The Great Leggings Debate
The war waged against leggings has gone too far.
I have said time and time again that I have nothing against leggings, though obviously have some preferences style-wise for what makes them look good. There is a difference between leggings and tights (the word I associate with see-through pantyhose worn under skirts and dresses).
The legging outfit I would imagine pre-teens
are wearing. Legs, we got 'em.
However, I am appalled that some schools are actually banning leggings and making them against dress code. It all reminds me too bitterly of my own grade-school experiences. So much about grade school bothered me, but the dress code was definitely up there. I think it's hilarious and odd that almost every grade school has intense dress code but most public high schools, when girls actually start getting curves and womanly bodies, have absolutely no dress code.
Here are my problems with banning leggings from schools:
1. What is a legging? Jegging? Stretch denim? The thing is, no matter how well you define it, dress codes are not equal. For example, in my grade school it was a rule that you couldn't wear a skirt that was shorter than your fingertips when you had your arms down at your sides. Hilarious situation for all the short-armed girls, and a pity for those with slightly longer arms. In the article I cited above, a girl recalls her experience of getting in trouble for wearing leggings when others did not, simply because of her body type. It grosses me out that we are punishing young girls who maybe are maturing faster, or have a larger body type.
2. "You're tempting the boys!" Barf barf, triple barf. This really needs to stop in our generation, and ASAP. I'm sick of people acting like boys are rightfully these lust-crazy creatures who can't possibly think for themselves or have manners around women. Another excellent example of this is this article I came along awhile ago (which deserves its own rant, really): It would be wise to stop this stereotype, unless we want to raise another army of cat-calling men who think girls in mini dresses are asking for it. One more time, barf.
3. LEGGINGS ARE NOT SEXUAL OR OFFENSIVE! Especially on little girls! I can't stand when people criticize girls who are in jazz, hiphop, whatever kind of dance class for wearing "skimpy outfits" during routines, or those moms who refuse to let their daughters wear two piece bathing suits. They are little girls, let's relax. I happen to still associate leggings with rolling out of bed from a sleep-coma and dragging myself to work.
In short: Leg on girls, Leg on.
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