High School Student Sparks Debate After Protesting School's 'Sexist' Dress Code
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
Evita Frick-Hisaw, 16, also known as @baggyjeanmom on TikTok, posted her now-viral video showing live clips from a dress code protest she and her peers staged last week. According to a saved Instagram story post on her public account, she and her peers held the demonstration on June 3 at Natomas Charter School's Performing and Fine Arts Academy in Sacramento, California.
"In protest of the dress code assembly regarding 'too much [midriff],' we are all wearing crop tops," the poster read. "Boys! Support your friends and crop your tops!!"
"Our body our choice, it isn't our fault they're distracted. They can't take away our confidence and self-expression," Frick-Hisaw wrote in a text box on the post.
Newsweek spoke to Frick-Hisaw, who confirmed that about 30-40 students came out in support of the protest, which was held after hearing about administrators' plans to host a discussion on student clothing.
"[The school principal] was going to have an assembly on dress code so in response we wore crop tops to protest," Frick-Hisaw confirmed. "It was a day-long process, we showed up in crop tops and they started dress coding people."
The video begins with Frick-Hisaw and her peers showing off their outfits, which all included crop tops revealing their stomachs. The video then cuts to a clip in which she now dons an oversized brown shirt, claiming to have been "dress coded before school even started." In the next clip, she changes into a red spaghetti strap top.
In text overlay on the video, Frick-Hisaw claims that she and dozens of other students against the school's current dress code engage in a peaceful "walkout," in which they sit on the ground in a socially distant circle on campus.
Several young women in attendance also arrive with body art and words written across their stomachs, including phrases like "Am I distracting?", "Skinny Pass?" and "Distraction." It appears to be a comment on administrative reasoning for not allowing crop tops in class.
The video ends with the protesters "taken into the theater for a 'talk,'" noting that "now we are having a real talk to change the dress code." However, Frick-Hisaw notes that "unfortunately, people are getting kicked out" for their participation in the protest.
Frick-Hisaw confirmed with Newsweek that the discussion in the school theater was a starting point "so we could see what we could do about the situation."
She also included photos of protesters in and around the school throughout the day, as well as signs found on campus in the video. One poster demanded, "Teach boys to focus, not girls to cover up." "If [children's] midriffs distract you, you should not be working with children," another read.
Frick-Hisaw also noted in her statement to Newsweek that the protest resulted in a school meeting the next day with the intent of "hopefully [changing] the dress code next year."
The video has since been viewed over 3.1 million times and liked by nearly one million viewers. Many in the comments vocalized their support for the student demonstration.
"I am LIVING for this...I wish I had the idea to do this back when I was in school," one commenter wrote. "They can hold an assembly to tell girls how to dress but they can't have an assembly to educate boys on how they should respect other [people's] bodies," another added.
One student in attendance praised those brave enough to take a part in the protest. "Let's go, everyone. So proud of everyone especially the younger grades. Most of the [seniors] were told they couldn't walk [at] graduation if they participated," they claimed. "Multiple staff [members] have tried [to] take away posters and flyers that we are not placing on campus, just handing them [out] for people to hold."
Others commented on how dress codes work at their school, arguing that they are "archaic" and "sexist."
"Whenever teachers used to try to dress code me, I would ask them why they were even staring at my body to begin with. And they would get nervous," one person recalled. "We actually had a [transgender] girl get dress coded at our school because boys shouldn't wear dresses," another claimed.
Not everyone agreed with Frick-Hisaw and her peers. Some felt their response to the situation was "childish," and argued in favor of mandated dress codes.
"These little kids are gonna have a really hard time getting a job in the future if they can't understand the basics of dress code," one critic wrote.
Frick-Hisaw made a video responding to that comment and provided more context to the initial video.
"So the reason why we did all this is because we were gonna have an assembly on dress code, and we felt the dress code was sexist towards women and also perpetuating rape culture," she said. "That made us very uncomfortable."
"We all just want some freedom of expression and freedom to express our confidence, whether that's in a baggy t-shirt or in a tiny little tank top," she added. "We as students feel like what we wear is not distracting towards others or affecting anyone's learning environment."
