In a recently deleted column on the Huffington Post, University of Alabama alumnus Rebecca Walden wrote a letter to college students to “cover up” after attending the Alabama vs USC football game at the AT&T stadium in Arlington, Texas.
“Dear young ladies of the SEC, can you do us all a solid and start covering it up? I wondered if your mother knew what you were wearing…I wanted to tell you that if you’re doing this for a boy, he’s not the one for you. I wished you understood that a trend can be interpreted as fun and flirty without being tasteless. Most of all, I hoped you would soon wake up to embrace the ethos shared by higher learning institutions everywhere – class. That lucky shaker tucked into the back of your on-trend boot? The team logo you’re sporting on your cheek? The Greek letters sticker on your shirt declaring the sorority to which you belong and your loyalty to your team? All rendered classless by those ill covered curves you’ve made sure are on full display.” Rebecca Walden, Huffington Post
As a student at an SEC school where dressing up for game days is just as important as dressing up for church on Sunday mornings, here’s my view on it. We post pictures on our social media pages where our mothers are our number one supporters. They are quick to share and comment on the most recent photo added to our albums on Facebook.
Girls do not dress for boys' approval or attention, especially on game days. We’re not trying to catch their attention by the short dresses we wear. As women we know that dressing “tasteless” is not the way for a boy to become attracted to us. If you are distracted by what we wear on game days, then cheering on your team must not be important to you.
Growing up, we are constantly told that what we wear is distracting and to cover up. The trend of dressing up for game days has always been a fun tradition that girls look forward to being a part of.
The little red pom pom sticking out of our cowboy boots, a simple face tattoo on our right cheek, and our game day stickers are easy ways to show love and support for our team.
The curves that we so illy cover make up who we are as individuals. This article was very sexist and does not define a girl's individuality. As you body shame thousands of young women who are dressed this way on game day, we stand together and compliment one another on how we are dressed.
