Expert says schools struggle to define offensive clothing rules

Schools use dress codes to help make them safe spaces for everyone, Tapaseura chair Mirva Saukkola told Yle. The comments follow a recent instruction to students at Pori Lyseo, a school in Pori, to dress in a way that does not offend others.

The school’s rules state: “Make sure your clothing does not offend others or go against good manners.”

Saukkola said school uniforms would probably not resolve debates about dress in Finland. Rules should be clear to everyone, she said, while distinguishing between issuing requirements and making recommendations.

In some cases, disagreements about clothing are more about differences in worldview or taste than about whether the clothing is actually offensive, Saukkola said. She cited crop tops and other tops that leave the stomach and waist uncovered as examples of clothes that some people might find offensive.

It is difficult, perhaps impossible, to define how much skin may be visible or how tight clothing can be, she said. Rules on school dress are often stricter in other countries, while principals who spoke to Yle said whether clothing is appropriate can also depend on the situation.