Viral Photo Of Girl Sent Home From School For Wearing 'Inappropriate' Outfit Sparks Body Shaming Debate | HuffPost Life

Do School Dress Codes 'Body Shame' Girls And 'Promote Rape Culture'?

Ellen Wallwork— The Huffington Post UK

|

A photo of a girl who was sent home from school for wearing an "inappropriate" outfit has gone viral and sparked a debate about body shaming, sexism and rape culture.

Erica Edgerly, 21, from Texas, US, shared the photo on Facebook on 2 April 2015, along with a caption explaining why she was angry about the situation:

"Today, my sister was sent home from school for wearing the clothes in the picture below," she wrote.

"And I'm sorry but I have to stand up for my family and for women who are degraded and judged for their bodies and clothing everyday."

"People wonder why women feel insecure about their bodies or what they wear... And it's because you're told your clothing is inappropriate when you're completely fully clothed, even when you're not showing cleavage or anything," Edgerly added.

"How about instead of body shaming women, school systems should start teaching 15-18-year-old boys to stop degrading women with their eyes and contributing to the rape culture of today's society.

"Bottom line, girls cannot go to school in comfortable clothes THAT COVER EVERYTHING because school systems are afraid that hormonal boys won't be able to control their eyes and minds.

"And that is such a bigger problem than worrying about clothing.

"No, I do not believe that all boys in middle school/high school degrade young women or sexualize their bodies.

"That is my point... this is not an inappropriate outfit, yet some are worried it might be seen that way, so they send girls home to change to try to avoid an issue and THAT is the problem.

"Not to mention, when you send someone home because of inappropriate clothing, you're taking away from their eduction.

"So I guess it's more important for boys to not have distractions (even when they're aren't any [Sic]) than a woman's education. When will people realize how big of an issue this really is?"

The post quickly went viral attracting more than 91,000 shares, with people commenting that they "couldn't see anything wrong with the outfit".

"I have been saying the same thing that you said for so long," wrote one commenter.

"Why should girls have to base their clothing choices on boys who can't learn to control themselves? Plus her whole body is completely covered so I don't see what the problem is."

SEE MORE
'Sexism In School' The 10-Year-Old Blogger Taking On The System
Apparently This Dress Was 'Too Inappropriate' For A High School Prom

In a later Facebook post Edgerly clarified that the school had taken issue with her sister's top because the sides of her shirt were not "fingertip length".

She also added that her original post hadn't been intended to directly criticise her sister's school, rather she had hoped to raise a point about a wider issue.

"My point is in no relation to the school board, the school district, or the administration specifically, (because again I know they were just doing their job) but society in general considering this happens all over the nation every day," she wrote on Facebook.

"So many young girls (and their mothers) have messaged me thanking me because their school sent them home for being fully clothed, but one part of their outfit hugged one part of their God given bodies a little too tight, and was seen as inappropriate and that is the real issue here."

The Orangefield Independent School District sent the following statement to TODAY.com:

“While the District cannot disclose or discuss the details of any student's disciplinary or educational matter due to federal and state confidentiality laws, we want to assure our community that Orangefield ISD strives to maintain a positive and successful learning environment for our students free from disruption and distraction, which includes enforcement of our student dress code,” superintendent Stephen Patterson said.

Last year a school in the UK faced criticism over its dress code after 250 girls were allegedly taken out of lessons because their skirts were too short.

Dr Rory Fox, headteacher at Ryde Academy on the Isle of Wight responded with a letter on the schools website which read:

"We are preparing students for the world of work so it is important that we teach students about the importance of managing their appearance and working to a dress code.

"We have a number of female students who have recently said that they are coming under peer pressure to wear their skirts shorter than they feel comfortable.

"It is not fair that girls should be made to feel uncomfortable when they are just following the uniform policy. We have therefore decided to act at this point in time, to correct uniform issues."

Celebrities Who Have Opened Schools

Pitbull(01 of14)

In between producing megahits like "Timber," rapper Pitbull opened a charter school in the fall of 2013. His school, based in Miami, is called the Sports Leadership And Management Academy (SLAM), and it educates children on core subjects with an emphasis on sports and sports management.

"If sports is what you love, one way or another, it's a business you can get involved with ... whether you're a therapist, an attorney, a broadcaster," the singer said in a 2013 NPR interview. "They're already labeling me 'Mr. Education.'" (credit:Getty Images)

Jalen Rose (02 of14)

In 2011, former NBA player and current sports broadcaster Jalen Rose founded a Detroit-based charter school called the Jalen Rose Leadership Academy (JRLA). The new school is still evolving, though. After one year, the school hired a completely new staff, adopted a more rigorous curriculum system and lengthened the school day.

"My goal at JRLA is to provide a private school education in a public school setting so that a student's ZIP code doesn't dictate the education they receive," Rose wrote in a 2013 blog for The Huffington Post. "I am humbled by the opportunity to help further the education of our youth as well as be able to create jobs for my community." (credit:Getty Images)

Shakira(03 of14)

Latin American sensation Shakira has been an advocate for education causes. Using funds from her nonprofit organization, she has opened eight schools in her native country of Colombia. She has also lobbied Latin American leaders to support early childhood education.

