A Wisconsin high school is forcing ‘dress wearing’ students to submit photos of their dresses they plan to wear to the homecoming dance in order to buy tickets.
The Pewaukee School District dress code aims to prevent female students from being kicked out of the dance for wearing a something it deems inappropriate.
Female students must prove their dress is appropriate by sending pictures of the front and back of their dresses for every dance.
Boys are not required to submit photos of their attire for approval.
Calista Bulacan, a Pewaukee high school student, has a photo taken of her dress to be approved by the s
The Pewaukee dress code states students are not allowed to wear spaghetti straps, show midriff, show cleavage or have a skirt that is shorter than fingertip length.
The majority of the school dance dress code is specifically aimed at women’s clothing. It states: ‘Shorts and skirts must be of an appropriate length. Shorts or skirts must extend below the mid-thigh.’
‘If your shirt or blouse has a low cut neckline and/or is too revealing it should not be worn.’
The policy has been in place since January 2015, but a recent email reminding students of the requirement has some questioning if the policy is sexist.
According to superintendent Mike Cady, most of the feedback regarding the policy has been positive in the community. He told ABC News most of the backlash has been on social media.
Pewaukee High School said parents and guardians could email the principal if they are uncomfortable with sending a photo
But some students would rather not go to the dance than have to have an administrator approve what they wear.
Nicole Stark is a senior this year at Pewaukee High School and will not be sending a photo of her dress.
The 17-year-old told the station: ‘I think the fact that we have to submit a photo of ourselves wearing it front and back is a little bit creepy to me.’
‘Honestly, I would much rather get turned away at the door than to have to send a picture of myself wearing a dress.’
Last week, the school said parents and guardians could email the principal if they are uncomfortable with sending a photo to say their child’s clothing is appropriate and they have reviewed the school guidelines.
Rebecca Sheperd, a mother to a a female student at the high school, told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel the policy is harmful to women.
She told the paper: ‘The girls are essentially being held responsible for the wayward thoughts (administrators) think boys have.’
‘They’re being told, “You are the problem.” These are the roots of rape culture, frankly.’