A North Carolina school system has proposed a ban of skinny jeans and other tight-fitting clothing, creating a wave of opposition from parents and students.
The New Hanover County School System in Wilmington is considering a policy to ban all form-fitting pants, including skinny jeans and leggings, unless the garment is worn with a dress or shirt that “[covers] the posterior in its entirety,” local news sources reported.
According to School Board Vice Chairwoman Jeannette Nichols, the policy was first created because “bigger girls” were getting bullied for their tight jeans.
Parents, while upset over the issue of bullying, do not believe that banning skinny jeans and leggings is the appropriate response. One parent took to social media to accuse the school board of body shaming. Another parent, Chris Furner, shared his opinion with StarNews of Wilmington.
“From my perspective, telling people that they can’t wear something because they are being bullied takes away the choice from them,” he said. “They could have the choice to change their clothes if that is the case.”
Furner suggested that the focus should be on teaching students how to interact with each other, rather than restricting the dress code.
Due to the number of comments coming in about the proposal, Chairwoman Nichols said she would most likely recommend that the policy return to the committee for more discussion.
