After This Sexist High School Sent 20+ Girls Home For Dress Code Violation, Boys Had A Perfect Response
A bunch of male students have come up with a brilliant way to take a stand against what they consider to be sexist dress codes at their high school.
On their first day at San Benito High School in Hollister, California, around 20 girls were sent home for violating the school’s dress code policy, which apparently prohibits off-the-shoulder tops. School administrators had never enforced this rule before, and students had even been allowed to pose for their senior year book pictures wearing shoulder-bearing clothes, so it seemed unfair to punish them for it, especially without warning. The school apparently told students that the dress code policy was to “keep kids safe,” but many students found the rule downright sexist.
Because of this, one group of guys decided to launch a protest by coming to school dressed in woman’s off-the-shoulder shirts, and although the result is admittedly amusing, the stunt has helped to generate a positive dialogue about dress codes with Adrian Ramirez, school principal at San Benito.
“It’s been a really good process for me as principal to sit down and hear where issues arose,” Ramirez told Yahoo. He also released a statement on the school’s Facebook page stating that “our next steps will include organizing a committee of students to continue dialogue regarding the dress code.”
Whatever the outcome, we’re glad to see male students standing up for women’s rights at school. (h/t)
Is there anything wrong with this picture? San Benito High School in Hollister, California thought so
A number of girls were sent home on their first day of school for violating the dress code
In response, guys from the school decided to protest in a brilliant way
Believing the dress code to be sexist, they decided to come to school in off-the-shoulder tops
The effect was amusing but the message was powerful
Especially as the school had previously allowed girls to wear off-the-shoulder tops for their senior year book
Since they wanna dress code all girls for showing too much shoulder, EXPLAIN THIS pic.twitter.com/HubvYN3dtC
— Michael Gutierrez (@helloitsmikey_) August 15, 2017
Whatever the outcome, we’re glad to see male students standing up for women’s rights at school
Some people supported the protest
Other people sided with the school
What do you think?
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I'm really wondering what is provocative about a SHOULDER? Seriously? We never had dress codes in my school in Germany and we never had any issues either. You could come to school in your bikini / swimshorts if you felt like it (and if you could stand the other students talking about it)
John L, you're absolutely right "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" The prevention in this case is teaching boys/men to respect Women, much like my parents taught me when I was 5.
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Does anyone in other countries have these dress code problems because I have never heard about this happening anywhere else than in America?
We had an unwritten dresscode at school (Im from the 2nd largest city in Poland and finished school a decade ago). You couldn't wear too short shorts/mini skirts (specifially the ones showing your buttocks), and your underwear should not be visible (be it bra or men underwear). And no pants for guys that had the crotch at knee-level. Also girls had to wear tops/shirts/blouses not bikinis - meaning short tops showing stomachs were also a no-no. Noone complained as noone wanted to see others bottoms, buttocks or underwear in general. And no girls wanted to come to school half nude :P
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Next thing u know they will make girls cover their ankles , its all downhill from there.
So glad and So proud that people are standing together against sexism! I can agree with dress codes to some extent- but shoulders? really? REALLY??
Ben Smith- Allow me to help you out there- SEXISM is discrimination or stereotyping based on gender. In THIS example we see Women (but not men) DISCRIMINATED against by not being able to wear the SAME item as the boys- because they were WOMEN (ie based on their GENDER), It is also sexist as they are STEREOTYPING BOYS (ie based on their GENDER) as unable to control themselves- when clearly as we see from their protest it is not them who has a problem with what the girls wear rather it is the staff. Does that help you out there Ben?
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I swear it's gotten more restrictive as time has gone on. Back in the 70's/early 80's shorts, tank tops, tube tops were all fine.
Protect girls from what? Presumably teenage boys who can't control themselves and will assault a girl who shows her shoulders? What does this say about their opinion of the students they teach? Next up - girls must cover their knees, then their ankles for "protection". It's a slippery slope I don't want to be on.
I was shocked to see my old high school on here! Class of '99. I think dress code is good for certain things but I'm so tired of girls being treated like pieces of meat and that it is THEIR fault because of what they chose to wear. There is Nothing wrong with showing shoulders. Boys take their shirts off in PE. Girls were swim suits in gym class. Yet they can't wear off the shoulder tops? Makes no sense. They protested tastefully, not making a huge scene. Good for you. Go haybalers!
