The issue of gender equality in America, or should I say gender inequality in America, has been on the rise in recent years. This week, young women from schools across America have taken to Twitter to voice their opinions, much like when the ladies of the World War II Era used "Rosie the Riveter" posters to draw attention to the issue. When the hashtag #IfAnythingSchoolTaughtMe began trending in early August when young women joined together using the hashtag to bring attention to the issue of strict dress codes in high schools. Their stance on the issue is that there is a double standard when it comes to girls' educations. Many of them feel that they are taught to dress a certain way through the media but then forced to miss out on important lessons in class for doing so.
Supporters of gender equality have been protesting that feminism is needed in America for decades yet still no major movements have been started. One tweet from @agnesbudhi read "Feminism is needed but we can't wear bikinis or leggings," further emphasizing the fact that women are encouraged to be themselves except for when it comes to attending school. Twitter user @semilocal tweeted "#ifanythingschooltaughtme its more important to go home to change your clothes because they are 'distracting' than to go to class," and @trenitymarie responded with a tweet reading "#IfAnythingSchoolTaughtMe by sending a girl home because her outfit distracts boys, that a males education is more important than mine." Many feel that the fight for equal pay has gone to waste considering the fact that school systems are limiting girls' ability to get an education which further hinders their ability to get as high paying jobs as men do.
Other #IfAnythingSchoolTaughtMe tweets include this one from @secondaryschool "Having your top button done up is way more important than your actual education" As Buzzfeed writes "A woman's appearance is valued more than her education." In fact, this past year an honor student from an Idaho high school was suspended 30 minutes before the final bell on the last day of school for wearing this dress which was apparently "too revealing."
The whole idea behind strict dress codes such as this one, stem from the idea that women's clothing is too revealing and sexual, therefore it becomes a distraction to males. @fivsosabrina tweeted "apparently if i show my shoulder its 'sexual' and too distracting for other people to focus smh" and @ogshayla tweeted "My knees and shoulders are sexual and should never be seen by a guy because he won't be able to focus".
While these tweets succeed in bringing more attention to the issue, some girls decided to take more permanent actions. High School seniors across the country used their yearbook quotes to make a statement that is guaranteed to leave an impression. High school senior Chloe Cross' yearbook quote read like so...
There is no telling what movements will happen in the near future but for now, women are not slowing down for anyone. Women are passionate, driven and cunning, and they will find a way to achieve equality no matter how long it may take.
