High school prom poster sex-shames young women

[demmiblue]

Source: Mashable

Kelsey Schindl, a senior at Lincoln High School in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, knew the prom poster was wrong when she first saw it a few days ago.

The poster features a black-and-white silhouette of a young lady in formal wear, her body made up of words in large print: fearless, honest, decisive and charming. Other words appear in smaller font: classy, polite, tidy, quiet, dependable, potential.

Above her head dangles the slogan: "A night to protect her character."

What appears to be the principal's signature sits below the figure, alongside the logos for The Crossing of Manitowoc County, a non-profit, Christian-based pregnancy services and counseling organization, and Holy Family Memorial, a regional Catholic healthcare provider network.

Read more: http://mashable.com/2015/04/29/prom-poster-sex-shaming/


Sometimes I feel like we are regressing to the 1950's!

[notadmblnd]

1. Why does no one ever preach to our boys?

[Xithras]

3. I believe that poster IS targeted at boys.

The gist of the tagline being that it's a mans responsibility to protect a woman's virtue and virginity.

[B2G]

4. I agree

If it was directed at the girls it would say 'A Night to Protect YOUR Character'.

It's all in the interpretation. It could just as easily mean don't try to get your date drunk and take advantage of her.

[notadmblnd]

7. yes, but it is the female's character that seems to be the problem

hence it needs protecting.

[Xithras]

9. Yes. It's a very patronizing message.

Women are apparently filled with desires and thoughts that are sinful and could harm their virtue and damn their souls, so it's the job of all good Christian men to protect them from their own evil feelings and urges.

It's a classic trope.

[Liberal_in_LA]

70. exactly

[Orsino]

8. The don't-rape subtext isn't bad...

...but what the fuck does that have to do with "her character"?

Don't make her family honor-kill her, boys!

[Xithras]

10. Sex corrupts a womans character and it's a mans job to protect her from herself.

It's not an anti-rape message. It's an anti-sex message.

[Orsino]

11. Even worse, I suspect it's a don't-steal message...

...with her soul/character/virginity/value the property of her father.

[hifiguy]

58. I think you have identified the crux of the biscuit here.

[procon]

12. Why are religious groups allowed to promote their beliefs

in a public school? This sort of blatant indoctrination impacts impressionable school kids with targeted propaganda that serves a religious agenda. There are laws; why aren't they being enforced to keep kids safe?

Even beyond the backhanded reproach that singles out young women as inanimate sex objects that must be forced to comply with religious taboos, why is this degrading message from two theological groups endorsed by the principal? The message tells girls they are inferior, that they -- and they alone! -- are responsible for the behavior of the men who must be allowed to rule their lives.

[notadmblnd]

13. yeah, that too.

[Ms. Yertle]

107. Indoctrination?

There is no religious message here, and there are a lot of people--religious and not--who think impulsive teenage sex is not a good idea.

Not everyone walks away from a casual sexual encounter with no consequences. There are plenty of downsides, including pregnancy, disease, self-reproach, rape, false rape accusations, etc. If a simple poster can prevent some of those problems, then who cares who sponsors it?

I agree the poster is oddly worded, and could have been equally effective by saying something like "Protect YOUR future," or something that would be aimed at the girls. And maybe there is something like that. This one was an awkward attempt to message the guys, who should also stop and think before doing something that could have repercussions down the road that may not seem so important in the heat of the moment.

[Xithras]

2. In the 1950's, getting laid on prom night was a right of passage.

We're regressing to the 1650's.

[closeupready]

37. lol - wow. Words fail.

Whatever you say, boss.

[Xithras]

41. You disagree?

Sexual promiscuity isn't something that the last few generations have cooked up. Teenagers have been doing the deed since the beginning of time. Todays society is just a lot more open about it, so we're more aware of it today.

