School slammed as 'creepy' after demanding girls submit 'front and back’ prom dress photos

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By Nasima Khatun

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A school in Alabama has recently been slammed as "creepy" after they demanded that girls submit photos of the "front and back" of their prom dresses before attending the event.

Posting to their Facebook account, which has since been deactivated due to intense backlash from social media users, Oxford High School outlined protocols primarily aimed at female students about the dress code for their upcoming dance.

"Females," the post started. "Evening gowns and cocktail dresses - No transparent material, no slits more than six inches from the middle of the knee, no dress length can be shorter than six inches from the middle of the knee all the way around (both front and back from the middle of the knee), no revealing necklines (armpit line) or back lines."

The post continued outlining further restrictions for the girls, stating: "Dresses may be sleeveless or strapless provided all from armpit-line to mid-thigh are covered. No two-piece dresses with midriff showing will be allowed."

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Credit: Facebook / Oxford High School Yellow Jackets

While the requirements were pretty extensive, the last part of the post explaining that all dresses must be "approved" before the party is where things took a turn for the "creepy."

"All dresses must be approved by [redacted] prior to March 6 (No exceptions). Email pictures to [redacted] of YOU wearing your prom attire - Front and Back views," it clarified, before adding that if the dress "doesn't meet dress code standards, then you will not be permitted to attend prom."

"Make sure that pictures reflect the best possible views. If you do not get pre-approved, then you will not be allowed to attend prom."

For male students, however, the same details were not applied as the post stated that they just had to pick between a "Tuxedo or suits only - No jeans, t-shirts, tennis shoes, caps, or oversized clothing. Top hats and canes will be allowed provided they are used properly."

Comparing the two paragraphs aimed at female students against the one sentence that outlined the rules for male students was clearly frustrating for both students and parents alike.

When a screenshot of the post was reposted to Facebook by Laura Fowler alongside a caption that read: "Oxford High School Yellow Jackets DO BETTER!! This is NOT okay!!", comments criticizing the establishment poured in.

"The females having literally two paragraphs and needing approval, while the males have literally one bullet point simply telling them they just have to look nice... and somehow I'm not even surprised," wrote one user while another added that "expecting girls to email pics of themselves wearing the dresses for pre-approval is creepy."

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Credit: Facebook
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Credit: Facebook
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Credit: Facebook
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Credit: Facebook

Upon receiving intense backlash, the school ended up releasing a follow-up statement regarding the issue.

The school apologized for how the post was perceived, explaining, via the New York Post, that the intention was simply to make students aware of expectations regarding dress code.

Ashley Stilwell, Oxford City Schools’ Public Information Officer, also addressed the issue, saying via the same outlet that the post from the school regarding prom dress code had not even been approved and that the school's actual prom guidelines were now available.

Featured Image Credit: Hero Images Inc. / Alamy

School slammed as 'creepy' after demanding girls submit 'front and back’ prom dress photos

vt-author-image

By Nasima Khatun

Article saved!Article saved!

A school in Alabama has recently been slammed as "creepy" after they demanded that girls submit photos of the "front and back" of their prom dresses before attending the event.

Posting to their Facebook account, which has since been deactivated due to intense backlash from social media users, Oxford High School outlined protocols primarily aimed at female students about the dress code for their upcoming dance.

"Females," the post started. "Evening gowns and cocktail dresses - No transparent material, no slits more than six inches from the middle of the knee, no dress length can be shorter than six inches from the middle of the knee all the way around (both front and back from the middle of the knee), no revealing necklines (armpit line) or back lines."

The post continued outlining further restrictions for the girls, stating: "Dresses may be sleeveless or strapless provided all from armpit-line to mid-thigh are covered. No two-piece dresses with midriff showing will be allowed."

wp-image-1263192239 size-large
Credit: Facebook / Oxford High School Yellow Jackets

While the requirements were pretty extensive, the last part of the post explaining that all dresses must be "approved" before the party is where things took a turn for the "creepy."

"All dresses must be approved by [redacted] prior to March 6 (No exceptions). Email pictures to [redacted] of YOU wearing your prom attire - Front and Back views," it clarified, before adding that if the dress "doesn't meet dress code standards, then you will not be permitted to attend prom."

"Make sure that pictures reflect the best possible views. If you do not get pre-approved, then you will not be allowed to attend prom."

For male students, however, the same details were not applied as the post stated that they just had to pick between a "Tuxedo or suits only - No jeans, t-shirts, tennis shoes, caps, or oversized clothing. Top hats and canes will be allowed provided they are used properly."

Comparing the two paragraphs aimed at female students against the one sentence that outlined the rules for male students was clearly frustrating for both students and parents alike.

When a screenshot of the post was reposted to Facebook by Laura Fowler alongside a caption that read: "Oxford High School Yellow Jackets DO BETTER!! This is NOT okay!!", comments criticizing the establishment poured in.

"The females having literally two paragraphs and needing approval, while the males have literally one bullet point simply telling them they just have to look nice... and somehow I'm not even surprised," wrote one user while another added that "expecting girls to email pics of themselves wearing the dresses for pre-approval is creepy."

wp-image-1263192246 size-large
Credit: Facebook
wp-image-1263192247 size-large
Credit: Facebook
wp-image-1263192248 size-large
Credit: Facebook
wp-image-1263192249 size-large
Credit: Facebook

Upon receiving intense backlash, the school ended up releasing a follow-up statement regarding the issue.

The school apologized for how the post was perceived, explaining, via the New York Post, that the intention was simply to make students aware of expectations regarding dress code.

Ashley Stilwell, Oxford City Schools’ Public Information Officer, also addressed the issue, saying via the same outlet that the post from the school regarding prom dress code had not even been approved and that the school's actual prom guidelines were now available.

Featured Image Credit: Hero Images Inc. / Alamy