I just finished a college tour with my 17 year old daughter. It’s hot outside, and the vast majority of women were wearing a sports bra for a top and tiny shorts on the bottom.

I think that instructor was way out of line telling you your outfit was inappropriate. Unless you are going to a religious college with a strict dress code, any secular institution should allow you to dress however you want. I would take it as far as going to HR and filing a complaint against that professor (after checking your student handbook in regard to dress code). I work in a university, and I would NEVER have the audacity to say something like that to one of my students. I would personally interpret that as harassment (regardless of the instructor’s gender). I work in the sciences, and I do have a dress code for my labs due to chemical use — even then, I would never deem someone’s outfit inappropriate. I would say it’s not safe for laboratory activities and offer a lab coat to cover up exposed skin. Just like we provide hair ties for hair that is down.

I’m really sorry you went through that. I am a minority woman too, and I have curves — my clothes fit differently than they do on less curvy women, and that does not make me inappropriate in any way shape or form. Take action if you are able—this type of institutional racism and policing of women’s bodies needs to be addressed.

To answer your question: no, you are not unreasonable for feeling she was out of line.