The only difference was that, prior to the past few decades, a pregnancy led to an early wedding or a "vacation with an aunt". The notion that teenagers were more innocent is primarily a media stereotype. Today, HHS numbers say that about half of high school teens are sexually active. The number of teens having sex has been slowly declining for decades, and todays teen birth rate is about HALF of what it was in the 1950's.

Having sex after prom has been around nearly as long as prom itself.

[Warren DeMontague]

94. It's true.

A lot of people hit a certain age and go into deep denial. All I know is, I came of age in the middle of "Just Say No" and AIDS panic, and we still had plenty of sex.

[ann---]

54. And, you think that's okay?

Having sex on prom night, I mean. I don't think it is.

[Xithras]

71. Err...why wouldn't it be?

By the time prom rolls around, teenagers are nearly adults and are above the legal age of consent in all but a handful of states. I fail to see the problem with ending a night of celebration with a bit of safe and consensual sex.

[ann---]

77. Not all couples

who go to a prom together are in a relationship. I still think
it's too young for a girl to share such intimacy, especially
if she is not dating the guy.

[PeaceNikki]

78. "For the girl".... But not "for the guy"? How odd.

[Xithras]

79. Well...

...what we have there is just a difference in opinion. I don't care if they're dating, fuckbuddies, or if they just met on the dance floor. As long as it's safe, legal, and consensual I don't have a problem with teenagers doing whatever it is that teenagers want to do. I have an open mind and no judgement about it.

I grew up in a sex-positive household, and raised my children in a sex-positive household. I understand that not everyone is so open minded about these things, but it's really just a matter of personal perspective. I don't see sex as any kind of special thing that needs to be "saved" for someone. When you're ready to do it, do it. Or don't. The only opinions that should matter are the opinions of the people actually having the sex.

[ann---]

101. Well

Unless my daughter were in a committed relationship, I would
teach her to be modest and not be anyone's "sex buddy" for a
night. I would hope that she had more respect for herself than
that. Actually, I think that's what the poster is about.

Self-respect.

[Ms. Yertle]

105. FWIW--

--I agree with you. I don't think that an anti-prom-night-impulsive-sex thing is bad, regardless of how it is worded or who sponsors it.

My niece's friend got pregnant on prom night in a casual one-night stand with her prom date. Forever she has to have some kind of relationship with a guy she probably otherwise would have forgotten within a couple of weeks. Sad for everyone involved, including the kid

[Warren DeMontague]

91. Why not?

You didn't have sex in High School?

I did.

News Flash: High Schoolers have sex. They did back in the day, they do now.

Or maybe it's okay any other night, but just not Prom Night?

[DustyJoe]

128. oh yeah .. great passage for the guy

Take your girl to the prom, get your buddies to buy you a 6 pack for the after-prom obligatory 'parking on the hill over town'. Prod your date into drinking a beer or 2 to loosen her up a little bit then go for it.

As the father of 3 girls, homecoming dances, valentines dances, not just prom nights were extremely stressful. My daughters at times left for the dance all giddy and bubbly but returned all quiet, head down and depressed acting. The dates were usually whistling and skipping back to their cars.

Great times.

[Sheldon Cooper]

5. So, if she would decide to have sex on prom night, somehow

all those aspects of her character would vanish? They're all conditional upon her maintaining her virginity? I'm having trouble determining who this poster is aimed at.

[ann---]

56. No, but if

she were given drink or drugs and raped - the sex would not
be consensual. I don't think that posters intends to say anything
about "virginity." To me, it shouts out "Respect her" - whether
she says yes or no.

[yardwork]

83. That poster won't deter rapists.

Rapists like to destroy innocent people. If anything, that poster encourages rapists.

[ann---]

102. Didn't think it would

but it might make a girl have some self-respect and
maybe she won't get drunk and be the object of
some rapist who would take advantage of her.

[yardwork]

112. Unbelievable.

[ismnotwasm]

117. Wow

That is an incredibly messed up thing to say.

