Alburg’s daughter, a varsity cheerleader, arrived at school on game day wearing her cheerleading uniform, only to be told she needed to wear pants underneath her skirt. Confused, the girl relayed this to her mother. Alburg, initially baffled, sought clarification from school officials. “I called the school office, and I was told that they are to wear pants under their uniforms at all times. It is a distraction to the boys,” Alburg explained. This response left her stunned and outraged. Instead of addressing inappropriate behavior or attitudes among male students, the school had chosen to police the girls’ clothing, perpetuating outdated and harmful gender norms.
Mom stands up for daughter after school tells her to 'cover up' the cheerleading uniform
A mom was shocked when her daughter was told to 'put pants on' to stop boys from being distracted.
Despite ongoing efforts toward equality, women continue to face blatant double standards in public spaces, as demonstrated recently at a Michigan school. Young cheerleaders at Pinconning High School were instructed to modify their uniforms because they could “distract the boys,” while male students were given the freedom to dress however they pleased, according to WNEM TV5. Amanda Alburg, the mother of one of the cheerleaders, refused to accept this logic, recognizing that it sent a harmful message to her daughter about shaping herself to accommodate the comfort of others—specifically boys.
"I don't feel that should be a distraction to the boys. Girls have been wearing cheer uniforms issued by the school on game days to school since I was in high school. Never had to wear pants under it," Alburg said. Moreover, the girl did not just walk into the premises donning the cheerleading uniform of her own volition. She was doing so after being instructed by her coach. The authorities rejected Alburg's claims. Superintendent Andy Kowalczyk, in an email to TV5, clarified that the reasoning "distraction to male students" was not used in the meeting with the cheerleaders. In a statement, he shared that the policy was not specifically directed at girls. He stated, "Athletic uniforms may not meet school dress code requirements. This is the case for the length of the cheerleading skirts. PHS would not allow students from any sports team to wear uniforms to school that do not meet those requirements."
Alburg retorted, saying she talked to a woman and the exact reasoning was used in the conversation. "I know who I talked to at the school had told me it was a distraction to boys. That is what I was told personally. If they didn't say it to the girls, I'm not sure. My daughter didn't say that she was told that. But she was told, 'Put pants on,'" Alburg said. On February 12, a school board meeting was organized to discuss this misogynistic policy. Alburg attended it to provide her viewpoint. "If they can wear their uniforms that are issued by the school to games and it's appropriate, it should be appropriate for school also," she said.
Alburg was supported by other parents, who also believed the dress code policies to be misogynistic. "My daughter can't wear a sports bra to practice because it's inappropriate, but the gentlemen…I can be out at that soccer field or on the basketball court and football field and they have their shirts off. And that is a double standard and it's a violation of our girls' civil rights," one mother said at the school board meeting. The school authorities noted all their concerns and promised to change their dress code policies. But, it is a time-consuming process. "It's this whole process. Sometimes we have to work with lawyers and that's a process of its own. We got to work with the ISD. It's not that we can just snap our fingers and go through it, but the board needs to do its due diligence," school board trustee Mark Coutcher said.
This article originally appeared 10 months ago.
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