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Mom Invites Principal To Go Shopping After Her Daughter Violates School’s Ridiculous Dress Code

School dress codes have been igniting debates between parents, students, and staff for decades, but never more so than in recent years. When Dr. Catherine Pearlman’s daughter was reprimanded at her school for wearing shorts that ‘didn’t come all the way down to her fingertips,’ she decided to write the principal a scathing letter that is now going gloriously viral.

Pearlman, a social worker originally from Long Island, New York, initially published her letter on NBC News’ TODAY Parenting Team community blog, and has already received over 400 upvotes, as well as thousands of likes and shares from other websites. Her daughter, 13 years old, was subjected to a practice adopted by most public schools – banning shorts that aren’t longer than a girl’s fingers. Can we talk about how problematic this is for a second?

As if it isn’t bad enough that girls are more likely to be penalized by the dress code than boys every time, they’re often made to feel responsible for its existence. Baring their shoulders, legs, and midriffs is viewed as a sexual distraction and provocation to male students and teachers, which basically teaches girls that their bodies are inherently sexual objects that must be covered. This mom challenged the system head first, and we just wish we could see the principal’s reaction. Read the entire letter below, and weigh in with your opinion at the end!

This 13-year-old girl was dress-coded by her school for wearing shorts that didn’t come down past her fingertips

mom-letter-principal-dress-code-catherine-pearlman-12

Her mom, outraged, decided to pen a scathing open letter to the school principal over the incident

2 days in a row? Seriously? If you think this mama bear was done there, wait til you see what came next…

mom-letter-principal-dress-code-catherine-pearlman-1

She decided the best way to address the issue was to write a letter:

That’s right – this beautiful young girl’s body is not a sexual object, no matter what she’s wearing

mom-letter-principal-dress-code-catherine-pearlman-3

mom-letter-principal-dress-code-catherine-pearlman-5

The well-spoken mom received an outpouring of support from others also fed up with antiquated dress codes

mom-letter-principal-dress-code-catherine-pearlman-8

mom-letter-principal-dress-code-catherine-pearlman-9

mom-letter-principal-dress-code-catherine-pearlman-10

mom-letter-principal-dress-code-catherine-pearlman-11

What do you think? Have you or your child ever tangled with the infamous school dress code? Tell us below!

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Tiny Dynamine 7 years ago

First of all, she doesn't have exceptionally long arms. Most people's fingertips will come down to that point. However, it is a disgrace that in 2017, there are still archaic rules that degrade females and point the finger at them for reactions in males. I'm a man and I want men/ boys to be educated better about their self-imposed patriarchy.

113points

varwenea 7 years ago

I agree with Tiny Dynamine on both points. Re: body size, I'm a 5'1" female with proportionally smaller body shape, and my finger tips reach mid-thigh. I turn 50 this year, and I don't own a single pair of shorts that would meet this school's requirement! And it's b******t that it's the women's responsibility to cover up. Especially in this example, her daughter is sporty and those are simply the normal outfits for her. BS on top of BS!

48points

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Viktoria Vida 7 years ago

Although I agree with the second part, according to this finger top rule well I could wear shorts what bearly cover my butt. No, I'm not a midget :-) so I would say she has long arms / fingers.

5points

Sheralyn 7 years ago

Thank you Dynamine.

2points

Debs Bright 7 years ago

well I would have to wear shorts over 1/2 way down my thighs because that is where my fingers end so I would always be in trouble

2points

Katinka Min 7 years ago

The PS is what is really enraging me. How DARE a pe-teacher tell a girl not to wear yoga pants because boys 'can't control themselves'. There a lots of countries where boys are expected to get their raging hormones under control because they are humans, not monkeys. And, lo and behold, they actually manage - and with ever increasing time spans as they grow older. The stereotyping of girls is just as f*cked up in this story as the image of boys. The school is doing a great job raising insecure girls and the kind of boys who later claim raping a girl was ok because she was dressed so skimpily they had no choice, really.

92points

Cayman 7 years ago

I 100% agree. I'm a 7th grader, a strait A student in all honors, and I normally have a larger role in the School Musicals. The worst trouble I've gotten in all year was detention after getting ONE DRESS CODE. My bra strap fell loose and stuck out from under my T-shirt. That's right I was wearing pants and a t-shirt. The letter that was sent home to my parents said, "This option of dress is unacceptable, if your daughter gets dress coded two more times, she will get a week's suspension. Many middle school boys get easily distracted, and we need your daughter to cover up." PANTS AND A T-SHIRT.

1point

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Captain Planet 7 years ago

This is a prime example of how america is turning more and more prude and patronising everyday. It astonishes me how much the US worry so much about normal summer shorts/clothes that are too short. And meanwhile guns that can have a direct impact/risk and do so every couple of days are legal. (i.e. Toddler finds dads gun and shoots brother, all the school shootings, Yes so much safer with guns) I gues this is why the US deserves trump if you have your priorities to complain/protest is this r******d order.

56points

Kira Thesloth 7 years ago

This is not new at all. You just hear about it more because of social media. I had to meet the same dress code 20 yrs ago.

3points

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Justin Dodson 7 years ago

"This is a prime example of how america is turning more and more prude and patronising everyday. It astonishes me how much the US worry so much about normal summer shorts/clothes that are too short" WHAAAAATTTTTT????????? This has to be a joke? More and more prude? America?

1point

Full Name 7 years ago

Of course someone had to bring the POTUS into a discussion about a school dress code. I can't believe 48 other people have such a crush on Donald Trump that they think about him constantly. I can't imagine anything having less to do with a the president than a school dress code, especially since this type of nonsense definitely predates the latest guy in office. *palmface*

-1point

Brivid 7 years ago

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Tiny Dynamine 7 years ago

113points

varwenea 7 years ago

48points

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Viktoria Vida 7 years ago

Although I agree with the second part, according to this finger top rule well I could wear shorts what bearly cover my butt. No, I'm not a midget :-) so I would say she has long arms / fingers.

5points

Sheralyn 7 years ago

Thank you Dynamine.

2points

Debs Bright 7 years ago

well I would have to wear shorts over 1/2 way down my thighs because that is where my fingers end so I would always be in trouble

2points

Katinka Min 7 years ago

92points

Cayman 7 years ago

1point

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Captain Planet 7 years ago

56points

Kira Thesloth 7 years ago

This is not new at all. You just hear about it more because of social media. I had to meet the same dress code 20 yrs ago.

3points

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Justin Dodson 7 years ago

1point

Full Name 7 years ago

-1point

Brivid 7 years ago

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Related on Bored Panda

Mom Invites Principal To Go Shopping After Her Daughter Violates School’s Ridiculous Dress Code

This 13-year-old girl was dress-coded by her school for wearing shorts that didn’t come down past her fingertips

Her mom, outraged, decided to pen a scathing open letter to the school principal over the incident

2 days in a row? Seriously? If you think this mama bear was done there, wait til you see what came next…

She decided the best way to address the issue was to write a letter:

That’s right – this beautiful young girl’s body is not a sexual object, no matter what she’s wearing

The well-spoken mom received an outpouring of support from others also fed up with antiquated dress codes

What do you think? Have you or your child ever tangled with the infamous school dress code? Tell us below!

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