Prom posters cause 'sex shaming' controversy
MANITOWOC – Students at Lincoln High School are upset over "sexist" message on posters that adorned the walls of the school a week before prom.
The poster depicts a black-and-white silhouette of a woman in formal wear, her body made of words such as "honest, classy, loyal, tidy, quiet and dependable." Above the silhouette are the words "A Night To Protect Her Character."
Senior Kelsey Schindl said she finds the poster insulting, sexist and offensive.
"There is so much messed up about that poster," she said. "The insinuation that if you do have sex then you don't have any character anymore is a horrible message to send."
"And there are no posters that say 'protect his character,'" she added.
The logos of The Crossing of Manitowoc County, a non-profit, Christian-based pregnancy services and counseling organization, and Holy Family Memorial adorn the bottom of the poster. The poster is also signed by Lincoln High principal Luke Valitchka, who must approve any posters put up on the school's walls.
Holy Family Memorial stood by the core message of the poster.
"Holy Family Memorial supports the core message within this Prom poster, which is the promotion of social responsibility and safe behaviors for both young women and men. This poster was one part in a series of timely social messages reinforcing the importance of values such as confidence, honesty and determination. We firmly support the message of promoting healthy and responsible behavior among the youth of our community," the organization said in a statement.
A statement from the Manitowoc Public School District read: "The poster postings which have become the center of controversy did not promote any religious theme or institution and were not religious in content. Posters have been utilized for a number of years and, like past years' messages, this poster was one of several merely intending to promote a positive prom experience. No particular religious standard or expectation was being promoted. Social media reaction has demonstrated that any message can be interpreted in a wide variety of ways, many never contemplated or intended to be part of the original message."
Schindl called the message the poster sent "ridiculous" and said it implies "that if you have sex that you will no longer have potential or ambition."
The senior also said the poster "sex shames" females and implies it is only the man's decision to have sex.
"Last I checked, sex is consensual and a mutual decision you make together. But according to the poster, just the man decides," she said.
Schindl said she told Valitchka of her concerns with the poster and was told she could not put up posters depicting an alternate viewpoint.
"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," she said. "I'm not endorsing teens to have sex, but you're not a bad person if you do and you're not a bad person if you don't."
MPSD superintendent Marcia Flaherty said school district officials felt the proposed alternate message encouraged sexual activity and would not be an appropriate message to post on school walls. Instead, the appropriate action would be for staff to take down the controversial signs, Flaherty said — but students had already removed all the signs from the walls.
"I know a lot of girls are really upset about (the signs)," Schindl said.
The Crossing of Manitowoc County released the following statement regarding the posters: "At The Crossing of Manitowoc County, we are very concerned with promoting healthy relationships among young people. Prom time seems to present particular risks for teens. Our poster and outreach programs are intended to raise awareness of some of the potential risky behaviors often attached to prom night. We hope that these posters will remind and encourage teens to embrace healthy responsible behaviors so that prom will be a 'night to remember not a night to regret.'"
By Phillip Bock: (920) 686-2966, pbock@htrnews.com, or @bockling on Twitter