I think it's shocking that the girls showed their shoulders. I mean, when you live in Saudi Arabia, you should be respectful of the misogynistic patriarchy. Just think what would happen next. They'd be showing their ankles and there would be carnage!
This is ridiculous. Males in the gym: Shirts and Skins, since the beginning of time. Females everywhere: Oppression because -- Men. Some aboriginal cultures show men and women, both topless, thriving in their communities. I'm really getting tired of hearing how women are supposed to bow to the whims of men and women who believe men have no responsibility, no control, no ownership of how they interact with women in certain circumstances. There is no reason for women to be a victim of other people's so called "weaknesses". It's absurd. It's systematic shaming of over 1/2 of the population. We're better than that.
Gotta nip that s**t in the bud - next girls will be revealing bare ankles. Meanwhile, bullying is running rampant. This world is so f*****g stupid.
The real issue here is, men showing their shoulders is just... men showing their shoulders. A woman doing the same thing is considered provocative. It's all about the age-old issue of men being 'led astray' or 'distracted' by the sight of a bit of female skin. The high school in question might as well ask girls to cover up their hair; clearly they're still stuck in the dark ages
In my country, all students wear uniforms. School is not a fashion parade or a sexual hunting ground.
oh no you cant tell that to an American, they are afraid their individualism might leak out and never come back if someone wears the same clothes as someone else
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The public school system where I live does not have a "dress code". Instead, it has "Standard School Attire". The SSA is a list of clothing that is appropriate for the learning environment. The message is that "this is the proper way to dress for school." The option of "freedom of expression" is not available in the school environment, and a whole lot of subjective judgments have been avoided. Likewise, clever protests have also been avoided. Another advantage is the leveling of the playing field, as the less affluent parents can afford the same outfits as the "rich" parents, and SSA clothing exchanges are the norm. The exchanges allow for parents to trade the outfits their children have outgrown for better fitting attire. I will point out that many of the students will grow into adults that spend quite a bit of time in environments with certain expectations of dress, if not a uniform.
Well, it's only sexist if the boys were not sent home for wearing off-the-shoulder tops. Jk... It's only sexist if the boys have no rules on what they wear, because I can think of some comfy clothes I'd wear to school that could be considered "inappropriate". But does OP even know what "sexist" means? Sure, it's a stupid rule and even more stupider when this was enforced randomly in this case. But it's not sexism.
Why not just have uniforms? Problem solved. No more appearance-shaming based on clothes as well
because Americans MUST express their individualism
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These are the kind of guys who are my closest friends. If we find something wrong we f*caking fix it. ( i am a girl btw )
Those young boys are heroes for those girls and the whole. And how can they even send girls home for wearing shoulder less tops? They should go to each girl's house and say sorry to them. The boys are very respectful towards those girls, GOOD JOB BOYS!!!!!!
Okay, now I'm wondering what part of a shoulder is explicit. Seriously people, it's not like their breasts are hanging out of the shoulder holes! This is honestly all ludicrous. I just wish people would know that not every part of a woman is sexual and explicit. People see us as objects rather than living beings. People think we're just things to stare at and admire. Really, we're nothing different from anyone else. We're men, but with different body parts and preferences. What's so hard to grasp, people? Society honestly saddens me in immense ways.
Want to avoid the dress code drama? Implement uniforms. It's also less expensive.
pfft if they want to go old school they should really ban showing ankle again that was one hell of a shocker once upon a time o the scandle!
Here is South Africa, most public and private school requires uniform. The only dress-code issues are the lenghts of the girls' dresses and if the boys wear their collars neatly. Although I believe uniforms prevent kids form expressing themselves, it causes less drama in school and focus can be kept on school work. Kids can express themselves after school and on weekends. As for the article, It's ridiculous to let them pose in off the shoulder tops and then ban it the next year. Shoulders and are shoulders. I guess spaghetti straps and tank tops are also not allowed?