Her schools -- the most recent was scheduled to open in February 2014 -- serve needy children in disadvantaged communities.

“I want to demonstrate ... how we can change the lives, not only of the children who come to school, but also their families. Entire communities can be transformed when you have a school that functions properly,” the singer told Billboard. (credit:Shutterstock)

Andre Agassi(04 of14)

In 2011, tennis champion Andre Agassi partnered with Canyon Capital Realty Advisors LLC to create the Canyon-Agassi Charter School Facilities Fund. By December 2013, the fund, which is designed to invest in the building of charter schools, had established 23 schools. In 2001, Agassi founded the Las Vegas-based Andre Agassi College Preparatory Academy. (credit:Getty Images)

Deion Sanders(05 of14)

Former NFL star Deion Sanders founded Prime Prep Academy in Texas in 2012. However, the charter school has already seen its share of challenges. Sanders, a coach for the school, was fired from his job in October 2013 for allegedly assaulting an employee. Although he was quickly rehired, he was fired again in December. Additionally, the Texas Education Agency is currently investigating the school for a number of allegations, including the misuse of funds.

“Prime Prep has been plagued with administrators who don’t have the expertise or experience that it takes to have the institution we want it to be,” Prime Prep Board President T. Christopher Lewis said, according to the Dallas Morning News. (credit:AP)

Oprah(06 of14)

Oprah Winfrey opened the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa in 2007. While the school has suffered from its share of controversy -- a school employee was accused of sexually abusing several students -- it is still up and running. The media mogul has also donated heavily to American charter schools. In 2010, she gave $6 million to charter schools across the country. (credit:Getty Images)

Will Smith & Jada Pinkett Smith(07 of14)

Actors Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith opened a private elementary school, the New Village Leadership Academy, in 2008. However, the school, which reportedly had ties to the church of Scientology, was closed in 2013.

Although the school reportedly used teaching methods developed by Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard, school leaders denied that it was anything but secular, according to the Associated Press.

"We are a secular school, and just like all nonreligious independent schools, faculty and staff do not promote their own religions at school or pass on the beliefs of their particular faith to children," New Village Academy director Jacqueline Olivier told the Los Angeles Times in 2008. (credit:AP)

Angelina Jolie(08 of14)

Notorious humanitarian and actress Angelina Jolie opened an all-girls school in Afghanistan in 2013. The school was funded by proceeds from Jolie's jewelry collection, Style of Jolie. She reportedly hopes to use further proceeds to build more schools in impoverished areas, according to Forbes. (credit:Getty Images)

Magic Johnson(09 of14)

Former NBA star and sports analyst Magic Johnson has opened several alternative high schools for students who have dropped out or are at-risk of dropping out of school. Currently, there are four Magic Johnson Bridgescape Academies in Georgia, two in Illinois, one in New Jersey, one in North Carolina and eight in Ohio.

According to the Bridgescape Acadmy website, the alternative schools' "student-focused program provides an opportunity to earn a high school diploma at a pace suitable to their schedule, lifestyle and learning needs." (credit:Getty Images)

Kevin Johnson(10 of14)

Before he became the mayor of Sacramento, Calif., this former NBA star founded a charter school network called the St. HOPE Public Schools, which has a center for early childhood education, an elementary school, a middle school and a high school. Johnson is also married to education reform powerhouse Michelle Rhee. (credit:AP)

Tony Bennett(11 of14)

Legendary singer Tony Bennett and his wife, Susan Benedetto, founded the Frank Sinatra School of the Arts in 1999. The performing arts school is one of New York City's few audition-only schools. It's currently located near Bennett's childhood home in Astoria, Queens.

"We're the opposite of instant fame," Bennett said of the school, according to USA Today. "We want to teach the students quality and to do things that will last forever." (credit:Getty Images)

Serena Williams(12 of14)

In 2008, tennis superstar Serena Williams opened up The Serena Williams Secondary School in Kenya with funds from the Serena Williams Foundation. As explained on the Serena Williams Foundation website, in Kenya, kids have to pay $1 a week to attend school, a sum that is unaffordable for some families. The Serena Williams Secondary School allows kids to attend school for free. Several years later, the athlete opened another school, the Wee Secondary School. (credit:Getty Images)

Petra Nemcova(13 of14)

In 2011, Czech model Petra Nemcova opened a school in earthquake-ravaged Haiti with funds from her Happy Hearts Fund. She built the school after going through the Thailand tsunami of 2004 that took the life of her then-fiance. Nemcova, who only survived the tsunami after clinging to a tree for eight hours, said that during that time, she heard the voices of suffering children.

"I was not able to help those children," Nemcova told ABC News in 2011. "You heard them screaming for help and after some time you couldn't hear their voices anymore." (credit:Getty Images)

Madonna(14 of14)

In 2013, Madonna opened several community schools in Malawi. According to the Associated Press, her work there provided classrooms for thousands of students who were previously learning outdoors.

"I love Malawi, I am committed to help end poverty here," she said at the time, according to the outlet. (credit:AP)

Related

schools School Dress Code uk lifestyle uk lifestyle news uk family

Suggest a correction

|