However, this time around it was not school punishment that was at issue, but what has been branded as the body-shaming of young female students.
Jennifer Smith has publicly blasted her daughter’s school, Rhoades Elementary in Indiana, over their dress code rules for a sixth grade pool party that her daughter was attending.
According to a note sent out to parents by school management, all of the young girls attending the party were ordered to wear a non-white T-shirt over their swimsuits. With no corresponding rule set out for the male pupils, mum Jennifer Smith accused the school of targeting young girls with a not-so-subtle brand of body-shaming.
Smith contacted the school’s management to question the move, and was informed that the rule was introduced due to the fact that, in the past, girls attending the party had worn “very inappropriate swimsuits”. They added that “covering up” would not only ‘take care’ of that issue, but it would also prevent the teasing of children who had already opted to wear T-shirts.
An outraged Jennifer has since gone public with her response, which read: “I am not sure if you are aware of the emotional hardship that is caused by telling young girls their bodies are inappropriate and must be covered.”
She added: “As you are aware, adolescence is a very confusing time and can also be detrimental to girls’ emotional wellbeing. Setting one standard for half of the student body only promotes the idea that girls’ bodies are naturally shameful, and helps to send a very damaging message of ‘you are reasonable for others’ thoughts, feelings and actions’.”
Smith’s proposal was to make each and every student wear a T-shirt, which as of today, the school have adopted. What are your thoughts?
