El dress code

Refran: "The clothes that are on my body,shouldn't affect my education."

Card Description: For my Loteria card, I wanted to share my thoughts on the dress code and how it has parallels to rape culture. I chose dress code as a subject matter because it is unfair and inconsistent; it teaches young girls that their bodies are distracting and we are responsible for other people's actions. The images in the piece represent that our bodies aren't distracting.  For me personally, this card represents what every young girl goes through: being told that our bodies are distracting and shaming us for what we wear. I want the audience to see that the dress code affects young girls in many ways; it brings shame to our bodies and makes us responsible for others' actions by saying “Boys can’t control themselves”.

Student Biography: My name is Rubi Araujo, and I am a senior at Santa Maria High School. I live in Santa Maria, California, with four siblings and both of my parents. My family migrated from Mexico. In my Loteria card, I chose to represent the dress code. What inspired me to draw my Loteria card was a girl in my class who got dress-coded because she was wearing shorts. She missed the whole class period just to come back with dress-coded items (ripped jeans). I walk down the stairs. I see a girl wearing shorter shorts and not getting her dress coded. This made me realize that the dress code is not consistent, and favoritism plays a huge part in this. The artistic process was enjoyable; the painting was therapeutic; it was great to release stress. Life after high school will be difficult but a great experience. When I graduate, I want to go to Allan Hancock College to get my associate degree and study to become a dental hygienist to make people more confident with their teeth and smiles.