[ann---]

130. What is so

"messed up" about encouraging a girl not to get
drunk at her prom? Drunks are disgusting - no
matter which gender. But, a young girl puts herself
at risk and if that poster reminds her that she is
more than a "body" - then I'm all for it.

[Jamastiene]

138. Tell that to the women in the ME who get raped

when they are forced to cover their entire body from head to toe. Ask a pregnant 12 year old sister-wife in an LDS family how dressing "modestly" stopped pedophiles from raping her. You are blaming women for perverted men who have no self control. There are LOTS of men who have self control and do not look at little girls in a sexual way, the majority, actually. Making girls constantly second guess themselves in every part of their lives to avoid rape won't stop rape. A rapist doesn't care if a woman is wearing a bikini, a burqa, or a long sleeve dress that goes all the way to her ankles.

[closeupready]

6. So the takeaway here is ... what? I'm struggling to understand

if you have an objection to this poster? To the message? How is this objectionable???

[cbayer]

14. I'm with you. It's seems like a pretty positive message to me.

[PeaceNikki]

17. it's sponsored by two religious groups. at a public school.

Secondly, the poster sends a bad message that women can’t protect their own character and need men to do it.

“That’s a really backwards way at looking at thing. There’s no reason to be filling young woman’s heads with that garbage,” says Sam Grover, staff attorney for separation of church and state advocacy group the Freedom From Religion Foundation.

[cbayer]

26. I assessed it without regard to who was sponsoring it, but I did then

look at the organizations. One is Franciscan nuns with a very girl/woman focus. The other seems to be a pregnancy counseling service which does appear to be anti-abortion. Knowing that does change my perspective, but I still want to assess this independent of that.

I didn't read it the way you did. I felt like it was a positive image that girls are more than just objects and that their personal characteristics are the most important things about them. The list of adjectives are really positive and things that a lot of girls don't get much reinforcement for. Girls with those characteristics are much more likely to control their own bodies and their own sexuality.

It's not about men protecting women as much as respecting them. Date rape is a real thing. Girls without confidence are easy prey for boys.

Love FFRF, but I think Grover is way off here. I just don't see garbage in a message that lists all the positive things about girls.

I understand that others are interpreting this very differently and that the posters have been removed. I'm cool with that, but I think there might have been a way to do this that would have led to a very positive message.

[PeaceNikki]

27. Ugh, gross. Sex is shameful and taints your character, if you don't have a penis.

Got it.

[cbayer]

31. Where in the world do you get the message that sex is shameful.

There is not a word about sex on her. That's your extrapolation.

As I said, a girl with these characteristics is much more likely to be in control of her sexuality, and that's a very good thing.

[PeaceNikki]

34. Are you implying that the message of that poster was NOT about sex?

That's..... fucked up.

[cbayer]

39. Well, yes, I did not really see a message about sex at all, except possibly one that

would empower girls in exercising their sexuality on their terms and encourage boys to respect girls and value their strengths.

Why is that fucked up? You had a different interpretation and it was shared by others, as was mine. The poster was controversial enough to be removed, and when there is this much variability on interpretation, that's probably a good idea.

[PeaceNikki]

42. The message is literally about sex. That's not an "interpretation", it's fact.

The fact you miss that is fucked up.

[cbayer]

43. Well, since not everyone agrees with you, maybe I'm not fucked up.

And, as I said, if there is a message about sex, I see it as empowering for girls and instructive for boys.

Why so hostile about this? We just disagree PN.

[PeaceNikki]

45. Hostile? That's your interpretation.

[cbayer]

47. Yes, it is my interpretation and I do not present it as fact.

If it is not intended to be hostile, then my interpretation is incorrect an I apologize.

[PeaceNikki]

49. It feels like you're being protective of religious organizations

just for the sake of protecting them while BLATANTLY missing the sexist and shaming message.


