Canadian Politics Today

Student dress codes are going away for the same reasons that this dress code isn't forthcoming.

You just linked to an article from an actual lawyer who just explained that Ontario labor code actually has a significant chunk of verbiage devoted to the issue of dress codes.

Turning first to the shortcomings of the report, it does not consult a legal expert on the issue despite its stated intention to determine if the “imposition of a staff dress code would be permissible from a labour and employment law perspective.”

The report authored is by the Superintendent of Human Resources and the Director of Education, references the Ontario Human Rights Commission to support its finding dress codes are fraught with legal risk. In fact, the Commission devotes a sizable component of it’s website to the removal of sexualized and gender specific dress codes at work.

The Commission’s website states “sexualized dress codes reinforce stereoptical and sexist notions about women.” Specifically the Commission referred to a CBC Marketplace inquiry about restaurants where dress codes “that require female servers to wear short skirts, tight dresses, high heels and low cut tops to work.”

As a woman, I would venture to say that oversized prosthetic breasts reinforce stereotypical and sexist notions about women — especially in a school environment.

As a professional, I’m also required to follow a dress code. To attend court before a judge, I am required to wear a robe, a vest, pants or a skirt, a court shirt, and tabs. Even with the advent of zoom courtrooms, there is still an attire and etiquette protocol.

I have to point out how ludicrous it is that the Toronto Sun consulted the opinion of an actual lawyer for their opinion piece, but the Halton School Board couldn't be bothered to consult a lawyer during the course of their TWO MONTH review on this issue.  What a fucken joke, Michael, that the HDSB didn't consult a lawyer in the course of deciding whether they had any legal options in dealing with this issue.

The only conclusion that can be drawn is that the board wasn't interested in finding out whether they had any legal options, and were content with the preconceived assumption that they didn't.

 (another column, also by a lawyer, makes the same point as the Toronto Sun piece: https://financialpost.com/fp-work/halton-school-board-power-ban-trans-teachers-outfit-too-scared )

A woman in the school suing someone... I don't think that would do anything.  Sometimes there's no way to deal with a dick.

I think that it would do two things.  First off, it would inspire the HSDB people to reconsider their options, with perhaps a new sense of urgency.

Second, it would remind people that the trans person is not the only one who has rights. Despite claiming to care about the dignity and inclusion of their female students and staff, it is clear that they do not.   Perhaps being brought before a Human Rights Tribunal over this would remind them that it's not only "the marginalized" who have rights.


 -k