Students Nationwide Are Protesting Dress Codes With 'Crop Top Day'

Teens and parents across the nation are beginning to challenge the ridiculous double-standard of the school dress code in tons of awesome ways.

For those unfamiliar with the controversy, many maintain that dress codes — which tend to apply to female students only — promote body shaming and rape culture and communicate a dangerous message that female bodies are sexual objects.

This argument rang true earlier this week when 18-year-old Alexi Halket was sent to the principal's office at Toronto's Etobicoke School of the Arts for wearing a crop top that showed her midriff.

In response to the sexist dress code, Halket organized a school-wide event for the next day, a day that also happened to be her birthday. She asked her fellow students to wear crop tops to stand up in solidarity for their rights and their bodies.

On the Facebook event page for what Halket dubbed “Crop Top Day,” the student wrote,

Wear a bralette, sports bra, short crop top, or bandeau to stand in solidarity against making people (especially those of the female sex) cover their bodies because it's 'offensive' and 'inappropriate.'

Lots of students showed their support for the event and Crop Top Day's event page drew major attention on Facebook, racking up nearly 2,000 members and dozens of supportive posts.

Check out some inspiring photos from the female-friendly event below.

Halket's classmates stepped up and showed support for the feminist cause.

Wearing crop tops to school isn't a crime - I did it every day this year #croptopday #StandInSolidarity pic.twitter.com/BjlttY9ngT — sylva (@queenfeminist) May 27, 2015

But it wasn't just Halket's classmates who showed support.

Students @tdsb Etobicoke School for the Arts @ESAStudCo #croptopday dress code rally. #cbcto pic.twitter.com/Cq5sYQMHSd — Stephanie Matteis (@CBCsteph) May 26, 2015

Students across the country joined the movement.

Lots of #croptopday shirts say #StandInSolidarity for @IXELAmusic who was told to cover up her crop top @ESAStudCo pic.twitter.com/Ffj3BpdQPV — Stephanie Matteis (@CBCsteph) May 26, 2015

The event's #StandInSolidarity trend is huge on Twitter.

#StandInSolidarity pic.twitter.com/CspqzPtcYg — Melissa (@melmarie0415) May 26, 2015

And there are hundreds of posts of support on social media.

#croptopday #standinsolidarity pic.twitter.com/eTGNh5rqQ0 — rachel (@rachel_venneri) May 26, 2015

The event also sparked conversation in Halket's school.

Because my stomach my shoulders my breasts my waist my body Weren't created to please you #StandInSolidarity #CropTopDay — amanda (@amanda_rankin29) May 26, 2015

Halket's goal was to get people talking and get people thinking.

#Standinsolidarity #croptopday because my body deserves the same equal treatment as a male body when showing skin pic.twitter.com/JFseJVTGTz — 1D UPDATES (@Currently1D) May 26, 2015

I'd say she did a damn good job.

Wish Id known about #StandInSolidarity earlier, but so happy to see it happened anyway. Stop the sexualization of girls bodies, yo! — Katya (@katyazlovesyou) May 26, 2015

Citations: This High School Student Used Crop Tops To Spark An Important Discussion On School Dress Codes (MTV)