I went to school in various places all over Mexico and in did some high school in Texas (USA). In Mexico I attended both public and private schools, and either way we had uniforms, one had to have polished black shoes, ironed shirt and pants, belt no mustache or beard and a boring hair style, in a way it pushed for elitism and rivalry, when you rode the bus home you knew some kid was from a rich school or a rival school, but it also created some unity between class mates wearing the same colors and symbols. the slutty girls always found a way to make their skirts shorter or show some midrift as soon as they walked out of school, or you could carry a change of clothes if you were heading to the bar (or wherever you went) when skipping, in America funny enough no uniforms but lots of rules on what one could wear or not, it mostly depends on the district's school boards (which are usually parents) judgement
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What's with the year book with everybody dressed the same? Is that normal? Do they have to bring an outfit, or do they all get given the same one when they turn up to the photographer?
I got dress coded on my second last day of sixth grade for wearing shorts that didn’t reach to my fingertips. I. HAVE. LONG. ARMS. My mom, who works nights and needed to just go back to sleep, had to come TO MY SCHOOL and bring me a skirt to wear over it. Oh yeah, and did I mention my school was about half an hour away from our house. I had to sit in ISS for two whole hours. This happened in sixth grade. SIXTH grade, ffs!
Lmao the girl talking about showing shoulders being "provocative" has half her body (shoulders up) in her profile pic...Still don't understand what's so sexy about shoulders
Is it just me or do some of those guys pull that look off better than the girls?? And the whole point of people dressing a certain way is because they wanna express themselves.
Of course the boys responded, of course they want to see more bare shoulders!
I mean school is for study but these shouders showing is a part of normal dressing nowadays and have nothing to do with rebel or anything like that. Time changes you know. What was suitable in the past maybe doesnt fit anymore today.
My school dress code requires that shoulder straps be at least one inch wide and I always found it ridiculous. I mean, how many guys get turned on by a girls shoulder?
silly shoulders. I guess hey can cause people to go crazy. When I grew up we couldn't wear long pants to school. I worked at a Charter School and thought that finally I could do a weird color in my hair and I was told that I couldn't, but I have heard that the same school now allows different colored hair. Things are always changing.
Ooh wouldn't want people to get too excited over shoulders now would we? I mean, come on. Lot's of girls wear booty shorts but showing shoulders is distracting? Lol
At my school if you are wearing leggings you have to wear a long shirt " so the boys won't wait behind to stare at your butts"-Mrs.Saraceni
Leggings are not pants. They go UNDER other clothing. How do people not know this?
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Once again guys crossing the limit for girls they care and feminists will be like "how could they wear that top its so out of fashion? all men are dogs." Behind every girl who is free out there, "there is a loving father, annoying brother, caring boyfriend", but who cares.
Not sure why any sane, straight man would object to women walking around with nothing on.
I have two sides about this... One: Not wearing shoulder less shirts could prevent sunburn...Two: Girls should wear what they want =P
I'm so glad to see these kinds of posts. c: Men get a lot of flak in general, so it's nice to see a post that both fights for women's rights and celebrates the actions of men. Thank you for these kinds of posts!
Dress codes are put in place for a reason. If off the shoulder tops are not allowed than the first time one is worn by anyone they need to change or pull their top over their shoulders. One of the reasons I support school uniforms, far too much attention on what kids are wearing than on learning and too much stress on those kids who cannot afford to wear the latest, greatest brands.
It's not fashion school if we were all blind it no one will be worried about dress code. At least it's not showing of any rude parts.
If people think that bit of shoulder is provocative they have issues. We're not talking about mini skirts that are showing somebody's behind, or a very low-cut top that showing off all the cleavage, we are talking about shoulders. We are not the Puritans.
Sometimes you will read about girls getting shot on their way to school, or schools being burnt down, and other truly disturbing stories about how some children are finding it very difficult to get an education. And then sometimes you read something like this.
The fact that there are heavy problems with schooling elsewhere should not diminish the fact that, in a country that prides itself on its being oh so very advanced, girls are still not allowed to stay at school because they /might/ provoke boys. They are not dying or being denied an education, maybe, but that still doesn't make the fact that they can't attend their lessons because their education is apparently less important than the boys' inability to control themselves ok. It's not ok. None of it is.