She also addressed the comment's note about dress codes in the workforce. "We know we're gonna have a dress code when we get older and possibly have uniforms with whatever job that comes, but right now we're in school and we're in a learning environment," she said.
"We should not have to be kicked out of class just because we're wearing a crop top," Frick-Hisaw concluded.
The comments on her follow-up video remained highly supportive. "Don't listen to people like that! They used to say that colored hair & tattoos were unprofessional. That's clearly not the case anymore!" one wrote. "Got dress coded all the time in school. Just letting you know you CAN still get a job & be successful! Keep using your voice it's inspiring," another commented.
Frick-Hisaw told Newsweek that she was blown away by the support she received, and had no idea the video would reach as many people as it did.
"I didn't expect it to have three million views [per se] but I wasn't completely shocked, [overall] I'm very very grateful for it," she said. "I really appreciate the support but I don't mind the hate comments because there's always gunna be those kinds of people."
She also told Newsweek that in her ideal world, there is little to no dress code enforcement. "Honestly if it were me [in charge] I wouldn't be harsh on dress code, I'm a big advocate for self-expression and confidence so if you like it it's not a problem for me."
Newsweek reached out to the administration at Natomas Charter School's Performing and Fine Arts Academy for comment on the situation but did not hear back in time for publication.
This is the latest in a host of instances across the world in which dress codes and fashion norms have been challenged in schools. In May, two teachers in Spain wore skirts to class every day in solidarity with a student bullied for his own fashion choices. Another school in London faced intense backlash after they threatened student protesters with expulsion over disagreements on their "discriminatory" dress code, which allegedly targeted Black and Muslim students.
I am almost completely on the side of the school(s). Kids should not come to school dressed like this
I dont care if they feel like it is their right. The taxpayers are paying for them to learn and get an education, not spend all day "expressing themselves".
I went to a Catholic high school and the boys had to wear light colored dress shirts with a tie and dark colored trousers EVERY DAY. This was decades ago but I'm pretty sure it is still the dress code in Catholic high schools. The girls wear uniform blouses and skirts. It teaches you to respect school and your surroundings. I wish all school kids had to wear some sort of uniform but I know that ship sailed decades ago.
I couldn't agree more!
I went to a Catholic high school and the boys had to wear light colored dress shirts with a tie and dark colored trousers EVERY DAY. This was decades ago but I'm pretty sure it is still the dress code in Catholic high schools. The girls wear uniform blouses and skirts. It teaches you to respect school and your surroundings.
I remember those days. It also teaches them HOW TO DRESS!
Young males being distracted by girls wearing crop tops or short skirts is controversial the same way that the operation of gravity is controversial.
But even beyond recognizing that fact school is not the place for constant self expression. I don't think kids should be able to wear t shirts with memes on them to school either.
I think we are in total agreement.
These are kids, they will express themselves all they want. If the school wants to regulate their clothing, the school needs to adopt a school uniform like your Catholic school did.
If you want to regulate clothing to prevent young males from being distracted with improper thoughts, perhaps you feel we should follow this example.
It is what you are suggesting, although probably to a greater degree than you meant. But it is a step in the wrong direction.
Better to teach young boys to not be distracted, or else they will have a hard time driving down the street in summer time. Remember, we've made a small flash of skin to be scandalous, other countries do not have that problem.
I really dont care what anyone says, liberal or conservative. These outfits are not appropriate for school. Although the "distraction" possibility exists with this sort of dress, I also object to the school catering to students desire to "express themselves" all day long. They are there to be educated, not go on an ego trip.
Don’t see anything wrong with the way they are dressed. Never go to a college campus if that bothers you, and maybe generally avoid society at large generally.
Their stomachs are showing, I fail to see the problem.
Never go to a beach if that sort of dress distresses you
Time and place. The beach is the place and time for that type of clothing. School is not. Wait until they get out in the real world and they try to go into the office dressed like that.
So children should approach school as if it were the beach then?
from the seed
that's not what I said, but if a bare belly is enough to distress you I suggest you stay away from the beach
I stay away from the beach because I sunburn extremely easily.