"shy....tidy...quiet..." Never mind the completely contradictory ones (confident, courageous, ambitious, and fearless vs shy, quiet, polite; tough vs gentle; etc) or the passive sexism of insisting women be "nice and compassionate and warmhearted" and all of these other traits, without even likewise suggesting that boys should have these same qualities.

meh, carry on. It's gone and with good reason.

[cbayer]

52. Seriously? I'm not protecting religious organizations at all.

As I said, I initially formed my opinion on this without knowing who put it up there. After seeing where it was coming from, I felt differently, but still felt it was an overall positive message for girls.

I don't support anti-abortion organizations and never have. Is it possible that you are basing this on some preformed judgements about me that might not be accurate?

That's unfortunate, because I think we really are on the same side. The poster is controversial enough to merit removal, I agree.

[PeaceNikki]

55. Well it says right in the OP and it's on the poster itself so I am not sure how you did that.

I am basing that on the complete and total disbelief that anyone can or would deny that it's about sex and/or deny how sexist the message is.

But I am done, so...

[cbayer]

60. Where is sex on the poster itself? The OP is an interpretation with which I disagree.

It is the opinion of the author and not a definitive take on what this poster is or is not.

As I think about this, I wonder if there might be a generational difference going on here.

I don't know how old you are, but when I was in high school, we didn't get a lot of positive messages about being strong, brave, independent or many of the things listed on this poster. There was a lot of pressure to "put out" and not a lot of respect for girl's rights to control their own bodies and their own sexuality.

"Our Bodies, Our Selves" came out right after I left high school, and it profoundly changed everything. We, as girls and young women, began to embrace these characteristics and take a more positive stance in terms of controlling our own bodies. We also began to insist that boys and young men see us as more than just sexual objects.

So perhaps I am seeing it through a very different lens than you are.

My having a different interpretation is nothing more than that. But if you are going to dismiss me and anyone else who interprets this differently and not be able to even believe that could be the case, then I guess we have nothing further to discuss.

[closeupready]

50. You refer to her views as 'fucked up' - that is def hostile.

And uncalled-for. I mean, if you were on national TV being interviewed by a reporter, would you use that vocabulary? No, you wouldn't.

Anyway, I'm done here.

[PeaceNikki]

51. lol

[REP]

64. Aren't you classy, quiet and shy?

A woman of good character would never use "that vocabulary" in public, let alone on TV! Poor thing, did no man never protect your character?

That tells me all I need to know about that mindset, especially the part where you were told what you would and wouldn't do. That mindset is so entrenched in the patriarchy it'll never see what's wrong with women needing to be protected from their baser natures.

[PeaceNikki]

66. I know, right?

You said exactly what went through my head (after "fuck you", natch) when I read that, but all I could muster was "lol".

[closeupready]

68. lol

[ChazII]

18. It seems like a positive message

to me as well.

[cbayer]

32. It certainly did stir up some feelings.

I do think one of the sponsoring groups is questionable, but I would not have known that just from the poster itself.

[ChazII]

72. Yes, I was going on the

poster itself.

[closeupready]

35. Agreed. I think those with an agenda are taking this WAY beyond

where the message was intended to go. WAY FUCKING WAY beyond.

[PeaceNikki]

36. Hrm, you don't think that the authors of the message have an 'agenda'?

[closeupready]

38. Yes, I do, and I'm troubled by the melange of public/religious here,

as others are.

[cbayer]

40. Clearly there is a great deal of variability in how people interpret this,

and that's a good reason to remove it.

If it had been put up by the local Humanist organization or planned parenthood, I think it would have been interpreted very differently.

[PeaceNikki]

44. No there's not.

And equating woman's character with sex is disgusting. "Humanist organizations or planned parenthood" would never send such a fucked up message. And would be under equal scrutiny if they did.

[cbayer]

46. Well, all I can say that it is you that is equating character with sex.

I saw no message about sex, just a list about positive attributes that girls have that compose their character and a message to boys to respect that

You saw it differently. There seems to be a split on the site that carried the story and here and, apparently, at the school. Nothing wrong with that.