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The problem I have with Dress Codes is the way they are worded. For example my school didn't allow "Thongs" now what do you think when you first read that? Most would say the undergarment, but in this case they are talking about Flip-Flops. With how loosely the Dress Codes are worded, I don't blame these girls for assuming that these off the shoulder blouses are okay. I would have assumed the same thing because at the end of the day it's just a shoulder and I don't see any bra straps.
When the rules are sexist, as in the rules for these women have been implemented because they don't want the boys distracted by The girls bodies, cuz we all know shoulders or the sexiest part of a girl, then it is hard to follow the rules. Because the rules are wrong. And yes a workplace can set a dress code, but here's the thing, you choose to work there. Kids don't choose to go to school.
Load More Replies... Women want the right to wear what they want in class. We don't want to cover up because men can't control themselves. Afawc, boys can wear the same cute stuff. Not our fault men are too embarrassed to express themselves freely.
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I'm really wondering what is provocative about a SHOULDER? Seriously? We never had dress codes in my school in Germany and we never had any issues either. You could come to school in your bikini / swimshorts if you felt like it (and if you could stand the other students talking about it)
John L, you're absolutely right "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" The prevention in this case is teaching boys/men to respect Women, much like my parents taught me when I was 5.
Load More Replies... Does anyone in other countries have these dress code problems because I have never heard about this happening anywhere else than in America?
We had an unwritten dresscode at school (Im from the 2nd largest city in Poland and finished school a decade ago). You couldn't wear too short shorts/mini skirts (specifially the ones showing your buttocks), and your underwear should not be visible (be it bra or men underwear). And no pants for guys that had the crotch at knee-level. Also girls had to wear tops/shirts/blouses not bikinis - meaning short tops showing stomachs were also a no-no. Noone complained as noone wanted to see others bottoms, buttocks or underwear in general. And no girls wanted to come to school half nude :P
Load More Replies... Next thing u know they will make girls cover their ankles , its all downhill from there.
So glad and So proud that people are standing together against sexism! I can agree with dress codes to some extent- but shoulders? really? REALLY??
Ben Smith- Allow me to help you out there- SEXISM is discrimination or stereotyping based on gender. In THIS example we see Women (but not men) DISCRIMINATED against by not being able to wear the SAME item as the boys- because they were WOMEN (ie based on their GENDER), It is also sexist as they are STEREOTYPING BOYS (ie based on their GENDER) as unable to control themselves- when clearly as we see from their protest it is not them who has a problem with what the girls wear rather it is the staff. Does that help you out there Ben?
Load More Replies... I swear it's gotten more restrictive as time has gone on. Back in the 70's/early 80's shorts, tank tops, tube tops were all fine.
Protect girls from what? Presumably teenage boys who can't control themselves and will assault a girl who shows her shoulders? What does this say about their opinion of the students they teach? Next up - girls must cover their knees, then their ankles for "protection". It's a slippery slope I don't want to be on.
I was shocked to see my old high school on here! Class of '99. I think dress code is good for certain things but I'm so tired of girls being treated like pieces of meat and that it is THEIR fault because of what they chose to wear. There is Nothing wrong with showing shoulders. Boys take their shirts off in PE. Girls were swim suits in gym class. Yet they can't wear off the shoulder tops? Makes no sense. They protested tastefully, not making a huge scene. Good for you. Go haybalers!
I think it's shocking that the girls showed their shoulders. I mean, when you live in Saudi Arabia, you should be respectful of the misogynistic patriarchy. Just think what would happen next. They'd be showing their ankles and there would be carnage!
This is ridiculous. Males in the gym: Shirts and Skins, since the beginning of time. Females everywhere: Oppression because -- Men. Some aboriginal cultures show men and women, both topless, thriving in their communities. I'm really getting tired of hearing how women are supposed to bow to the whims of men and women who believe men have no responsibility, no control, no ownership of how they interact with women in certain circumstances. There is no reason for women to be a victim of other people's so called "weaknesses". It's absurd. It's systematic shaming of over 1/2 of the population. We're better than that.
Gotta nip that s**t in the bud - next girls will be revealing bare ankles. Meanwhile, bullying is running rampant. This world is so f*****g stupid.
