Tony was surprised when he got an unusual call from his daughter’s school. He answered the call and could not believe what he was hearing. He can’t just let things like these slide. He was determined to do something about it.
A Normal Day
This was just another typical warm summer day when Tony Alarcon brought his daughter, Demetra, to class. It was 90 degrees out so she made sure she was wearing clothes that matched the hot weather they were going through.
A Normal Day
No School Uniform
Demetra’s school was Raymond J. Fisher’s middle school. There was no formal requirement for a school uniform, which meant that students could wear anything they wanted to go to school. There were, however, a few simple guidelines on what they could and could not wear at class.
No School Uniform
Protective Dad
Demetra’s dad, Tony Alarcon, is a wealthy real estate agent and investment banker, so he’s used to advocating for what’s right. He does not allow discrimination to occur because he can motivate and tackle it head-on, particularly when speaking up for his daughter.
Protective Dad
Embarrassed
Demetra was called out in school that day. She’s been so humiliated. Though she wasn’t even the first girl to be penalized in front of the entire class, she still found it humiliating all the same. She didn’t know what the noise was all about. She couldn’t understand that.
Embarrassed
Inappropriate Outfit
She had no idea that wearing the blue romper would get her into school trouble. As far as Demetra was aware, nothing was wrong with her dress. Not to add, that morning, her dad dropped her off, and he didn’t think much about it either.
Inappropriate Outfit
A Huge Clash
On a blazing hot day in California, all Demetra ever did was pick a stylish outfit to wear to school that would keep her comfortable. She did not expect the outcome of her decision to be such a big clash between her father and her school.
A Huge Clash
Such A Fuss
Demetra’s choice of attire became the focus of discussion overnight. Even the press got interested soon enough and published a headline story. However, one question remains, how were Demetra’s clothes different from the clothes worn by other girls her age?
Such A Fuss
Unforeseen Outcome
She didn’t realize that her attire would have yet another impact. And it was much worse than she had expected. On a swelting warm day in Los Gatos, who could condemn her for wearing a cozy romper?
Unforeseen Outcome
Unnecessary Humiliation
That warm day turned out to be far from what Demetra would have predicted. The teacher chose to single her out in front of the entire class during her first class of the day. He was the one to point out that the romper she was wearing is considered improper in their school.
Unnecessary Humiliation
Principal Gets Involved
The instructor then decided Demetra deserved to go to the office of the principal. The principal called her father after seeing Demetra and clarified that there was a situation involving his daughter. The principal didn’t know it was a call which he would remember forever.
Principal Gets Involved
A Choice To Be Made
Tony was informed by the principal how Demetra’s attire was unsuitable for school. He told him he had a decision he had to make. Tony should either bring a change of clothes for her or immediately pick her up from school. Tony was surprised to have got this call.
A Choice To Be Made
Playing Along
Tony opted to go through with this and decided to bring a set of clothes for Demetra. He searched through her wardrobes and spotted an outfit that he thought would be suitable. He picked a pair of denim shorts and a simple tank top.
Playing Along
The Battle Is On
Once she moved to a new outfit, Demetra headed up to the office. There, both her dad and the principal were waiting for her. The administrator instantly said the new outfit was indeed unacceptable. Tony was getting mad by this point.
The Battle Is On
The Problem
Tony was upset about the whole scenario. He asked the principal of the school to define precisely what the issue was with the new outfit. He made Demetra also bend down and show her shorts adequately protected her. He wanted to get to the bottom of this.
The Problem
Protecting His Daughter
Tony knew there was more to this issue than what the school principal was telling him. Until they told him the truth and explained why Demetra was picked out, he refused to quit. Tony had his doubts, but he had no desire to trust them.
Protecting His Daughter
He Wasn’t Satisfied
The reason that Tony received was that the infringement of the dress code was more about technical length than discretion. The manager said the ‘fingertip inspection’ was not passed by the romper and denim shorts Demetras wore. Tony had a suspicion, though, that this wasn’t the real explanation.
