Enforcing femininity: SC school will ban pants-wearing female students from grad

[Natasha]

Enforcing femininity: SC school will ban pants-wearing female students from graduation

http://www.feministing.com/archives/015826.html
6/3/09

She's the image of a model graduate, this year's recipient of the Heart of Chapin Spirit Award, proud of her school from tassel to class ring, but Chelsea Sarvis' high school won't allow her to participate at graduation without the dress.

[Miniar]

I understand the value of school uniforms, but since the boys get to wear pants I think it's illogical to tell the girls they "must" wear skirts, and vice versa.

[lisagurl]

The whole social and traditional event of graduation is part of the educational system brain washing. I refused to pay and participate. They have me listed as camera shy and mailed me the diploma. While all those people sat and operated like willing robots I enjoyed a day in the mountains with friends.

[Michelle.]

Update link, within posted blog.

http://www.wistv.com/Global/story.asp?S=10468170

Pants to be allowed. Actually this is the first case of its type in 25 years.

Now go back next year and will see how many start the trend that eventually ends in someone wearing a "bunny suit" to the graduation ceremony.

[DarkLady]

Hehe! But I can see this as a part of more serious problem. After women's liberation western culture keeps strongly enforing masculinity but feminity is not enforced. Perhaps they should keep girls to wear dresses because boys must wear pants!

[Michelle.]

A bunch of the guys, "myself" included, threatened to wear kilts to our grad ceremony.

We weree told if you wear pantyhose its ok. We asked why pantyhose? The Dean, a lady with about the sickest sense of humor I've ever met, replied "I and no one there wants to see your hairy legs. But go ahead and wear them if you wish."

[DarkLady]

My final word is that nice girls wear dresses!

[Mister]

high school graduations take place in May or June under stage lights in packed auditoriums that are rarely air conditioned.  Screw the dresses & ties-- look presentable without the threat of passing out.

[tekla]

The whole point of wearing the gown at graduation is that it covers up the clothes, thus making all graduates equal.  Guess they must have missed that part.

[Feever]

I would have gladly worn a dress at my graduation!

Heck, yesterday I had a graduation ceremony for a 7 week class that I was attending.  It was nothing special, but I wasnt wearing exactly what the other guys wore.  I had a few things on to make me feel special!

[Britney_413]

Here we have yet another example of social control over people through the use of the training camps--I mean school system. The way I recall it is that men and women both wear the same type of gown so it really shouldn't make a difference. I don't understand why such stupidity is being enforced. If a student has made it to graduation, then they have earned the right to wear what they want--especially if this is college graduation. Meaningless school social control has always irked me. Maybe she should wear the pants over the dress somehow and then as she is receiving her diploma, take off the pants in front of everyone, then tear up the diploma, and then yell "fire."

[tekla]

If you think that education is mind control wait till you run into real ignorance, cause its really ugly.

If its all that big a deal - and its not - don't go and have them mail you the diploma. 

As I recall for my HS and college I wore a suit under for my parents, but for my PhD I wore shorts and grateful dead tshirt.