One of the most highlighted moments of high school is dedicated to the experience of prom. This includes students matching themselves with dates and typically dressing to impress. Accessories for the occasion not only include the corsage for the lovely wrist of the young lady, the flower of the man's tux, and jewelry, but also the ability to arrive in a luxurious car. This is the one night that young ladies can feel like the princesses they are, and the one night young men can feel like the princes they are supposed to be. This tradition began in the early 1900s as a simple tea dance where high school seniors wore their Sunday best, according to the HistoryofWaterFilters.com. However, this whole idea has taken a toll as the world has continued to evolve fashionably and economically.
The biggest differences in prom today include the style and treatment of the occasion. The way young men and women choose to dress and are allowed to dress at this event vary and are typically based on the rules of the high school. Young men are now adding more flavor to their suites that include bright colors, actual designs/patterns, and even loafers (shoes) that make the entire suit a win-win. On the other hand, young women are now wearing dresses that are more extravagant with the additions of long trains, shiny beads/diamonds, or even more fit to expose the shape or midriff of their bodies.
The photos that follow display a comparison between prom of the 1900s to prom of today, and the difference is quite obvious.
Some view the change of style as a problem while others have decided to simply go with the flow of the new generation that lives more carelessly and daring when it comes to their fashion sense. The above dresses are a more pleasant view of the new 2016 style of prom that only exposes the mid-section of the girls' body. However, some have begun to be designed to show more which caters to the market of the United States surrounded by the hyper-sexualization of our young women through the media and advertisements.
Dresses are now exposing the breast area or even designed with mesh material (typically used to blend with skin) as displayed below. Administrators are allowing girls to arrive to prom in this style and parents are allowing themselves to purchase these garments for their daughters, which is not obviously a culture and social problem that needs to be addressed.
I've decided to challenge the prom dress designers and their future creations to one question: Why Are Prom Dresses Being Designed to Be So Exposing? They are not only catering to the sex market of our country, but also the hyper-sexualization that results. As shown, the women who sell the dresses via advertisements are typically adult women with young faces. However, those that are buying these dresses are roughly 16-18 years of age or even younger. This is a problem that should concern all people as time continues to evolve and as teens continue to be exposed to the media.
Young girls are not allowed to embrace their teen experiences when garments are now designed to make them look older, which results with them acting older, a battle with authority, or even being looked at as sexual beings unknowingly. Prom dresses should be less revealing and more modest for the occasion and the adults in this situation should monitor the occurrence of these dresses being worn.