The real issue here is, men showing their shoulders is just... men showing their shoulders. A woman doing the same thing is considered provocative. It's all about the age-old issue of men being 'led astray' or 'distracted' by the sight of a bit of female skin. The high school in question might as well ask girls to cover up their hair; clearly they're still stuck in the dark ages
In my country, all students wear uniforms. School is not a fashion parade or a sexual hunting ground.
oh no you cant tell that to an American, they are afraid their individualism might leak out and never come back if someone wears the same clothes as someone else
Load More Replies... The public school system where I live does not have a "dress code". Instead, it has "Standard School Attire". The SSA is a list of clothing that is appropriate for the learning environment. The message is that "this is the proper way to dress for school." The option of "freedom of expression" is not available in the school environment, and a whole lot of subjective judgments have been avoided. Likewise, clever protests have also been avoided. Another advantage is the leveling of the playing field, as the less affluent parents can afford the same outfits as the "rich" parents, and SSA clothing exchanges are the norm. The exchanges allow for parents to trade the outfits their children have outgrown for better fitting attire. I will point out that many of the students will grow into adults that spend quite a bit of time in environments with certain expectations of dress, if not a uniform.
Well, it's only sexist if the boys were not sent home for wearing off-the-shoulder tops. Jk... It's only sexist if the boys have no rules on what they wear, because I can think of some comfy clothes I'd wear to school that could be considered "inappropriate". But does OP even know what "sexist" means? Sure, it's a stupid rule and even more stupider when this was enforced randomly in this case. But it's not sexism.
Why not just have uniforms? Problem solved. No more appearance-shaming based on clothes as well
because Americans MUST express their individualism
Load More Replies... These are the kind of guys who are my closest friends. If we find something wrong we f*caking fix it. ( i am a girl btw )
Those young boys are heroes for those girls and the whole. And how can they even send girls home for wearing shoulder less tops? They should go to each girl's house and say sorry to them. The boys are very respectful towards those girls, GOOD JOB BOYS!!!!!!
Okay, now I'm wondering what part of a shoulder is explicit. Seriously people, it's not like their breasts are hanging out of the shoulder holes! This is honestly all ludicrous. I just wish people would know that not every part of a woman is sexual and explicit. People see us as objects rather than living beings. People think we're just things to stare at and admire. Really, we're nothing different from anyone else. We're men, but with different body parts and preferences. What's so hard to grasp, people? Society honestly saddens me in immense ways.
Want to avoid the dress code drama? Implement uniforms. It's also less expensive.
pfft if they want to go old school they should really ban showing ankle again that was one hell of a shocker once upon a time o the scandle!
Here is South Africa, most public and private school requires uniform. The only dress-code issues are the lenghts of the girls' dresses and if the boys wear their collars neatly. Although I believe uniforms prevent kids form expressing themselves, it causes less drama in school and focus can be kept on school work. Kids can express themselves after school and on weekends. As for the article, It's ridiculous to let them pose in off the shoulder tops and then ban it the next year. Shoulders and are shoulders. I guess spaghetti straps and tank tops are also not allowed?
I went to school in various places all over Mexico and in did some high school in Texas (USA). In Mexico I attended both public and private schools, and either way we had uniforms, one had to have polished black shoes, ironed shirt and pants, belt no mustache or beard and a boring hair style, in a way it pushed for elitism and rivalry, when you rode the bus home you knew some kid was from a rich school or a rival school, but it also created some unity between class mates wearing the same colors and symbols. the slutty girls always found a way to make their skirts shorter or show some midrift as soon as they walked out of school, or you could carry a change of clothes if you were heading to the bar (or wherever you went) when skipping, in America funny enough no uniforms but lots of rules on what one could wear or not, it mostly depends on the district's school boards (which are usually parents) judgement
Load More Replies... What's with the year book with everybody dressed the same? Is that normal? Do they have to bring an outfit, or do they all get given the same one when they turn up to the photographer?
I got dress coded on my second last day of sixth grade for wearing shorts that didn’t reach to my fingertips. I. HAVE. LONG. ARMS. My mom, who works nights and needed to just go back to sleep, had to come TO MY SCHOOL and bring me a skirt to wear over it. Oh yeah, and did I mention my school was about half an hour away from our house. I had to sit in ISS for two whole hours. This happened in sixth grade. SIXTH grade, ffs!
