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Racy photo is not an equality issue

After Sydney Spies submitted her senior picture of choice to her Durango High School 2012 yearbook, there was much controversy and debate about said picture. However, in response to Sydney’s letter to the editor in The Durango Herald (March 12) and her mother’s letter (March 16), I must strongly state that their reasonings were scattered, off topic and not relevant to the actual issue of the picture itself.

First, one must understand that both Sydney and Miki Spies were strongly promoting a feminist view. Sydney states, “Women should wear what makes us feel powerful and strong … I have no tolerance for closed-minded, ignorant people who want to control women.” The definition of feminism in its truest form is promoting gender equality. Submitting this inappropriate picture to the school yearbook has nothing to do with gender equality or having a hatred for women. School dress code at Durango High School does not only target women, but men, also. This situation is not at all an argument of a “misogynistic society,” as Miki Spies quotes; the situation is merely a violation of school policy.

We have certain standards in school that we must stick by. There is nothing wrong with being free-spirited or being different. We must always encourage diversity, in schools especially. However, there are different ways of expressing oneself than taking inappropriate pictures for a school yearbook. The picture ended up being a paid ad in the back of the yearbook. Leon Hanhardt, the principal at Bayfield High School, says he wouldn’t have even allowed that: “It’s a matter of school policy, not a societal problem of women empowerment.” Miki offers her input on women: “We will lead, wearing what we want, saying what we want, doing what we want and achieving whatever the hell we want.”

This issue has nothing to do with gender inequality, it has to do with expressing oneself in an appropriate manner, and Sydney did the opposite of just that.

Faith Owen

Bayfield



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