I remember how excited my friends and I were when I first received the news about Oakland Tech's prom. As a young woman, it's something I had looked forward to for years, it’s a rite of passage, a night to feel special and express myself. However, I came across a disheartening hurdle: The prom dress code. It was vague, dated, and unfairly targeted towards women, dictating everything from dress length to style, stripping us of our individuality and comfort in our bodies.

The dress code points we are working to change in question:

• NO REVEALING CLOTHING MAY BE WORN
• NO CLOTHING CUT BELOW THE BREAST LINE DOWN TO THE NAVEL OR REVEALING  OR EXCESSIVE CLEAVAGE 
• NO BACKLESS APPAREL EXPOSING POSTERIORS OR BREAST
• NO SHORTS OR SKIRTS THAT EXPOSE POSTERIORS 
• NO SHORTS OR SKIRTS OR DRESSES THAT HAVE SLITS UP TO THE UPPER THIGH OR HIGHER
• NO SEE-THROUGH CLOTHING
• NO DISPLAYING OF UNDERGARMENTS OF ANY KIND 
• MODESTY AND "GOOD TASTE" ARE KEY
• STUDENTS IN VIOLATION WILL NOT BE ADMITTED

NOTE: THESE ARE 6 OUT OF 8 OF THE RULES LISTED ON THE RULES LIST

Meaning that 75% of the rules are targeted towards the female expression.

The vague, targeted language has put us into a difficult situation. what is "breast line"? Who body is considered to have "revealing or excessive cleavage"  Does showing your bra strap include "displaying of undergarments"?  The statement of "modesty and good taste" are also extremely ambiguous what happens when someone spends 300$ on a dress they feel confident in and are turned away on prom due to admin believing its in their opinion "modest" enough.

The issue is not just personal to me, it affects all the young women at our high school. The current dress code is an antiquated policy that insinuates what is and isn't appropriate for women, often imposing unrealistic standards. It comes to who's body is considered appropriate, it puts us as young women to be unconfident in our bodies. All bodies are beautiful and different,  These rules undermine the very spirit of freedom and expression that prom is supposed to encapsulate.

Statistics show that dress codes predominantly target female students, leading to a host of psychological effects, including anxiety and a diminished sense of self-worth. According to the ACLU  "83 percent of dress code violations issued against female students."

We propose a reevaluation of the school prom dress code policy to make it more inclusive and equitable to ALL. This new policy would focus on respect and decency that applies equally to all students, regardless of gender, allowing everyone to feel comfortable and celebrated in what they choose to wear.

Please join us in urging our school administration to change the prom dress code, ensuring a fair and joyous celebration for everyone. Sign this petition and let your voice be heard to bring about a necessary change. Together, we can make prom a night to remember for all the right reasons.