Dress codes

Anti-Bifurcation Act

Date
1944

The Anti-Bifurcation Act at Dickinson College prevented women from wearing "bifurcated garments, elongated or exposed shirt-tails or any other freakish costumes" when not in the privacy of their own rooms. This was to prevent "unfavorable public criticism, directed against both the women of the college and the college itself."  This Act was to be in effect from the time of its enactment (1944) until "an indefinite, far-future date."

Sometimes Less is Not More

Date
September 27, 2002

"Girls debased by lack of clothing" was an article posted in the September 2002 Dickinsonian about the way women dress on campus. The writer rants about the way women dress in the cafeteria, that it is "not a place to parade around half-naked." She expresses her shock that "in today's ultra-feminist world there was so many girls who would let themselves be so degraded, let alone degrade themselves!" She calls for the college to impose some sort of dress code, nothing too strict, just that people dress appropriately for class and public places.

New Rules for Freshmen Women Considered

Date
April 30, 1923

The discussion of new freshman rules at the April 30, 1923 meeting of the Women's Student Senate were documented in the senate's minutes. At the meeting, some of the following rules were suggested: that "there should be no curled hair for the first two weeks...there should be no powder or cosmetics for a certain period...[and that] it should be compulsory that...stockings be worn for a certain length of time..." The minutes mentioned no further action on these rules.

Metzger Hall Tips for Freshman

Date
1963

From the Wishmeyer scrapbook, this schedule of meals includes etiquette regarding when to say or sing Grace before meals, seating assignments, and dress code. All meals are family style and occur at specific times throughout the day, much unlike our modern cafeteria meal plans today.

The Social Situation: For the Guidance of Dickinson Women

Date
c. 1943

Found in Marion Bell's personal scrapbook from her years at Dickinson College (1941-46), this document of six pages outlines female regulations in dress and socialization in games, bars, dancing, and dining, with a special section regarding social possibilities on Sundays. It also includes rules regarding curfews, tardiness, noise disturbances, and distinctions between freshman women and upperclassmen not "on rules- those having a 75 average." It even provides a section for transfer students.

"Metzger Girls are Not to Wear Pants or Slacks"

Date
c. 1943

Clipped from a newspaper between 1941 and 1946 and placed in Marion Bell's personal scrapbook, this snippet shows the rules and regulations regarding women's attire at Dickinson. Marion Bell was known to wear slacks and this made her quite a rebel against this school rule. See Marion Bell, the Anti-Anti Bifurcationist.

Walking in Couples

Date
October, 1943

According to the "Social Situation for the Guidance of Women Students," couples (defined as female students and male Army Air Force cadets) were only allowed to walk along the "main-traveled" streets of Carlisle and as far as the "paved roads extend." Women were required to wear "correct street attire."

Proper Dress for Classes

Date
1963

Acceptable dress for female students to classes or appointments with faculty consisted of "campus clothes" (a skirt, sweater, blouse, and casual dress). Exceptions to the dress code were made during lab and final exams where "sports clothes" were allowed to be worn.

 

Inside Information, 1961

Date
July 1, 1961

"Inside Information" is the first guidebook published by the Dean of Women office. This guidebook provides rules and regulations for dormitory life, guidelines for social life, proper dress and manners, suggestions for academic success, information on sororities, and independents. "Inside Information" was sent to freshmen students prior to the start of the academic year.

Inside Information, 1959

Date
July 15, 1959

"Inside Information" is the first guidebook published by the Dean of Women office. This guidebook provides rules and regulations for dormitory life, guidelines for social life, proper dress and manners, suggestions for academic success, information on sororities, and independents. "Inside Information" was sent to freshmen students prior to the start of the academic year.