Victoria school trustee wants dress codes done away with

Victoria school trustee Jordan Watters says District 61 schools need to have gender equity in their dress codes or get rid of them altogether.

"I don't think we're in the business of policing children's bodies.I think we're in the business of education," Watters told All Points West host Robyn burns.

Watters says one of the big problems with dress codes is they primarily target female students, even though the language used in them might sound gender-neutral in their goal to create a "distraction-free environment."

"'No visible straps,' they'll say, and, you know, the people who have straps are girls who wear bras," she said.

"The underlying message there is that girls are responsible for making sure their bodies aren't distractingto their male counterparts and teachers, and that obviously can be hugely problematic."

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Watters says parents and students alike are frustrated by dress codes and their enforcement.She says enforcement can be unfairly harsh on girls who are more developed, for instance.

"That's really upsetting to both parents and kids. It's embarrassing," she said.

Watters says she's "encouraged" by District 61 schools that don't have dress codes.

"It seems to be working. So for me, personally, I'd be happy to see us do away with dress codes altogether," she said.

Watters says no decision forbidding dress codes is forthcoming, but she will introduce a motion to the board asking the superintendent to make sure they "reflect the board's commitment to gender equity."

With files from CBC Radio One's All Points West

To hear the full story, click the audio labelled:Decoded: Victoria school trustee wants dress codes done away with