what schools DON'T have female MS grads in white dresses?

[Anonymous]

I don't see what the problem is. Why does everyone have to think they can do anything they want all the time without any consideration of others? This is a school. They can tell the kids what to do. And if the parents don't like it, well, guess what, you don't have to go to this particular school.

White dresses for girls' graduations has been common for centuries. My sister's private school did it in the 90s. My mother and grandmother also attended girls' schools and the graduation photos has them in white dresses. White dresses celebrating women's educational achievements goes way back into the early 19th century. Look up all the college and girls school graduation photos from the past. It's a nice tradition. And if you don't like it, find another school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I didn’t know the white dresses was a thing (not where I grew up and did Catholic K-8, public HS and big college state school), but I’ve seen a lot of it lately at all graduation levels. Maybe the tradition is actually making a comeback?

I don’t necessarily assume the negative. So it symbolizes purity, but did you not wear a white wedding dress? What did you think you were symbolizing with that? Women also wore white during the suffragist movement and now female leaders often wear it. It’s also just an easy color for cohesion.

Op here - I am from out west and similarly think that this is not as much of a thing in some parts of the country. It seems like it’s much more prevalent around here and in the northeast, both at super traditional prep schools and at Catholic and Episcopal schools. I think the people on here who are saying it is universal or from the south or northeast. But I also share your feeling that maybe becoming more prevalent. In any case, I really love recasting White as a suffrage thing, because you’re right a lot of female leaders do wear it now and they rock it.

I've been to 5 California graduations in the last 8 years and the girls wore white.

I graduated from a MS (back then called Jr High) in California in the 70’s and wore a white dress even back then. OP is delusional.

[Anonymous]

Didn't we discuss this already? I wore white to my MS and HS public school graduations in 1987 and 1991 on the West Coast. It's been a thing for decades.

[Anonymous]

LOL, I'm pp and didn't see the PP. Yes, from CA, so it was DEF a thing there.

[Anonymous]

i grew up around here and went to catholic school. many high schools have the girls wear white dresses. confirmation dresses used to be white, so when that was a thing, the confirmation dress and the graduation dress were the same. boys wore coat and tie. many boys schools wear tuxes for graduation. attaching ideas that this is archaic is weird to me. if you can't handle your kid dressing up for one ceremony, i think you have bigger problems.

[Anonymous]

If the regular short white dress triggers you OP, you better not look at the all girls' Catholic high school graduation photos on their websites. You might have a heart attack. I will add one school has a coming out ball where the girls dress like brides and wear long white gloves to be presented by their fathers. It doesn't bother me at all, but you might get a grip because this is what people accept/expect.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op here. Part of what I am reacting to in the Norwood photos is that there isn’t any deviation from “boys in blue jackets girls in white dresses” that I can see. If there was even one girl in a blue jacket or white pant suit I would find it so much less repelling.

I’m with you OP! Definitely use one day out of 3 years (or more) to make a decision about where your child will get the best education!

You lack imagination my friend. It is such a strong signal of the school ethos.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't see what the problem is. Why does everyone have to think they can do anything they want all the time without any consideration of others? This is a school. They can tell the kids what to do. And if the parents don't like it, well, guess what, you don't have to go to this particular school.

White dresses for girls' graduations has been common for centuries. My sister's private school did it in the 90s. My mother and grandmother also attended girls' schools and the graduation photos has them in white dresses. White dresses celebrating women's educational achievements goes way back into the early 19th century. Look up all the college and girls school graduation photos from the past. It's a nice tradition. And if you don't like it, find another school.

Completely agree with you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op here. Part of what I am reacting to in the Norwood photos is that there isn’t any deviation from “boys in blue jackets girls in white dresses” that I can see. If there was even one girl in a blue jacket or white pant suit I would find it so much less repelling.

Feels very rich whites / cottilion to me.

(I’m a white)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If the regular short white dress triggers you OP, you better not look at the all girls' Catholic high school graduation photos on their websites. You might have a heart attack. I will add one school has a coming out ball where the girls dress like brides and wear long white gloves to be presented by their fathers. It doesn't bother me at all, but you might get a grip because this is what people accept/expect.

What school is that? That is some great patriarchal b.s.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here is a thought. Find a place to send your child that works with your values. Traditions mean a great deal to some of us. The white dresses aren't hurting anyone. Why can't people chose if they want to be traditional or not?

The problem is that what some people call “traditions” are actually representing values that are harmful to others. Many white people don’t want to look into how a tradition was started.

There are phrases that I learned growing up that have racist origins. I wasn’t aware of that; when I became aware, I stopped using the phrases.

Maybe listen to people speaking to why it bothers them, rather than being dismissive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here is a thought. Find a place to send your child that works with your values. Traditions mean a great deal to some of us. The white dresses aren't hurting anyone. Why can't people chose if they want to be traditional or not?

The problem is that what some people call “traditions” are actually representing values that are harmful to others. Many white people don’t want to look into how a tradition was started.

There are phrases that I learned growing up that have racist origins. I wasn’t aware of that; when I became aware, I stopped using the phrases.

Maybe listen to people speaking to why it bothers them, rather than being dismissive.

So why do the white dresses bother you? I’m listening.

[Anonymous]

Lowell and Sheridan
They wear what they want

[Anonymous]

I went to schools in Maryland that did not have air conditioning.

White dresses are cooler and practical in the heat of the summer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If the regular short white dress triggers you OP, you better not look at the all girls' Catholic high school graduation photos on their websites. You might have a heart attack. I will add one school has a coming out ball where the girls dress like brides and wear long white gloves to be presented by their fathers. It doesn't bother me at all, but you might get a grip because this is what people accept/expect.

What school is that? That is some great patriarchal b.s.

StoneRidge