



School dances have sparked serious debate recently. (Photo: Everett Collection)

School dances have been causing controversy for promoting sexist stereotypes, and now, blurring the lines of consent between boys and girls.

The latest example involves a Utah mother and her daughter’s elementary school dance , which requires girls to accept boys’ invitation to hit the floor.

Mom Natalie Richard told Salt Lake City local news station Fox13 that she was in disbelief when her sixth-grade daughter came home from Kanesville Elementary with a set of ground rules for an upcoming dance: Students fill out cards with the names of five people with whom they’d like to dance, and if someone’s name is picked, they must fulfill the request.

“The teacher said she can’t [say no],” Richard told the station of her daughter’s obligation should she be selected to dance. “She has to say yes. She has to accept, and I said, ‘Excuse me.’”

When Richard spoke to the school principal, “He basically just said they’ve had this dance set up this way for a long time, and they’ve never had any concern before.”

A representative from the Weber School District told Fox13 that the rule is meant to be positive. “Please be respectful, be polite,” the rep told the station. “We want to promote kindness, and so we want you to say yes when someone asks you to dance.”

Kanesville Elementary agreed to send permission slips to parents who weren’t aware of the rule. However, that’s not sufficient for Richard, who told ABC13, “Psychologically, my daughter keeps coming to me and saying ‘I can’t say no to a boy.’ That’s the message kids are getting.”