Wednesday, January 28, 2015

Controversy after teenage girl had to wear coat to cover up her shoulders at school dance

A student at Lone Peak High School in Highland, Utah, was told her dress must be covered up because it was too inappropriate for the Preference Dance at the school last Saturday. Gabi Finlayson says she was “embarrassed,” when a representative from the school approached her as she entered the dance and told her she needed to wear a shawl or a coat to cover her shoulders. “She said, ‘Would you mind putting on a shawl?’ I didn't want to make a big scene so I said, yes. I had a coat in the car so I had to go back and get it,” she said.

Finlayson says she was angry after she was forced to wear her winter coat over her dress the entire dance, she says she felt as though the school was shaming her for what some of the boys might think. “Somehow my shoulders are sexualised,” Finlayson said. “Like it's my responsibility to make sure the boys’ thoughts are not unclean.” A total of 4 out of 1,200 students were told to cover their shoulders. Rhonda Bromley the principal of Lone Peak says students are well aware of the dress code for formal events that includes: “Formals, backless dresses and/or tops may not extend beyond the bottom of the shoulder blades. Girls’ dresses and tops must have a 2″ minimum strap on each shoulder.



"Shawls, boleros and other shrugs are acceptable if worn over the dress at all times. Cleavage covered.” Finlayson says her dress, which was purchased in Paris, and resembled in her mind, the classic, graceful style of her idol, actress Audrey Hepburn, was within the parameters put forth by the school dress code, and she says there were other girls at the dance whose dresses were questionable in her mind. “There were a lot of dresses that were very short, very tight, a lot more exposing or revealing than mine.” Finlayson’s mother, Kristy Kimball, is angry. She said the school is sending negative, demeaning messages to the girls they forced to cover up. “How have we gotten to the point that we look at shoulders as if they're somehow pornographic? As if they are this shameful thing,” Kimball said.

Bromley says all students were told about the dress code, and says the regulations where approved by students and teachers, and that the students were not embarrassed when their dresses were deemed inappropriate. “This was done by one of my female school employees in a very careful and sensitive way,” said Bromley. Finlayson says she felt as though she was shamed for wearing what most would consider a perfectly appropriate dress, and she wonders why girls are often forced to shoulder the burden of what is considered “inappropriate.” “Maybe instead of teaching girls they should cover themselves up, we should be teaching boys that we’re not just sex objects that you can look at and derive pleasure,” said Finlayson.

With news video.

9 comments:

BoS said...

Whit?! It's the boys' fault she broke school rules and had to suffer the consequences? Thanks, feminism, for producing another self-important, entitled little princess who thinks the world should revolve around her.

Brixter said...

It looks like a perfectly fine dress for a teen.

Dunex said...

Nice dress but if there is a dress code and everyone has been made aware of this stop whining.

Elena said...

I don't see anything wrong with that dress if that is what she was wearing, unless the back of the dress is bare.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous, what do you have again idiots... they are funny... as long as the stay on the interweb

and to add some to the madness, i blame artificial sweetener: it makes boy shoulder crazy and girl unable to read dress codes. Unless it's texting ya texting as that effect on them too

Elagie said...

First, those straps are so close to two inches wide it's ridiculous that they quibbled about it. And, second, WHEN did this shoulder fetish thing happen? And HOW did boys manage to survive (and even go to school and manage to concentrate on their studies and even graduate) when I went to high school in the 70s? Short shorts, short skirts, and bralessness were all part of a typical day. Please, shoulders?

Barbwire said...

The dress looks to me to be in compliance, and quite demure. I agree with the young woman. I know Mormons have special underwear. Are they now starting with shoulders, and planning to move on to calves, hair, faces, etc.? All so the boys won't become sexually aroused?

xoxoxoBruce said...

Not in Utah, Elgaie, never in Utah.

Miss Cellania said...

Maybe instead of reaching those things they talked about, we should teach young women to speak up about being targeted for dress code violation when there is no violation. She complied because she "didn't want to make a scene." You'll never change the world unless you're willing to make a scene.