Boston Latin School students have won the freedom of leggings; on Wednesday, high school officials reported that they would be amending their dress code, after students complained that the code unfairly targeted women.

In a daily bulletin to students on Oct. 24, the school announced that it would be enforcing its “longstanding” dress code with renewed fervor starting Nov. 1. “Students should dress appropriately for the business of education. … Violations are subject to progressive discipline,” the bulletin read, according to a screenshot posted on an online Change.org petition. The bulletin noted that students would be allowed to wear leggings to school, but only if they wore shorts or a skirt to cover them.

“By allowing the school to dress code us, we are telling the school several things: Yes, we still live in a patriarchal society where men can decide whether a female’s clothing is appropriate or inappropriate, [and] yes, a body should be covered in order to be attractive. Establishing a sense of shame towards girls [sic] bodies is okay and perfectly acceptable,” read the Change.org petition, which was posted by Charles Cao, a Boston Latin student.

Boston Latin officials “met with several students who had expressed concern about the existing dress code” and “reached an agreement to amend the dress code” such that leggings may be worn as long as they are not sheer, according to a statement from Boston Public Schools on Wednesday, as reported in an Oct. 26 Boston Globe article.

In an update on his petition, Cao wrote that he and a fellow student met with Boston Latin Interim Headmaster Michael Contompasis, who agreed to allow students to wear leggings.

“However, we are still not done with our job,” Cao added. “This is where we might need your help. Now we seek your input. … Remember this is not solely for the sake of the student body at present but also for the sake of future generations.”

—Abby Patkin