In high schools across the country, prom is the pinnacle of the teenage experience. It is an adored and extremely important part of the high school culture. From going dress and tuxedo shopping to promposals, prom is full of traditions associated with being a high schooler. Prom has represented a big milestone in a high schooler’s career and is a huge event that high school students, as well as children and teens all around the United States, look forward to. In recent years, some of prom’s magic has faded. The gender norms that prom carries, as well as being an overly expensive event, have many high schoolers and future prom attendees questioning whether prom has any real value. For prom to continue being the main event of a teenager’s life, it needs to become much more financially accessible and inclusive for all students.
While the idea of prom is appealing and exciting to many teens, there are many obstacles students face before attending prom. For one, prom is extremely expensive. At Berkeley High School, prom tickets cost between $80-85. Reduced-price tickets are offered, but only to students who qualify for free and reduced meals at BHS. Adding to that is the expenses from an attendee’s outfit, which can cost more than one hundred dollars. Furthermore, many high school proms are hosted in larger and more expensive venues, which increases the ticket prices. The total cost for BHS to host prom annually is $64,000. Renting out San Francisco City Hall uses one-fourth of BHS’ budget, which increases the price for individual prom tickets. All these variables affect the students hoping to go to prom, creating stress for those who can’t afford all the costs involved in attending, while simultaneously lowering the percentage of the student body who decide to attend.
Throughout its existence, prom culture has carried very gendered stereotypes and unwritten rules that create a less welcoming environment for those deciding whether or not to attend. This proves to become a barrier for many students. In American culture, there is a cultural expectation that the man in the relationship should be spending the most money. Due to prom’s extremely high cost, this creates a dilemma for teens who simply don’t have the funds to pay for the entirety of their prom necessities as well as their date’s. Additionally, attending prom can become a source of anxiety and pressure around finding a date, or choosing to go with a date at all. Prom is inherently a couple-geared activity, reinforcing outdated norms around high school relationships. Many students aren’t involved or interested in a relationship, and due to prom’s centering around couples and romantic relationships, students feel like they’re socially obligated to find a prom date. These gendered standards create a less inclusive space for prom attendees, lowering the event’s popularity.
Prom is an event that many are very attached to, and it has become the quintessential high school experience. Many future attendees view prom as an important teenage event and closely examining its issues can sometimes lessen its magic. Nevertheless, to create an enjoyable prom for as many high school students as possible, the culture around prom needs to be much more inclusive as well as financially accessible.