𝐁𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐁𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐫𝐬: 𝐄𝐦𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐃𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐅𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬

With the glare of the forthcoming Intramurals shining down on the University at the moment, the blaring notion of various activities set and prepared await to take center stage. Colored in festive aura, the University shifts from its usual academic setting into a bravado where athleticism, physical prowess, and competitiveness coexist. However, as the preparations are being made, a sudden blockade threatens the impending celebrations as the participating students find it absurd on their part.

The Intramural’s cheer dance competition, one of the most important parts of the annual major event, is currently tainted by dress code guidelines that inadvertently cause dissatisfaction and exclusion especially to the members of the LGBTQ+ community. Given that these rules were intended to be consistent, they unintentionally uphold traditional gender norms, which puts people who express their gender in a different way at a disadvantage. The fundamental purpose of the event is harmed by this tension between inclusivity and uniformity, which prevents the celebration of diversity. Regardless of gender identity or expression, it is imperative that these rules be revised to foster an inclusive environment where all students feel respected.

The dress code regulations of the cheer dance competition impede diversity and university inclusivity, as they penalize every participant for dressing differently based on their biological sex. Students raise concerns that waiver the regulations to be revised to allay these worries. Rather than upholding rigid gender norms, it should embrace and recognize the range of gender expressions among students. Concerns regarding Northwestern University’s cheer dance competition’s dress code have been voiced out. To encourage respect, and acceptance for all students, the university ought to reevaluate and modify these policies. Individual identity should be protected by the rules, enabling participants to express themselves honestly without worrying about punishment. This change in policy will promote an atmosphere where all students feel valued and welcomed without jeopardizing the competition’s integrity.

The inflexibility of the dress code is the core of the issue. It disregards the nuanced diversity of gender identity and instead perpetuates stereotypical gender norms. The university marginalizes and excludes gender-nonconforming people by strictly implementing a dress code that demands adherence to biological sex. These policies subtly suggest that some gender expressions are more legitimate or acceptable than others, which runs contrary to the openness and equality ideals that the University ought to promote.

Moreover, the minimal selection of participants, reflected on the availability of LGBTQ+ members add up to the issues regarding the cheer dance competition. With the dress code regulation being seen as an attack or limitation on the part of the students, some of the participants threaten to back out from the competition, thereby, draining the team’s resources of members to join the said event. In another light, the thought of creativity in terms of costumes and props for the said event is in somewhat restricted as the teams now have to consider the penalties they could be possibly incurring in their performances. The display teams have prepared should be free – not limited by regulations that do not necessarily talk on events such as cheer dance. The primary goal here is to foster the identity of teams, and to talk pep in support of the teams they ought to represent. It is not solely based on the freedom to express one’s identity, but it is also grounded on the sense of artistic expression, culminated in the festive display of energetic cheers and rhythm.

This serious issue with the university’s dress code policy was also brought to light in a letter written to The Review’s former editor-in-chief. “It is unacceptable that students are being forced to conform to traditional gender norms in a way that ignores the diversity of our student population. The school must recognize that there is no one way to express gender and that students should be able to express themselves in a way that feels comfortable and authentic to them,” an anonymous LGBTQ+ member has stated. Students with gender identities that don’t fit into traditional binary norms face a great deal of difficulty when it comes to the strict dress codes at universities, specifically those who want clothing to correspond with their biological sex. Their comfort and sense of belonging in the university community are affected by this conundrum. The university’s fixed dress code policy additionally contributes to the marginalization and unwelcomeness of some students, especially the LGBTQ+ community, which negatively affects their daily interactions, event participation, and general well-being on campus.

It is clear from reevaluating the cheer leading competition’s dress code guidelines that a change in attitude toward equality and acceptance of various gender expressions is essential. The LGBTQ+ community’s concerns point out the necessity of regulations that acknowledge the diversity of identities present in the student body. Northwestern University can develop an environment that embraces diversity and generates a sense of inclusion for all by amending these rules to permit students to freely express their gender identities without fear of discrimination. In addition to being needed, acknowledging, and respecting the diversity of gender expressions is a step toward creating a more open and welcoming university.