Lmao the girl talking about showing shoulders being "provocative" has half her body (shoulders up) in her profile pic...Still don't understand what's so sexy about shoulders
Is it just me or do some of those guys pull that look off better than the girls?? And the whole point of people dressing a certain way is because they wanna express themselves.
Of course the boys responded, of course they want to see more bare shoulders!
I mean school is for study but these shouders showing is a part of normal dressing nowadays and have nothing to do with rebel or anything like that. Time changes you know. What was suitable in the past maybe doesnt fit anymore today.
My school dress code requires that shoulder straps be at least one inch wide and I always found it ridiculous. I mean, how many guys get turned on by a girls shoulder?
silly shoulders. I guess hey can cause people to go crazy. When I grew up we couldn't wear long pants to school. I worked at a Charter School and thought that finally I could do a weird color in my hair and I was told that I couldn't, but I have heard that the same school now allows different colored hair. Things are always changing.
Ooh wouldn't want people to get too excited over shoulders now would we? I mean, come on. Lot's of girls wear booty shorts but showing shoulders is distracting? Lol
At my school if you are wearing leggings you have to wear a long shirt " so the boys won't wait behind to stare at your butts"-Mrs.Saraceni
Leggings are not pants. They go UNDER other clothing. How do people not know this?
Load More Replies... Once again guys crossing the limit for girls they care and feminists will be like "how could they wear that top its so out of fashion? all men are dogs." Behind every girl who is free out there, "there is a loving father, annoying brother, caring boyfriend", but who cares.
Not sure why any sane, straight man would object to women walking around with nothing on.
I have two sides about this... One: Not wearing shoulder less shirts could prevent sunburn...Two: Girls should wear what they want =P
I'm so glad to see these kinds of posts. c: Men get a lot of flak in general, so it's nice to see a post that both fights for women's rights and celebrates the actions of men. Thank you for these kinds of posts!
Dress codes are put in place for a reason. If off the shoulder tops are not allowed than the first time one is worn by anyone they need to change or pull their top over their shoulders. One of the reasons I support school uniforms, far too much attention on what kids are wearing than on learning and too much stress on those kids who cannot afford to wear the latest, greatest brands.
It's not fashion school if we were all blind it no one will be worried about dress code. At least it's not showing of any rude parts.
If people think that bit of shoulder is provocative they have issues. We're not talking about mini skirts that are showing somebody's behind, or a very low-cut top that showing off all the cleavage, we are talking about shoulders. We are not the Puritans.
Sometimes you will read about girls getting shot on their way to school, or schools being burnt down, and other truly disturbing stories about how some children are finding it very difficult to get an education. And then sometimes you read something like this.
The fact that there are heavy problems with schooling elsewhere should not diminish the fact that, in a country that prides itself on its being oh so very advanced, girls are still not allowed to stay at school because they /might/ provoke boys. They are not dying or being denied an education, maybe, but that still doesn't make the fact that they can't attend their lessons because their education is apparently less important than the boys' inability to control themselves ok. It's not ok. None of it is.
Load More Replies... The problem I have with Dress Codes is the way they are worded. For example my school didn't allow "Thongs" now what do you think when you first read that? Most would say the undergarment, but in this case they are talking about Flip-Flops. With how loosely the Dress Codes are worded, I don't blame these girls for assuming that these off the shoulder blouses are okay. I would have assumed the same thing because at the end of the day it's just a shoulder and I don't see any bra straps.
When the rules are sexist, as in the rules for these women have been implemented because they don't want the boys distracted by The girls bodies, cuz we all know shoulders or the sexiest part of a girl, then it is hard to follow the rules. Because the rules are wrong. And yes a workplace can set a dress code, but here's the thing, you choose to work there. Kids don't choose to go to school.
Load More Replies... Women want the right to wear what they want in class. We don't want to cover up because men can't control themselves. Afawc, boys can wear the same cute stuff. Not our fault men are too embarrassed to express themselves freely.
Load More Replies... 
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