He Wasn’t Satisfied
Even Angrier
Tony was getting angrier and angrier after hearing about the ‘fingertip test.’ He saw her other classmates wearing identical clothes in Demetra’s class when he dropped her off at school that very morning. Why was she the only one who would be singled out?
Even Angrier
The Fingertip Test
The pupil needs to stand up straight and put her arms on her sides for the ‘fingertip test.’ They are just too short if her pants are above her wrists. Demetra accomplished this, and hers was just above her fingertips. Tony wouldn’t have stood up for this.
The Fingertip Test
The Truth
The principal finally said that Demetra was called out because of the boys in her school. Tony wanted to process what was told by the principal, so he asked her to repeat himself. He was unable to believe what he was seeing.
The Truth
Regret
Immediately, the administrator regretted stating what he did. Tony was finally aware of the facts, and he wasn’t going to take it lightly. The issue was not Demetra’s clothes. It was that she was seen in her classroom as a temptation to the students.
Regret
Using Resources
Tony knew he couldn’t let the issue pass, witnessing his daughter so distressed with teary eyes. It was really inappropriate what the administrator was doing about his daughter. To make this right, Tony needed to make use of his wealth.
Using Resources
Last Choice
Then the administrator gave them one more decision to make. Either Demetra had leggings covering her thighs, or she wouldn’t be able to go back to class. This decision was unjust, and Tony was about to demonstrate to them precisely what he was thinking about it.
Last Choice
Unfair Discrimination
Demetra then found out that it was just the girls and not the boys that enforced the school dress code. She said that this was discrimination. There was a law of no-hats-in-class, but all the time, the boys wore hats in class, but nothing was ever done about it.
Unfair Discrimination
Many Others
Tony tried to remain calm, but he was starting to have a difficult time doing so. He said that he had seen several other students who didn’t comply with the rules in the parking garage. Then how come the girls were the only ones who were picked on?
Many Others
Unrealistic Rules
On such a hot day, it was unfair for the school to ask girls to wear leggings. Their laws could have been more welcoming. In the summer sun, shorter and lighter clothing helps students feel more relaxed. But Demetra had to suffer because of the boys.
Unrealistic Rules
Students Agreed
As an answer, Tony decided to ask Demetra’s friend what they thought of the dress code rules. They all said that they felt it was unfair, and the system was faulty when he talked to them. In the summer, the girls were made to be unhappy because the boys couldn’t regulate themselves.
Students Agreed
Involving The Media
Tony’s next course of action included the media. He was furious and wanted the community to understand how unreasonable the school’s dress code was and how his daughter was being embarrassed. On Today and other local news outlets, Tony made an appearance.
Involving The Media
Parents’ Decision
When the reporter asks Tony what he suggested as a workaround to the present problem of the uniform policy, he said it should just be the parents’ judgment. It was their obligation to determine whether or not the clothing their children were wearing was suitable.
Parents’ Decision
Proposal
As part of his suggestion, Tony recommended that specific improvements be made to the school’s uniform policy. One of them is the underwear can’t be revealed. He went on to say no midriffs and no spaghetti-strapped tops either. He was scratching the surface of a much greater worry, though.
Proposal
Bigger Issue
Although most individuals assisted Tony, not everyone did. The campaign exposed the problem of objectification of girls and body images. However, some individuals felt that if teenagers were able to dress what they chose, the school system would cause confusion.
Bigger Issue
The Accusations
In response to Tony’s accusations, the school said the uniform policy was only meant to establish guidelines. Among all their pupils, their goal was to have ‘fair decorum.’ It appears like this was not the first situation concerning the unjust laws of the school dress code, but we expect that eventually, justice will be done.
The Accusations
More Cases
Demetra isn’t the only girl who’s had any kind of school dress code event. Clare had a similar case when, because of her clothing and what it represented, the school mistakenly zeroed in on her. The seventeen-year-old was confident about her prom.
More Cases
The Perfect Dress
For their prom evening, Clare and her boyfriend were excited and even made sure to purchase the tickets ahead of time. The right dress she found for the day was silver and sparkly. The young couple was confident that nothing could spoil their night.
