Some high school students are speaking out against dress codes in New Brunswick, saying they are being enforced unfairly.
The students, who call themselves the Fredericton Youth Feminists, want to see dress codes abolished, and a province-wide sexual assault policy put in their place.
Sorcha Beirne, a member of the Fredericton Youth Feminists, says the dress code at Fredericton High School is applied differently to girls than it is to boys and, as it’s written, allows for the sexualization of young women.
She also says dress codes, which are interpreted by teachers, set the wrong example by allowing judgments based on what someone chooses to wear.
“For a teacher to tell a student that their shorts are inappropriate, they’re sexualizing those legs,” says Beirne. “And it becomes a problem because there is a minor, and it’s an adult teacher who’s punishing a student, who’s looking at the student’s legs and analyzing how short the shorts are, and that’s violating.”
“When it comes to sexual assault, it is 100 per cent not tolerated,” says David McTimoney, the superintendent of the Anglophone School District – West.
He says provincial government policy is in place to ensure a safe and positive environment for students. As for dress codes, McTimoney says he is willing to sit down with those concerned.
“Make sure I clearly understand what their concerns are, have a look at other perspectives that may not have been considered, whether it’s not considered by me or not considered by them, and see if we can reach some kind of resolution or understanding.”
The Fredericton Youth Feminists say the current policies and codes promote a culture of rape, but the school district disagrees, and says that paints an inaccurate picture of the school district and the schools within it.
With files from CTV's Andy Campbell.
