buffer-overrun (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
fandomnumbergenerator) wrote2015-09-10 10:44 am
fandomnumbergenerator) wrote2015-09-10 10:44 am
Entry tags:
Causing disruption
"‘I see myself as a girl, and I know the way I dress isn’t bothering anyone,’ I said. 'I’m an honor student, class treasurer, and captain of the volleyball team.’
'I’m glad you’re doing well,’ she said, cutting me off. 'We need more good students. But I’ve spoken with your teachers, and from my understanding, the way you’re dressing has caused disruption in class.’
'Yes, I’m teased frequently,’ I agreed, 'with some teachers choosing not to defend me.’
'Consider this a warning,’ she said after a short pause during which she took in the hint of cleavage from my white V-neck sweater. 'We have a dress code to avoid the disruption you’ve encountered in class. Do you understand?’"
'I’m glad you’re doing well,’ she said, cutting me off. 'We need more good students. But I’ve spoken with your teachers, and from my understanding, the way you’re dressing has caused disruption in class.’
'Yes, I’m teased frequently,’ I agreed, 'with some teachers choosing not to defend me.’
'Consider this a warning,’ she said after a short pause during which she took in the hint of cleavage from my white V-neck sweater. 'We have a dress code to avoid the disruption you’ve encountered in class. Do you understand?’"
— Janet Mock, Redefining Realness
Obviously a big part of what Mock is talking about has to do specifically with being a trans woman, but this whole conversation resonates so much with my experience of high school (and to some degree college). The message being, You are bad because you are different, and any negative attention you get is your own fault for being disruptively weird. Also, all the issues around dress codes and the way they are used to police femininity is such as mess.