Hundreds join in solidarity for Crop Top Day 2015

Etobicoke School of the Arts student says she should be able to dress how she wants without being sexualized by teachers and colleagues

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Reed Hollett

Halket, second from left, stands with her friends today at Etobicoke School of the Arts.

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Reed Hollett

ESA student Alexi Halket has designated today, her birthday, Crop Top Day, after her teacher reprimanded her for showing too much skin earlier this week. She was sent to the principal's office where she was told to cover herself up – or else.

On the Facebook event page, she asks fellow humans to support students' rights to show off their bellies without being blamed for being a distraction at school or making teachers uncomfortable. The problem, she says, isn't what kids wear to school – it's how people respond to women's bodies (and underage ones at that).

"After I left the office, I talked to many of my friends that said that they would wear crop tops like mine to support me," she writes. "This turned into a huge event not only spreading between schools, but spreading into different countries around the world through the use of social media."

Here's a sampling:

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"The problem isn't what we're wearing and how we express ourselves, it's how society deems our bodies offensive," she writes. "I hope you can help this issue reach people."

Want to join in? Use the hashtag #croptopday on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. 

Are you or your kids being dress coded at school? Email me to share your thoughts at the address below.

kater@nowtoronto.com | @katernow

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Comments (5)

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Want Others To Repsect You? Respect Yourselves!!

I completely understand why you think you should be able to wear whatever you choose - and to a certain extent, I agree with it. But you are contradicting yourself when you say you don't want to be seen as sexual objects, yet you are displaying MOST of your skin! You can't have it both ways, ladies. There is nothing wrong with a crop top that shows just above the belly button, but to be walking around in a sports bra or bralette and then act surprised when you're cat called? Come on! Have some self-dignity - there is absolutely no need to display everything you have to people you don't know - in school, at work, on the bus, etc. Women have fought so hard to get equal rights - not so that you can display excessive cleavage and belly rings - but so that we can have equal wages for equal work and be respected as PEOPLE, NOT as sexual objects. You just put us back 10 years. Such a shame that your vanity determines your fight.

Rayna 1 hour ago

Oh?

"you are contradicting yourself when you say you don't want to be seen as sexual objects, yet you are displaying MOST of your skin!"
Why exactly is that a contradiction?

N 1 hour ago

Humans are sexual.

Not the same person, but I think it's a contradiction because you can't have it both ways, alas. The body (both male and female) IS sexual, at least sometimes, and the power to arouse lies partially in what is not often seen. You cannot be angry at the spontaneous reactions of others -- even if such reactions are widely deemed incorrect -- when you have directly instigated that reaction. Objectification, including sexual, is a fact of life, done by all people to all others at some particular times. Doesn't make it 'OK', but you will never completely stop it. Did you ever pay your TTC fare without a glance or word to the fare collector, considering his or her innate humanity? Congrats, you objectified that person. Women are more than their bodies -- but they are also their bodies (men too). The problem is when (sexual) objectification occurs ALL the time, especially out of context. This is why we are angry when female politicians have their appearance commented on -- it is 99% of the time completely besides the point. Objectification at a strip club, however, is basically the entire purpose of a strip club and to be expected, so it seldom causes uproars (well not in the moment by the strippers, but certainly there is opposition to stripping in general because of that). I don't think the school handled this well at all, and I personally have no problem with students wearing modest crop tops. But still, wearing what is widely considered sexy clothing (a short halter top, let's say, or a sports bra alone) in a setting where academics and learning should be the focus, and then being angered at being 'objectified' while wearing them, is something of a contradiction. And also intellectually dishonest.

ESA 33 minutes ago

Seriously?

I sympathize with her to an extent, and agree the school should relax and not make a (bigger) issue out of this. I have lived in Europe for 5 years, and the prudishness that is so typical in Toronto (and Canada) is incredibly embarrassing. It's also counter-productive. Crop tops are not a big deal, though bikini tops (like in the photo above) are not really 'appropriate' for educational settings. I fully agree catcalls and harassment is wrong and never 'deserved' because of clothing choices. I do. But breasts are sexual, like it or not, and so are teenage girls (sexual beings, like all humans), like it or not. We have age of consent laws to deal with the fact that physically mature people may not be totally mentally mature and try to prevent them from being exploited. I think the school is only doing its job in trying to set an example. Teachers presumably would also not be allowed to wear such tops, for obvious reasons. It is distracting. You can't go under-dressed in an environment where it's not common and then be surprised that you're drawing attention, especially if that is clothing that, frankly, does accentuate breasts. Even if it were a beach or change room or something, eyes wander. I wish 'em luck, because effing with the system is always a noble goal (for real, not sarcasm). But I think she's a bit misguided.

#firstworldproblems

A former ESA student 1 hour ago

Kids have been wearing "inappropriate" Clothes since before Time

I wouldn't wear it, but then again, I didn't wear a lot of things in high school anyways. I remember the big issue in high school was knee high boots, short short, and for guys, sleeveless undershirts worn as "shirts", and baggy dropped pants.

Elsa 2 hours ago