I'm not sure why you associate going to school with going to the beach.
I don't. But you guys are acting like these young women should be dressed in burkas when they go to school. It's not the girls' fault if the boys are distracted. It's time we teach our sons to not be little snowflakes when it comes to human flesh
I never said or implied they should be dressed in burkas . Personally I wish all kids had to wear uniforms to school, but that will never happen at public schools. Burkas? no, but not like this
When you dress like that you are making the entire day about how you look and what people think of you and your self expression. That is not why they are in school.
Believe it or not, I'm all for school uniforms, too. As for these girls making the entire day about themselves? Don't they all do that, even the boys?
OMG? John and I agree on something. They must be breaking out the parkas in hell.
Teens slam school’s ‘sexist’ dress code: ‘It perpetuates rape culture’
It’s a hot belly button issue — and the kids are going crop-top crazy.
With their tummies on full display, a band of rebel students in California staged a midriff mutiny, in objection to their high school’s “sexist” dress-code policy, on June 3.
And since-viral footage of their waistline-exposing walkout has garnered more than 3 million views on TikTok .
“The dress code is sexist towards women and perpetuates rape culture. It makes us very uncomfortable,” said the creator of the clothing coup, Evita Frick-Hisaw, 16, on the social-media platform.
“We as students feel like what we wear is not distracting towards others or affecting anyone’s learning environment,” the abdomen-baring advocate added.
According to the teen’s trending posts, school administrators scheduled an assembly last Thursday to forbid coeds from wearing shirts that revealed their stomachs .
But with Instagram Stories as her soapbox, Frick-Hisaw called for her male and female peers to don crop tops to school that day and walk out as the dress-code caucus in an act of defiance.
“In protest of the dress code assembly regarding ‘too much mid-drift,’ we are all wearing crop tops,” her digital flyer read.
“Our bodies, our choice. [It] isn’t our fault they’re distracted,” Frick-Hisaw added. “They can’t take away our confidence and self-expression.”
Midway through the principal’s dress-code address, students stormed out of the assembly room and took to the school’s courtyard wearing crop tops, bralettes and baby tees, per video of the demonstration.
California student Evita Frick-Hisaw went viral on TikTok after organizing a crop-top rally in protest of her high school’s “sexist” dress code. @baggyjeanmom via TikTokProtesters painted messages across their stomachs that read: “Distraction,” “It’s not my fault” and “Am I distracting?” — challenging the notion that their bare bellies disrupt classroom workflow.
They also picketed with computer paper-sized signs saying, “Teach boys to focus, not girls to cover up.”
And as a flick of the nose to faculty and staffers who oppose their revealing clothes, students typed up a missive reading: “If childrens’ midriffs distract you, you should not be working with children.”
Protest signs challenged school administrators. @baggyjeanmom via TikTokAudiences on TikTok applauded Frick-Hisaw for her advocacy.
“I am LIVING for this . . . I wish I had the idea to do this back when I was in school,” one cyber supporter wrote in her comments.
“I mean in University we don’t have a dress code and everything fine and no one is distracted so idk where they get that from,” another said.
Frick-Hisaw ended her viral video saying her ensemble insurrection inspired “real talk” about the dress code between students and administrators.
However, she admitted that some kids did get kicked out of school following the daring demonstration.
And in a separate clip, the teen acknowledged that she and her freedom-fighting friends won’t be able to flaunt their midriffs once they graduate and enter into the professional word.
“I understand that . . . But now, we are in school. We are in a learning environment, and we should not be kicked out of class just because we’re wearing a crop top,” Frick-Hisaw said.
Yeah, well there is a time and place for "expressing yourself" or showing off your body.
It's a distraction. Not your fault? It's as much your fault as it would be if I were to bring in rolls of bubble wrap, and constantly pop it during class.
The world is full of distractions. Time to get used to them while young. There is no obscenity here, just some bare midriffs.
Not a good example. If you are paying attention to the teacher, you wouldn't even be looking at the girl's midriff. However you'd have to put your fingers in your ears to block the popping, you wouldn't be able to hear the teacher either.
