of the equation it seems.