[Luminous Animal]

120. The poster does not say "respect". It says "protect". Tell me cbayer, what does a young man do

to protect a young woman's courage? Or her shyness?

And why does a young courageous and/ or shy woman need to be protected? Protected from what?

[B2G]

121. The very first word at the top is 'respect'.

[Luminous Animal]

122. The title of the posters says, "A night to protect her character."

[B2G]

123. My point is, it says both. nt

[cbayer]

124. What do young women need to be protected from? Seriously?

They need to be protected from young men. The best way to do that is by supporting their strengths and respecting their character.

How does a young man protect a woman's courage or her shyness? I like the way Sara Silverman puts it:

[Luminous Animal]

125. None of that has anything to do with a man protecting a woman.

Not raping a woman is not protecting her.

Similarly, I am not protecting my daughter by not beating her.

[cbayer]

126. There is a lot of date rape going on and if messages like this give

strength to some girls to make their own decisions and discourages some boys from treating girls like meat, that's a good thing.

You would be protecting your daughter by telling her that she has these qualities and has the right to expect others to respect that.

Perhaps the word "protect" sends the wrong message, but I would have appreciated a message like this when I was 16.

[Luminous Animal]

133. Got it. Not raping is protecting a woman.

The message in the poster is not addressed to girls. It is addressing boys. I see two messages.

1) Hey guys, girls are all these great things, so don't rape her. Implicit in that message is that girls who are not all those great things, don't deserve 'protection'.

2) Hey guys, girls are all these great things, but if she wants to have sex, don't sully her by acquiescing. You must protect her from herself.

[cbayer]

135. OMG, that's not what I said.

If boys treat girls with respect and value their strengths, then that does protect them. The boys are less likely to behave badly or tolerate bad behavior from their peers. There is nothing wrong with that.

All girls are those great things to one degree or another. Do you really think there are girls that have none of those characteristics? It's the attitude that a girl may not have those qualities that feeds a culture of treating a girl like meat, and you seem to be perpetuating that idea.

Your second premise is utter nonsense. Girls are all these great things and if a girl wants to have sex, go for it. I see absolutely nothing in that message that says that girls with those qualities shouldn't have sex or are sullied by sex. That's your extrapolation based on your own biases, imo.

[procon]

19. OK lets start with this:

Two proselytizing religious groups, a taxpayer funded public school and principal, do not mix. This is prominently featured in our Constitution, as well as many other well defined laws prohibiting this type of public endorsement of religion. That principal is an enabler, and without his approval, those church-sponsored flyers would never be up on the walls without his permission.

This is a theological propaganda poster that was designed by one of the religious groups, and includes their advertising message icons and slogans as well as the signed endorsement by the principal. One of the faith groups even explains their intent, "This poster was one part in a series of timely social messages..."

The intent is to target school kids with the religious taboos of one faith, with the primary focus on young women in particular because, apparently, prom is a night when girls -- and it's only the girls, yeah! -- have a reputation to protect. This poster is promoting the beliefs of one religion and laying out a double standard that lets young men get off without any admonitions or snide assessments of their characters or moral virtues. The graphic image of a young woman describes "character" in terms like “shy, polite, tidy, and quiet", because girls who are loud, assertive, outspoken, and angry must be bad and undesirable if her character valued and self-esteem is tied to her meekness and the implication of sexual "purity".

[PeaceNikki]

22. Also this. Well said.

: thumbsup:

[cbayer]

28. While I agree that who sponsored the message can be important, the fact that they are religious

is not the make or break factor for me. If the local humanist organization wanted to put up posters with a positive message, would you have an issue with that?

There is no rule preventing organizations putting up posters in public schools. I just don't see this as an endorsement of religion at all, but clearly others disagree.

