Karis Wilson - Canadian teenager sent home from school

That dad.

The school district is reviewing. “At issue, in particular, is item 1.8 of SD73's administrative procedure 350.2, which states that school dress codes must consider "the wearing of clothing or clothing worn in a way that detracts from the teaching/learning process."

Previous posters have had very different opinions. I would find that wearing that dress detracted from my day in a Canadian winter because of the hem rising up. I don’t know if some posters have only looked at the top half?

I think it’s an ugly outfit and the dress is more suited to evening wear without the turtleneck but I couldn’t say it was inappropriate, she’s completely covered up.

It looks like the school handled it badly (and inappropriately) and her father is even worse! Poor girl is going to have her terrible teenage fashion choice as the top hit on her name forever now!

I suspect there is a generational divide because teens won’t see this style as underwear, their parents don’t wear slips, and probably not even their grandparents. It’s just a style of dress to them. My nana wore a skirt slip and was born in the 1920s. I’ve worn a satin vest top with lace for work without complaint, I like the style and it’s no longer worn as underwear these days. It was baggy and not low cut. If you cut the lace off I suspect no one would notice. It’s just the lace that creates the association which shows it up as being socially constructed nonsense.

But I think women can look amazing with cleavage while others think it’s inappropriate. I had tiny boobs sadly. I love the bodice style cleavage in period dramas. If that was appropriate then, even for upper class respectable women, why has it changed?

If they have a "business attire" rule, then they can say it's unsuitable. If they have a "must cover shoulders and be no more than one inch above the knee" rule (or some equivalent), then they have no grounds to stand on.

And honestly if any adult is "uncomfortable" (how ridiculous) at a teenager wearing a white turtle neck with a black dress over it then they need to evaluate themselves seriously.

If you're finding it uncomfortable maybe stop sexualising teenagers and do your job as a teacher ffs.

I can't get my head around anyone thinking it's inappropriate...

She is wearing it over a white long sleeved turtleneck. You quite literally cannot cover up more than a long sleeved turtleneck.

What the fuck?

Ffs it's not underwear at all. That style of dress was popular in the 90s too and worn over a tshirt. I doesn't even look that short compared with skirts I wore at 17.
Why are we shaming a teenage girl for what she's wearing as opposed to the grown men who stated a child's clothing made them feel "uncomfortable"?

The poor girl.

The fact that it looks a bit like a style of underwear is neither here nor there. The function of particular styles of clothes is (unlike sex) merely a social construct. As a PP says, the only question is whether it meets the dress code.

What a horrible thread being judgemental of a young woman for an outfit. It’s not even one that’s risqué in any form. Truly appalled to find this in feminist chat.

Can anyone define for me what actual difficulty this outfit will cause to the learning of either this young woman or her peers?

Of course it’s not suitable for school. No need to feel ‘humiliated’ for being pulled up on the uniform code - v common in normal teen circles (at least it was when I was at school). Sounds like she/the father is milking it for their 15 mins. Sad!

www.jigsaw-online.com/product/lace-trim-modal-slip/J39082_BL010

It is underwear. The btl comment about boxer shorts is spot on but maybe her petticoat is identifying as a dress.

It is not suitable for school and wouldn't be suitable for an office either.

Slips are not called slips because they are going to be 'slipped off' surely, they're called slips because it allows the second layer to slip over them. Sorry that's a tangent.

I've seen teenagers wear worse!

I like that dress and its fashionable for now. She's wearing it over a polo neck top fgs.
Hate it when schools complain that girls clothes are distracting or make people feel uncomfortable. If there is a dress code someone is not complying with, that's different.

It's a dress. The style is very in right now with my teen and her friends. They wear them to sixth form, usually with tights, trainers and a baggy jumper. They've not been humiliated and the boys have all managed to control themselves around them. They might get cold but that's it.

In fact, maybe the real feminist issue is, why is this middle-aged man using his daughter to play out his issues with authority?

I don't think people of either sex should wear their underwear over their clothes to go to school.