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When 17-year-old Lizzy Martinez left for high school this past Monday morning wearing an oversized Calvin Klein t-shirt with no bra – due to sunburned shoulders – the dean passed a remark about it being inappropriate.
I decided not to wear a bra today and got pulled out of class bc one of my teachers complained that it was a “distraction to boys in my class.” My school basically told me that boys’ education is far more important than mine and I should be ashamed of my body. @Manateeschools :)
— liz (@lizzymartineez) April 2, 2018
She was then requested to put a t-shirt underneath the one she already had on, but that still wasn't good enough.
READ MORE: Bare breasts in SA: are we allowed to free our nipples online and IRL?
According to the Floridian teenager, the dean then asked her to stand up and move around for her and said it wasn't a "fix", which is when they went to the clinic to get band-aids to "X-out" her nipples. She did what she was told, but not without being made to feel embarrassed about her body.
To the dean, this was necessary because her braless t-shirt was distracting male students, but Lizzy rightfully makes the point that if they were distracted, shouldn't they have been the ones to be addressed about their behaviour instead of her being pulled out of class?
She apparently violated the school's (sexist) dress code policy which prohibits students from wearing attire that distracts others, but it turns out the school doesn't have any rules about not wearing a bra, reports ABC Action News.
The school has responded in a statement from General Counsel Mitchell Teitelbaum, saying:
“This matter was brought to the attention of the Superintendent’s Office for review. It is undisputed that this matter should have been handled differently at the school level and corrective measures have been taken to prevent a reoccurrence in the way these matters will be addressed in the future.
"There was a violation of the School Dress Code and that it was an appropriate matter to address by the School. It is clear that the intent of school officials was to assist the student in addressing the situation. No disciplinary action was taken in relation to the student.”
Lizzy has since said she plans to protest against the bias on her body by not wearing a bra for the rest of the school year and has encouraged others to tag along on 16 April.
support the #bracott ?? pic.twitter.com/HI0i9vDF60
— liz (@lizzymartineez) April 12, 2018
READ MORE: Fashion’s twisted relationship with boobs – where do nipples stand now?
The story has received plenty of exposure across the world, with many people backing her.
Schools also should be preparing boys for employment. Sexual harassment law suits and/or losing ones job if you they aren't taught to get a handle on respecting woman and not sexualizing their bodies. #lizzymartinez #eyesontheface
— Kari Knop (@kariknop) April 10, 2018
I wonder if all girls stopped wearing bras, would they not be allowed educational opportunities? Just wondering. #lizzymartinez
— lizdup ?? (@LizzieDupree) April 9, 2018
As a teacher I am disgusted by this. Teenage girls have enough to worry about without being humiliated #lizzymartinez https://t.co/2cxtJrGJrw
— Caroline ?? (@bearpuffbooks) April 9, 2018
i’m pretty sure #LizzyMartinez didn’t wake up in the morning and say to herself “I’m not gonna wear a bra today because I wanna get a boy’s attention” so the fact that ppl are actually saying this is her fault and she should known better, is disgusting
— uh-knee-suh (@yourgirlanissa) April 10, 2018
#LizzyMartinez wear no bra every day until your school gets the hint. You want an education just as much as any boy does, and you deserve it equally. This is ridiculous.https://t.co/FmuhJRyiOw
— Dave Talkington (@SirTalkaton) April 10, 2018
Some girl in Florida got in trouble in school b/c her nipples were hard.
— Ken Woods (@sdoownek) April 10, 2018
Administration made her put bandaids over her nipples.
Then they made her JUMP UP AND DOWN to see how much her boobs moved.
Good thing it wasn’t my daughter. That’s sexual assault. #lizzymartinez
And, perhaps unsurprisingly, hundreds of people are siding with the school's action, coddling boys and encouraging rape culture.
Choosing not to wear a bra isn't indecent. In fact, bras are medieval torture garments. I can say with certainty that this is the moment every woman on earth looks forward to when entering their home.
By making a student wear band-aids to cover her nipples and saying that 17-year-old boys cannot be held responsible for their actions, the school is doing a pretty good job at mansplaining male privilege. It's time schools stop dedicating five paragraphs to girls' dress codes and half a paragraph to boys' behaviour.
Lizzy's story might have enraged us, but her reaction has impressed us.
Be the voice, Lizzy. #Endbrapolicing
Do you agree or disagree the school made the right decision? Share your thoughts on this story with us here.
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