I understand that you are seeing it as a theological propaganda poster and I understand why. I looked at it without knowing the source and saw it as something different. There are a few terms that aren't all that positive, I agree, but there is also brave, ambitious, courageous, fearless, honest, independent, confident, brave, tough and compassionate.

As I said above, I think girls that have the traits that are pushed in this poster are more likely to have control over their bodies and their sexuality. It seems a stretch to me to say that this is about protecting their reputation or setting a double standard. It comes across to me more in line with Sarah Silverman's rules about rape.

[LeftOfWest]

65. Just stop.

really.

[cbayer]

67. Stop what? Expressing my opinion?

Who are you?

[demmiblue]

129. You are right, that was a low blow.

I will self-delete.

[cbayer]

131. Thanks demmiblue. I greatly respect that.

You posted a really good article that stimulated some very interesting debate.

I appreciate that and have enjoyed being a part of it.

[hifiguy]

59. A fine analysis.

[oberliner]

90. "Courageous, fearless, independent, confident" are included

"shy, polite, tidy, and quiet" are not.

[procon]

95. They are, but that isn't the point at all, is it? nt

[oberliner]

97. Not sure

If the point is that guys should respect girls as human beings and not treat them like objects, then I am supportive of that message.

[treestar]

21. Protect her character

if she has sex, it hurts her character ?

[PeaceNikki]

23. Of course. But his is bolstered.

[cbayer]

29. Where do you get the message about sex?

If she chooses to have sex, she is likely to have a lot of characteristics that are listed there.

If she is date raped, it is likely that the boy(s) involved don't recognize those characteristics at all.

[procon]

61. Why, from Kelsey Schindl, the girl at the center of this.

She expressed her belief that the posters 'sex shame' girls and imply that their sexuality directly affects their character:


'It's basically just saying your character depends on whether or not you have sex,' senior Kelsey Schindl told Mashable. 'And if you have sex, you won't have any character.'

'I wanted to post a message that said you are no less of a person if you have sex and your character does not depend on your virginity."


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-3062900/Sexist-prom-posters-Wisconsin-High-School-cause-controversy-message-telling-students-protect-character.html#ixzz3YolHvZbF
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook



The outrage among the students is because of the 'sexist' message that targets young women specifically, implying that young women are incapable of "protecting" their own character on prom night. That suggests to girls that their character is based on whether or not they have sex, the lodestone of all Christian taboos, that eternal proscription against women who have *shudder* premarital sex... but not their male counterparts.

Where, in this sexist poster, is the corresponding concerns over young men? Why doesn't the poster show the graphic image of a young man while describing his desirable character traits in terms like “shy, polite, tidy, and quiet"? Don't boys need the same character "protections" too? If these girls need "protecting" from their male classmates, then why should they look to those self same boys to be their protectors like this poster intimates?

[cbayer]

63. She did express that as her belief and I respect her take on it, but

I don't necessarily agree with it.

However, in light of the fact that she and others interpreted it in that way, I think the decision to remove it was the right thing to do.

I'm not sure that everyone shared her opinion, but there certainly was controversy. I will put a lot of stock in how the targeted audience received the message, and, again, support it's removal. OTOH, I'm not convinced that the sponsoring organizations intended to send the message that this student got, but they may have.

At any rate, it's a testament to how things can be interpreted very differently by different people and has generated a good conversation, imo.

[treestar]

106. It seems pretty clear

A girl of good character does not have sex. So don't pressure her and get her to do something that will reflect badly on her character. It's in the guy's control. He can keep her from doing something that will harm her character by being a good boy himself. His character won't be hurt by his having sex. So he should do the girl a favor and curb his appetites. The whole idea that sex is a thing for men to enjoy and women are disadvantaged by it.

[Ms. Yertle]

108. I don't think guys should pressure girls into doing

anything they aren't ready for. Do you?

