YOUR OPINION NEEDED: Do we need to end discriminatory dress code policies?

Headwraps. Leggings. Tank tops. These are just a few of the items of clothing keeping girls from their education. Too many students are removed from the classroom and even sent home, often illegally, for violating strict dress codes. The following advertisement from National Women's Law Center has been sent to you via Mother Jones' email list. Mother Jones is a nonprofit, and most of our budget comes from readers like you, but revenue from advertisers helps us produce more of the hard-hitting journalism you expect. We never disclose your information to an advertiser. Mother Jones does not endorse any candidate, political organization, commercial product, or service, and the views expressed in this email do not constitute any endorsement or recommendation by Mother Jones. Headwraps. Leggings. Tank tops. These are just a few of the items of clothing keeping girls from their education. Too many students are removed from the classroom and even sent home, often illegally, for violating strict dress codes. And the rules aren’t applied equally, either. Students report that Black girls, and especially curvier students, are disproportionately targeted. Based on a National Women Law Center study, Black girls are 20.8 times more likely to be suspended from D.C. schools than white girls. [TAKE ACTION ADD YOUR NAME]( One reason for this disproportionate punishment is that adults often see Black girls as older and more sexual than their white peers—and so in need of greater correction for normal adolescent behavior like “talking back” or wearing leggings. These punishments interrupt girls’ educations while sending dangerous messages to the school community: how a girl looks is more important than her education, and girls are ultimately responsible for the misbehavior of boys. Even more disturbingly, schools tell girls they must change themselves in order to avoid “distracting” their male classmates—or to avoid being sexually harassed. It’s outrageous that girls are losing critical class time simply for their appearance. It’s time to end discriminatory dress code policies. [SIGN THE PETITION >>]( In solidarity, The National Women Law Center Paid for by the National Women’s Law Center. Does not equal endorsement by Mother Jones. By signing, you may receive communication from the National Women’s Law Center. Here's our [privacy policy](. [Mother Jones]( Mother Jones and its nonprofit publisher, the Foundation for National Progress, do not endorse any political candidate, political organization, commercial product, process, or service, and the views expressed in this communication do not constitute an endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by Mother Jones. This message was sent to {EMAIL}. To change the messages you receive from us, you can [edit your email preferences]( or [unsubscribe from all mailings.]( For advertising opportunities see our online [media kit.]( Were you forwarded this email? [Sign up for Mother Jones' newsletters today.]( [www.MotherJones.com]( PO Box 8539, Big Sandy, TX 75755