A Florida high school is under fire after it posted sexist flyers depicting what “good girls” wear to prom.
On Monday, a student at Stanton College Preparatory School in Jacksonville tweeted a photo of the posters. The images depicted what types of dresses were allowed to be worn at the school dance. Those that showed some skin — meaning those with crop tops, low-cut backs, thigh-high slits and plunging necklines — were deemed unacceptable. Those that had more coverage were deemed OK.
The poster with the appropriate dress patronizingly read, “Going to Stanton prom? Yes you are. Good girl.”
According to the tweet, the dress code was put in place just one week before the school dance. “It's not like everyone has their dress already…” the student sarcastically wrote.
Many have criticized the dress code for being sexist not just because it only applies to girls, but because it sexualizes the teens and implies that girls who show more skin are “bad.”
As a result, many took to Twitter to express their outrage. The student body even created the hashtag #scpgoodgirl to let their feelings be known.
One Twitter user also noted that the posters perpetuate rape culture.
“Your sign is suggesting that females be cautious of what they wear so that males don’t get too ‘excited,’ which exhibits and furthers rape culture don’t you think?” user Liv wrote in a Twitter photo. “Women have shoulders, thighs and backs just like men do. If you and your staff are sexualizing their bodies, it is YOUR problem and you need help.”
On top of creating their own Twitter hashtag, the student body wore white and purple — two prominent colours of the suffragette movement — in protest and to show support of female students.
In response, the school quickly pulled down the posters and issued an apology to the students.
“The display of prom dress photos pertaining to recommend attire at Stanton College Preparatory School is not an approved policy by the school or Duval County Public Schools,” the school said in a statement. “The displayed images were immediately removed by school leadership on Monday. Both students and staff have been informed this was not acceptable or appropriate guidance for prom dress attire.”
But while many appreciated that the school recognized their error, some claim the admin still needs to do more.
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