That's the rub isn't it? Let's review the definition of distraction here.
Definition of distraction
Then boys need to wear long sleeve shirts, and long pants. Fair is fair.
And if what they are wearing is “distracting” then it sounds like you have other issues.
I didn't want to say anything at first but I'm gonna put my 2 cents in. My daughter never would have worn something like that, first, she is very modest, and second her dad would have had a snit fit.
Why do the girls have to cover up? Can't we teach our sons to respect girls and not treat them like sex objects? If the girls are a distraction, that's the boys' problem.
You go to school to learn, not for a fashion show.
You know I love how we are all worried about girl's stomachs but nothing is EVER said about guys in schools wearing their pants down around their butts so their underwear is exposed & sometimes their whole ass. WHY is that NEVER in the conversation?
Why should anyone, girls or boys , show their stomachs when they dress for school?
School is a semi formal place. You have to show up at a certain time, and usually sit in a chair or at a desk, and be quiet when others are speaking, and answer questions when the teacher asks you. It is a controlled environment so to speak. Why is it so hard for people to say kids should dress appropriately ? I honestly dont get it.
Why should anyone boys or girls walk around school with their underwear on display? Why is that NOT part of your worry? Why do you only show pictures of girls with what you consider inappropriate school attire? Why can't boys be taught that school is for them to learn not leer at girls. You are perpetuating the thought process that boys cannot control themselves & are distracted by girls. Believe it or not boys are distracted by girls REGARDLESS of what they wear.
I just don't get it.
What makes you think I am in favor of the boys showing their underwear in school ?
The article was about a group of girls. If I see an article about a group of boys I will seed it.
Simply because all you do is point out the girls - every time you talk - you point at the girls - YOU never say anything about the boys. You make it all about the girls & how it is their responsibility to NOT distract the boys - which completely impossible.
That will NEVER happen because it only girls that anyone cares about putting in their place & you know it. It is never brought up. Of course the seed is about girls - they are the only ones that have to "dress appropriately" .
In your comments you say they should dress for school - well talk about the boys then. Don't wait for an article that we all know will never appear before you address it. Or could it be that you don't care how boys dress as long as the girls don't show any skin?
BTW - both of my kids went to Catholic schools - daughter - all girls - son - all boys. So uniforms for them. When I was in school many moons ago - the girls wore shorts and halter tops to school & guess what? Our graduation rate was better than it is today.
Are you serious?
The article and the photos that came with it were of girls. The girls at that high school made a video saying that they want to come to school dressed like this
It's not appropriate. If the picture was of a boy with his stomach bare and his pants falling down and his underwear showing I would say exactly the same thing.
YES I am serious because this is strictly a double standard hit piece. AND I seriously doubt if it were about boys you would have seeded it at all.
I give up. Believe whatever you want.
I will. I have seen your seeds.
Oh please.
Why is not appropriate? What makes one version of dress more, or less appropriate?
Why do they have to sit at desks, why cant they wander around the room at will? Why cant they talk while the teacher is talking? Why can't they eat potato chips in class?
Structure.
Wandering around the room, talking over the teacher and eating loudly in class are ACTIONS that can interfere with instruction. How one is dressed is passive and has no legitimate reason to impact any teachers' in class instruction.
How very authoritarian.
April 30, 2010
A report released by the National Catholic Education Association has found that Catholic high schools in the United States have a 99.1% graduation rate, compared to a 73.1% graduation rate at public schools. The report also found that 84.7% of Catholic high school graduates attend four-year colleges, compared to 44.1% of public high school graduates.
Catholic high schools’ graduation rate much higher than that of public schools | News Headlines | Catholic Culture
I had to wear a tie to high school every day, and it was an all male school, and worse yet - I was an atheist in a Jesuit school. Even if public schools adopted a universal dress code it couldn’t hold a candle to that, so my own opinion of this is that these kids should stfu and use school to learn something useful instead of spending their energy on complaining about their tummy hardships. It’s no wonder why we’ll never catch up to China.
Sounds like my son, although he was a pagan.