By Cadyn Hollingsworth ’25
Throughout the years, teen media has portrayed prom in many different lights. The 80’s saw an onslaught of teen movies featuring prom such as Pretty in Pink, Back to the Future and Footloose, while more recent films like 10 Things I Hate About You, Mean Girls and She’s All That have shown more criticism towards it, calling out stereotypes and questioning why prom is such a big deal. Although these films may have influenced our ideas on prom to this day, exactly to what extent have they resonated? How does the student body of BHS genuinely feel about prom?
When BHS students of all grades were asked if prom was underrated or overrated, answers of every kind were received. However, upon elaboration, most answers boiled down to the same conclusion: prom is overrated when taken too seriously, but is enjoyable when simply treated as a fun night out.
“It can feel like a beauty contest or a money flashing contest,” one freshman said. “Still some aspects are enjoyable like treating yourself with friends or a date.” Another student stated “when the whole idea is to one-up others as far as hair, make-up, dress, it’s definitely overrated- it shouldn’t be about that.”
Nevertheless, many things were not widely agreed upon despite the overall common consensus. Multiple students expressed the idea that prom is “not a turning point in high school, it’s just another event you can go to” as one sophomore put it when elaborating on prom being overrated, with another sophomore similarly saying that prom is “ultimately inconsequential.”
However, multiple students expressed their belief that prom is an important high school experience, with junior Lorien DeFranza pointing out that “Beverly has fewer dances and events than some schools, so prom is kind of big.”
Even those who spoke positively of prom did say that they believe there are certain pressures surrounding the event. The most common pressure that students brought up was the burden of buying a dress and spending a lot of money. “People feel pressured to spend hundreds on limos and more but nobody will even remember it 5 years out,” stated one student, who additionally went on to say “girls feel pressured to wear a dress rather than something else they might want to wear. That’s definitely outdated.”
Multiple students conveyed this feeling that there’s ingrained conformity, with freshman Sadie Brennan saying “it is outdated that boys always ask the girls. Girls shouldn’t feel like they can’t ask out boys, and though I love the idea of prom, there are some parts that are very misogynistic.” Similarly, sophomore Anna Brophy brought up conformity in relation to prom traditions. “I personally think boys wearing tuxes and girls wearing dresses is outdated. Society has these underlying gender stereotypes and these come out at prom.”
Many other outdated ideas surrounding prom were discussed, particularly the ideas that one must ‘go all out’ and attend with a date. Brennan continued on to say that “society makes us feel like we’re not doing it right if we’re not doing every little thing and spending a bunch of money.” Another student shared “there’s definitely a pressure to go all out. This probably won’t go away any time soon, but people also feel expected to have a date.”
Lorien DeFranza additionally went on to say “I’ve seen people spending hundreds, probably because they feel they have to. There’s also a feeling of the need for a date and there’s just way too much pressure surrounding that. Going with friends is just as entertaining, if not more so.” Despite this criticism, DeFranza had also stated “prom is a little overrated but still really fun. It’s a really nice way to socialize and spend a night.”
In general, the students of BHS expressed the same opinion. Prom may not be the most loved high school tradition, but the majority of students still like it in one way or another- when they feel comfortable doing it the way that they enjoy.
