Safety, Not Shame

By: Olivia Aragon      

Illustrated by: Carla Cieza Espinoza

The Hadlock Center dress code at George Fox University has come under scrutiny by students for targeting women and creating a toxic environment. After many years, this complaint has been heard by the staff and, as of four weeks ago, the dress code has become more inclusive and less discriminatory towards female-identifying students. 

Dress codes are supposed to align with clothing choices that are and are not appropriate for certain contexts. For example, one wouldn’t wear a swimsuit to a wedding. But often, dress codes go too far in regulation where, instead of making sure that people are in appropriate attire, they create a shaming culture around certain clothing and can breed toxicity. 

In addition, most dress codes specifically target fashion trends that are aimed at women, making it harder for women to find clothing that fits a dress code and meets their personal comfort. 

The previous dress code for Hadlock Center prohibited gym-goers from showing midriff, a popular and socially acceptable style in gym environments. Female-identifying students on campus reported feeling shamed, targeted, and restricted with this type of rule. 

The new dress code at Hadlock is “All patrons are required to wear a shirt (covering the pectoral region), shorts/pants, and shoes. Footwear must be closed-toe, closed-heel, and non-marking.” 

Ellie Inglesby, a current work-study student at Hadlock, explained why this new dress code policy was implemented.  “We wanted to create a more welcoming [and equitable] environment for everyone,” Inglesby said. “We were finding it was more of a shaming culture instead of being like ‘Oh, you need to cover up something.’ So we really wanted to find a balance between the two.”

This new dress code prioritizes keeping the equipment hygienic and emphasizes student safety during usage.