Throughout the history of the United States, prom has been a staple event at many high schools. Traditionally, those attending prom are brought by or bring a date, and are given a corsage to wear on their wrist. Many high schools in the US have a different prom theme every year. For example, “the roaring 20’s” is the theme of prom this year at Berkeley High which was voted on by students. Students often dress according to the theme, and decorations and music at the dance also reflect it. Prom is a milestone for many students at BHS, but especially for seniors as the dance celebrates the end of their high school career.
Prom is perceived to be part of the classic ‘high school experience,’ marking an important part of high school with seniors entering their final quarter of high school. “It's a bucket list thing that you have to do in your high school career,” Odin Elliott said, a junior at Berkeley High. Social media, movies, and tradition. However, some attendees are motivated to go not due to internal desire but rather due to societal pressures creating unrealistic expectations for the event.
The traditional stereotype of prom is to attend with a date, which puts the notion in students' heads that having a date is a necessary aspect of attending. “I think that the only reason that I would go to prom is if I was dating a senior,” Quincy Wilks, a junior at Berkeley High, said who chose not to attend prom this year. From promposals to slow dances, these traditions, along with the widely accepted norm to attend prom with a romantic date, leave students with the idea that it’s only acceptable to go to prom with a date. Because of this expectation, some students can feel uncomfortable attending prom, or even choose not to attend, making the event feel more exclusive than inclusive. “I didn't want to go without a group because I don't have a date," Giada Perez, a senior at Berkeley High, said. Prom has become a lot more than just a dance.
With social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat, prom is posted and documented all night long. Pressure around appearance, especially for girls attending prom is an important factor to consider. “I would never normally get the dress that I got for prom,” Perez explained. On social media, countless ‘prom transition’ videos show girls with expensive dresses, hair, nails, heels, and more. “There's an expectation that you'll get your hair done professionally, get your nails done, and have a dress that looks a certain way on you,” Wilks said. Additionally, it’s typical for those attending prom to do photo shoots with friends or dates beforehand. Not only does this add pressure to look ‘perfect’ at prom, but shifts the focus of prom away from a special celebration and towards photo opportunities.
While prom is framed as a milestone in senior year, the night comes with a heavy price tag. The cost begins with the prom ticket itself. The Berkeley High ticket prices are set at $80 which feels “insanely expensive,” according to Elliott. Apart from just the basic attendance to prom, suits and dresses come with a large price tag. Adding in shoes, hair and makeup appointments, just how you look can turn prom into one of the most expensive dances to attend. “I think especially since beauty products and women's stuff are marked up for pink tax, it's just kind of ridiculous, " Perez said. After and before prom activities including dinner, transportation, and sometimes professional photos, the total price can climb to hundreds of dollars. For some students, these prices are unreasonable, and the pressure to go all out can put serious financial burdens on students attending and their families. It’s important to note that Berkeley High offers discounted tickets at $50 for those who apply, but even with ticket markdowns, the primary costs remain.
While prom is a memorable milestone of high school, certain expectations and pressures can affect how students experience the event. Expectations to look a certain way, bring a date, and spend large amounts of money can make prom feel like a burden rather than a celebration. Prom is intended to be a memorable milestone for high school students, but it has devolved into an event with many unrealistic expectations and societal pressures that tarnish the event for some students.