[treestar]

111. No. Why would you ask that?

Still the idea is the guy is the one who gets enjoyment out of it, so he's going to of course be doing the pressuring. A girl wanting sex enough to try to talk a guy into it - well that 's not a girl of good character. When if treated equally, she should enjoy it as much as he and not have her character considered harmed by that.

[cbayer]

115. Nonsense. Girls of good character have sex all the time.

In fact, they are generally in charge of their sexuality.

That people are reading the message "girls of good character don't have sex" into this says more about them than anything else.

The message says nothing about sex.

It's this perceived message which you and other read here that is old fashioned, imo.

[treestar]

116. That's what the message says

Whoever wrote the message thinks that. There are still old fashioned people who think that, and this is one of them. The person who wrote that message.

[cbayer]

118. I don't know what those that wrote the message were trying to say and I don't

agree that that is what it does say.

That is your interpretation, but not mine.

The bottom line is that your interpretation was shared by many and the controversy resulted in it being removed.

[Matariki]

24. The implication is that a woman's character is somehow damaged by sex

Which is a fucking regressive bunch of BS that belongs to the past.

See how easy that was?

[closeupready]

33. Prom is for women...? Um, don't think so.

[Matariki]

80. What are you talking about? Your response makes no sense.

Not being snarky - but what do you mean?

on edit - are you referring to me calling teenage girls 'women'? If so, way to miss the point.

Teenage girls' characters are also not 'damaged' by sex. That's a ridiculously sexist belief.

[LanternWaste]

25. You then believe a female requires a male to protect her character?

You then believe a female requires a male to protect her character?

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

76. It's talking down to kids

Maybe instead of stupid bromides like this poster, we should have better sex ed classes. Then this bumper sticker style of preachiness would be completely unneeded.

[closeupready]

84. Perhaps they don't have 'better' sex ed classes, and they know

they ain't gonna get better ones this year. Therefore, what - just let kids make bad decisions instead of attempting to help them deal with the dilemmas?

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

88. Bullshit

The type of people who concoct these posters are the same people who fight sex-ed classes because they aren't "Abstinence Only".

[closeupready]

89. And who are you to call bullshit here? No, not bullshit.

You are just another out there member of DU and my comment stands.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

96. So you don't think religious groups like the one behind the poster are blocking sex-ed?

Got it. I'm afraid it's you who's out there if you don't know this. Your repeated excuses for this poster have been laughable.

[Marrah_G]

82. It is equating sex with character

A woman's worth should never be measured by her genitals.

[Humanist_Activist]

98. What does the poster mean by "Character" and why does it rely on others to be...

protected? Especially on prom night?

[hack89]

15. Update: Controversial prom flyer removed from high school

http://wwlp.com/2015/04/30/controversial-prom-flyer-removed-from-high-school/

[PeaceNikki]

20. Good.

[demmiblue]

87. Thanks for the update. n/t

[hunter]

16. What's the "A Night to Protect His Character" poster look like?

I can think up a few satire posters that would be deeply offensive to some, and possibly NSFW.

For myself prom culture was never even on my high school radar. I quit high school. For me it was a frequently violent (both physically and emotionally) "Lord of the Flies" experience that killed and maimed a few of my childhood friends.

The gay guys are mostly dead of AIDS. The I.V. drug addicts are mostly dead of AIDS. A call girl and porn "star" killed herself (or was killed...) in an unusually fiery auto accident. The alcoholic smokers are dropping dead now in their fifties. Many of my lost classmates were good, gentle, smart people. Our sick society treated them like trash.

My high school was among the largest in the U.S.A.. It's a statistically valid sample.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

30. Protecting his character ...

... protected by helmet, pads, and a cup.



Any other protection is irrelevant.

[hunter]

62. I was thinking of the guy who get's his balls kicked up into his throat by his date...

... and spends an hour or two puking his guts out kneeling before the porcelain throne and wakes up as the sun rises in a grassy field after a night of fucking sheep or circle-jerking with his "bros."