The Perfect Dress
The Dreaded Fingertip Test
She quickly fell in love with it when she saw the gown was under her budget. Nevertheless, the infamous fingertip test was to be passed first. Clare loosened her arms at her sides, anticipating that the dress would be long enough.
The Dreaded Fingertip Test
Prom Dress Code
The prom invitation expressly indicated that the dress code of skirts at fingertip length was semi-formal. Clare had just designed it, and she was confident it was the right outfit. She didn’t realize, though, how much trouble this single dress would cause.
Prom Dress Code
It Was Time
Prom night had now come. Clare was so enthusiastic about it but wanted one more chance to do the fingertip test just to be sure. This time, however, the dress almost fell short. She was dressed for the dance, and she had no clue what she was going to do.
It Was Time
Being Cautious
She put on some shoes before going out to try out the ensemble to make sure she was dressed according to the rules. Dangerously close to her fingertips was the hem of her coat. The dress could walk up to her legs if she were to dance.
Being Cautious
Confronted
She arrived at the nearby Methodist church where the prom was being held and was questioned at the door straight away. Given that she double-checked, she was called out by one of the organizers that her dress was too short. So, Clare was just wondering what the regulation was.
Confronted
Looks Can Be Deceiving
Ann Duncan, the organizer in question, replied that she wished to stick to the fingertip length law. Clare then clarified that her outfit fulfilled the guidelines, but she was tall with long legs made the dress look shorter than it is.
Looks Can Be Deceiving
Wouldn’t Budge
Ann argued, at the same time, that the dress was too tiny and that it did not conform with the dress code, but Clare wasn’t having it. Ann was informed that the dress had passed the fingertip test. Ann had no option, then, but to let her in.
Wouldn’t Budge
Inconsistent Rules
Clare just can not help but note as she stepped into the auditorium that there were lots of other girls wearing skirts smaller than hers. She just had to chuckle at the irony of the case. It was time for her to rejoice, but then she saw something unfolding over her head.
Inconsistent Rules
Inappropriate Staring
Compared to the years before, Clare and her friends found an unprecedented number of chaperones. Among them, dads were gawking from the balcony at the children. At the sight of dads staring, the girls started to feel very uneasy.
Inappropriate Staring
Uneasy Feeling
It is understandable because, as a result, the girls feel very insecure. The number of parents who were there to monitor their every movement for the next five hours frightened them somewhat. In essence, they were there to watch girls running around in tight skirts and heels.
Uneasy Feeling
Getting Called Again
She saw Ann storming toward her not too long after Clare got into the dance. She escorted Clare from the dancefloor and warned her that some of her father’s chaperones were complaining about her dancing too promiscuously. That would lead the boys to have adulterated thoughts, she said.
Getting Called Again
Unacceptable
By telling her that her outfit caused impure thoughts was like saying ‘she asked for it.’ This was utterly unacceptable. This was totally inappropriate. She wasn’t responsible for the male students and their fathers’ feelings and behavior at the prom. She was conscious that she wanted to fight back.
Unacceptable
Enough Is Enough
Clare told Mrs. Duncan that she wasn’t dancing either. On that claim, her peers were happy to back her up. She once again explained to Ann that her dress matched the specifications. Mrs. Duncan, however, was not listening to her. Clare’s boyfriend jumped in at the time.
Enough Is Enough
A United Front
Disgusted by the allegations against Clare, her brave boyfriend said that their whole party group would also leave if she were thrown out of the prom. And that all the tickets they bought should need to be refunded by the school.
A United Front
Not Enough
A reimbursement will not be enough to cover for the harm done that night, Clare realized. She was also not going to let go of this. Her boyfriend, James, asked the prom boss to talk. That’s why Mr. Duncan got irritated and called another support chaperone.
Not Enough
Escorted Out
For so long, Clare had imagined of this night, and all it took was an unfair chaperone to spoil it entirely. As if they were suspects, they were both escorted out of the prom. Clare had been heartbroken. She was kicked out for the sole reason that she stood out.
Escorted Out
Judged Wrongly
She was told that what she wore and how she moved her body led men to think about her inappropriate things. It meant that it was her duty to govern the feelings and urges of others. She knew she’d somehow get them back.
Judged Wrongly