Teen Shames School After They Said Her Jumper Was Inappropriate

Grace Goble is just like any other teen her age: trying to get through school, figuring out her goals and her future, and making sure what she wears isn't deemed inappropriate. When she showed up for her senior portrait, the 17-year-old was told off because, wait for it... her yellow jumper was showing her shoulder.

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The incident outraged her enough that she started a petition on Change.org, which has already attracted hundreds of signatures. On the site, Grace says: "As you can see, this photo is completely innocent, and the sweater that I am wearing is modest and covers my body very appropriately. This is a shirt which I have worn to school and to school events before, and no one has ever given it a second thought."

The teenage has called on the school to have a rethink about its dress code policy, because from her point of view, it's a bit backward.

She adds: "I have spent a good majority of my life wondering why exactly women's shoulders are so offensive. It is ridiculous that young women aren't allowed to wear the clothing that they wish to wear simply because it could possibly distract someone.

"Why must young women be denied the ability to express themselves through their fashion simply because there may be a few people out there who cannot control themselves? Shaming women for wearing the things that make them feel comfortable and happy in their bodies is horribly sexist, and leads many girls to grow up believing that if another individual cannot control their actions around women, that the woman was at fault.

"It is astounding to me that this issue comes up again and again, and not much seems to be done about it. Do not force any more girls to grow up being taught that they must hide their bodies because others cannot control themselves."

After the story went viral and reached international status, the school informed Grace that she can, indeed, wear that jumper for her school portrait.

There have been several stories popping up across the world of people being banned or removed from buildings because their outfits were deemed inappropriate. But good to see Grace standing up for herself and not backing down.

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie is a Trending Journalist at LADbible. His first job was as a newsreader and journalist at the award winning Sydney radio station, Macquarie Radio. He was solely responsible for the content broadcast on multiple stations across Australia when the MH17, Germanwings and AirAsia disasters unfolded. Stewart has covered the conflict in Syria for LADbible, interviewing a doctor on the front line, and has contributed to the hugely successful UOKM8 campaign.

@stewartperrie