Or, even more sadly, those who actually "got lucky" with someone they were using.

It was not exclusive to jocks, not even exclusively male, but they always covered for one another.

Oh yeah, I got laid. Wink, wink.

[Capt. Obvious]

48. I think a village wizard poster would be more direct

[Laffy Kat]

53. Have we not gotten anywhere?

Ugh.

[underpants]

57. The 50's had the highest rate of teen pregnancy post WWII

Possibly for all of the 20th Century (in to today)

[Petrushka]

103. Prior to the 1980s, most pregnant teens were married.

http://www.teenhelp.com/teen-pregnancy/teen-pregnancy-statistics.html

[frogmarch]

69. My take on it:

ATTN: Horny Male Dirt Bags: Regardless of whether you believe women possess the qualities attributed to them in the image, women are not your inflatable fuck dolls, so don’t rape them or even cop feels, you worthless pieces of shit.

[Telcontar]

73. THIS is what outrages you?

Jesus wept.

Everything that's wrong with society wrapped up in one thread.

[PeaceNikki]

74. If this thread makes Jesus weep, he needs to seriously assess his priorities.

[demmiblue]

86. Blah, blah, blah.

I have already seen some of your responses in other threads.

[beam me up scottie]

93. And this thread is what outrages you?

Thank you for letting us know what's wrong with society.

[JTFrog]

99. Everything we need to know about you wrapped up in one post. n/t

[Telcontar]

100. Ditto

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

75. It should be an ad for a dry cleaner instead

Don't get DNA on that dress or tuxedo!!!

[locdlib]

81. where's the corresponding poster of the boy figure? are boys not expected to be respectful,

classy, ambitious, brave, generous, charming, etc.? no? just girls? because only girls attend prom night? really?

[Warren DeMontague]

92. Just imagine what would happen, if High School students started having sex.

Where would we be?

[ismnotwasm]

119. Well I Wouldn't Have been a Gran'ma at 38

Of course I wasn't in high school, being a young lady of questionable morals and character, apparently. One of those fucked up street kids.

[Warren DeMontague]

137. If it's any consolation, it wasnt just you.

But i suspect you've already figured that out.

[Ms. Yertle]

109. Maybe a poster aimed at girls

with a guy in a tux made up of words like "predator," "disease," "pregnancy," "poverty," "stretch marks," "sagging boobs," "rape," "he-says-he'll-call-you,-but-he-won't" would be more effective.

[demmiblue]

110. Maybe... no.

What a warped view.

[MineralMan]

113. My problem with this is the Prom Night focus.

Why Prom Night? The problem of young men coercing or wheedling young women into having sex with them is a 365 day problem every year. A poster like this doesn't address the real problem in any way, and focuses on a single event.

Instead, educating boys about respect for the girls around them at all times would be a far better idea. In fact, it should be something that is done beginning very early. High school age girls do have sex, if they want to and enthusiastically consent to it. Nothing wrong with that, and it has always been the case.

That's the only time it's OK. Enthusiastic consent is the basic requirement for sexual activity. That's what we need to be teaching schoolboys. If they learn it then, they'll have that all their lives.

Prom posters won't cut it. It needs to be part of the culture. No enthusiastic consent? No sex. Period.

[icymist]

114. What? No chastity belt?

[daleanime]

132. It's the kind of thing....

that the more you think about it, the more piss off you get. He should 'protect' his character by getting out of education.

[giftedgirl77]

134. Hahahahahahaha, you can have all of those things & still have sex..

Most kids that are already having sex are just going to look at it as another stupid poster. Hell most of the kids I know spent spring break playing baseball during the day & having sex at night. Sex happened on prom night as well it's happening, just like it did when I was a teenager, i just make sure they have condoms.

[Jamastiene]

136. Quiet is on there too?

That just adds to the insult. So, their idea of a "good" woman is that she is "quiet?" I got news for them.