Some students say a private Catholic high school’s event dress code goes too far.
Dowling Catholic High School in West Des Moines included dress code guidelines in a letter given to students, announcing the school's "Scholastic Achievement Assembly,” according to KCCI-TV. Some students said the rules were sexist, because they listed more details concerning the appearance of female students than of the boys.
“Dowling Catholic High School prides itself on preparing Christ-centered leaders for life,” said school president Jerry Deegan in a statement. “One aspect of that effort is to have an appropriate dress code for special events and assemblies. Every year, a memo is shared about guidelines for our Scholastic Achievement assembly and Baccalaureate Mass. Understandably, there is more attention given to the recommendation and guidelines for our female students, because there are more styles and options available for them.”
The letter instructed gentlemen to wear dress pants, dress shoes, shirts and ties, with jackets optional. “Be classy,” the instructions read, saying no facial hair and no earrings were allowed for the boys.
Some students took exception to guidelines for ladies, which were more in-depth, beginning with the recommendation, “Think modesty.” Details included guidelines for dress/skirt hemlines, shoes, and tops that cover shoulders and “draw attention to your face, not your chest.”
“Your outfit should attract attention to your achievements, not your body. Choose an outfit that is pretty enough to show you are a woman and covered enough to show you are a lady,” the letter said.
"(I)t kind of implies that you have to be pretty in order to be a woman, as if that's your worth,” said Dowling senior Betsy Pieper.