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School Dress Codes: No Bellies Allowed!

One thing I learned writing a city editorial column for the Ottawa Citizen: you never know what will piss people off. I've written some pretty flammable pieces in my time but this one created a national conversation which dominated the airwaves for a few days.

The topic? School dress codes.

After I wrote this, I was called every name in the book by concerned parents who thought I was advocating allowing my daughter so much fashion leeway, she would become a common day stripper or prostitute. All because I allowed my daughter Marissa to wear a "crop top" which was a modest shirt that left an inch or two exposed on her midriff.

Hey! I grew up in the 70s when girls went to high school with barely there shirts that exposed their nips and shorts that showed their other bits. A little bit of skin didn't hurt, I thought, even on a 12-year-old.

The principal did not approve of Marissa's fashion sense, ridiculed her in class, and nearly sent her home. I was livid.

So I wrote this:


Column on crop topsColumn on crop tops Mon, Apr 8, 2002 – 20 · The Ottawa Citizen (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada) · Newspapers.com
Sat, Apr 13, 2002 – 21 · The Ottawa Citizen (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada) · Newspapers.com

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There were dozens of letters to the editor. My favourite one asked "what next? Britney Spears look-a-likes in Kindergarten? Dress codes are there for a reason: to protect young children by providing a haven, for as long as we adults can swing it, from society's pervasive sexuality."

Whew. I could have had a career as a Madame for Tiny Tots!

By the way, Marissa's top did not look like the one in this photo. Maybe that's why the column created a shitstorm. 

In any event, the school principal never took me on -- ever. 
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