(h/t +Kee Hinckley)
Reshared post from +Hadrian Micciche
High School Boys Pick Prom Dates In NFL-Style Draft
Journalist Matt Taibbi recently wrote about the greatest spectacle in all of sports: the NFL draft. Taibbi says that the NFL draft has a creepy slave-auction vibe and armies of drooling, flesh-peddling scouts… He has not yet offered an opinion on the creepy slave-auction vibe and armies of drooling, flesh-peddling high school boys who hold an NFL-style draft to pick their prom dates.At the Corona del Mara High School in Newport Beach, California, male students "select prom dates in an NFL-style draft – ranking female students and selling first-round picks to those eager for a top selection…"
"News of the prom draft prompted Kathy Scott, principal at Corona del Mar High School, to send an email to parents over the weekend saying that it is not OK for any student to be objectified or judged in any way." [1]
“Prom-posals have grown ever more elaborate through the years with students staging flashmobs, viral videos and other public gestures. But parents and students not involved in the prom draft at Corona del Mar said the draft goes too far, objectifying young women based on appearance."
Sophomore Jessie Harris comments, "I am part of the draft and am friends with many girls in the draft and yes, in some instances girls can be picked by appearance…” However, “It is all just a fun way to decide who you will be going to prom with. It is not meant to harm those who are picked and I do not believe that it does. It is not, was never, and will never ever be used to objectify the girls at our school.” Indeed, A lot of the girls respect the draft and stick with those dates, one boy said.
"According to one student, junior and senior boys draw random numbers for the draft but can purchase more desirable draft picks."
"This year, one junior paid $140 to get a high first-rank pick so he could select a specific girl, said the student, who is not being identified because of potential school disciplinary action."
“It’s awkward because he spent a large amount of money to go with someone he doesn’t talk to, the student said. And she finds it awkward that he chose her.” [2]
Awkward? How about this for awkward.
"A study of 11-14 year olds found that “51% of the boys and 41% of the girls said forced sex was acceptable if the boy spent a lot of money on the girl. Would $140 be enough for one of those Corona del Mara boys to feel like she owed him sex?" [3]
[1] http://www.dailypilot.com/news/tn-dpt-nflstyle-prom-draft-at-cdm-high-criticized-20140506,0,1717512.story
[2] http://www.ocregister.com/articles/draft-612766-prom-school.html
[3] http://www.everydaysociologyblog.com/2014/05/drafts-and-objectification.html
Holy crap. That's just not right.
I mean, I kinda get the "let's not let people not feel like they can't get a date" thing. But … there are so many (presumably) unintended consequences to this, it's just … no.
That's it get them to see themselves first as nothing more than chattel to be traded. Sad