HS School President Defends 'Sexist' Dress Code: Girls' Attire Stricter 'Because There Are More Styles and Options Available for Them

After she got an eyeful of a her Iowa high school's special student dress code, senior Betsy Pieper was disheartened to say the least.

Source: Dowling HS website

“People have been kind of shocked by this, and it was just kind of a slap in the face,” Pieper told KCCI-TV of the new guidelines set by Dowling Catholic High School in West Des Moines.

The dress code isn't for all students; it's directed to those invited to a scholastic achievement assembly next month.

“There’s some pretty sexist stuff on the back, which is kind of frustrating for me,” Pieper told the station.

Specifically, guidelines for the "Gentlemen" required only one and a half lines — exactly 15 words. Even jackets were optional. "Be classy," it concluded.

But for the "Ladies"? Not quite so simple, apparently.

Their guidelines covered four paragraphs.

“Choose an outfit that is pretty enough to show you are a woman and covered enough to show you are a lady,” one sentence read.

Another warned girls to choose shirts that "draw attention to your face, not your chest."

Plus, skirts and dresses "should be no shorter than your fingertips when your arms are at your sides."

Image source: KCCI-TV

Dowling president Jerry Deegan responded to the issue noting that female students typically get more attention when it comes to dress codes.

"Understandably, there is more attention given to the recommendation and guidelines for our female students," he noted, "because there are more styles and options available for them."

This story has been updated.

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