why are proms a thing now?

[reytmardy]

This seems to be an expensive and sometimes stressful occasion at a time when the kids are already exhausted.
We left school without a prom and we're happy . Please educate me on this. I have a 13 year old thanks

They are not a new thing, Happy to help.

Because, money. They’ve definitely gotten bigger and flashier since I left school, although maybe social media has something to do with it.

I'm 48 and definitely unheard of when I left school (yes it was a long time ago)

It's just the latest incarnation of a Leavers' Disco (or if posh, the School Ball) It's not remotely new to have a party for leavers, and pupils do seem to like this type.

I’m 47, and to me they are a new thing. But anyone born in the 80s is still very young to me

Times change, I think it’s a good thing.

All we had, was a “disco”, crap music and 10 Benson & Hedges. More scarred by it than great memories

I left school nearly 15 years ago and it was a big thing then. It’s fun, that’s why it happens.

I'm born late 70s and went to a Leavers Ball which is the same thing, different name.

My school had a prom when I left, in 2004, so it's not new, but as above can understand that they have got a lot flashier, and expectations have went higher since then.

Because in every situation you always get one person who has to go one step further to stand out and few people seem able to resist getting sucked into keeping up with the Jones'.

Things are only a thing if you make them a thing . We had leavers discos.

I left school 18 years ago and we had a prom.

American influence. Nothing wrong with having an end of year do but the lengths and expense some people go to is out of all proportion.

I'm in my 50s, and we had a Leavers Disco, as did the other secondaries where I lived.

It's only the name that has changed. And of course things like clothing is relatively much cheaper (yes I know it might nit feel like that sometimes, but relative to income it really is). The time spent titivating and angsting seems pretty much the same.

They have grown a lot over the years - i think it started out as a good idea and just grew too much.

It's not a new thing, more noticeable thanks to social media though.
We had a prom at 16 (12 years ago) and then summer balls for 1st and 2nd year 6th form.

They do seem to be getting more and more expensive these days though, iirc mine cost somewhere around £300 - that's ticket, limo, dress, shoes. Mum did my hair and a family friend did my makeup.
My cousin had her prom 2 weeks ago and it cost in the region of £1000. That to me is insane money.

I don't know, but it makes me glad I've got boys - the expectations you see sometimes on social media in terms of buying expensive dresses, paying for hair and makeup to be done etc for girls going to their prom look ridiculous to me. Must be a real challenge for low-income families with daughters whose friends are all getting lots of money spent on them.

I'm in my 50s. We organised our own leaver's do, but I think my year was pretty pro-active. None of my friends at other schools did anything.

" iirc mine cost somewhere around £300 - that's ticket, limo, dress, shoes. Mum did my hair and a family friend did my makeup.
My cousin had her prom 2 weeks ago and it cost in the region of £1000. That to me is insane money."

Good grief. If either of those scenarios had been the case when I was at school, I would not have been going, simple as that. My parents didn't have that kind of money to throw around on one of their four children going to a party!

My son goes to his Wednesday. His girlfriend is on her third dress! I think it’s something to look forward to after the exams and alot of kids are leaving to go to sixth form somewhere else. Plus I t’s a chance to dress up - kids don’t do that a lot these days.

They do seem to be getting more and more expensive these days though, iirc mine cost somewhere around £300 - that's ticket, limo, dress, shoes. Mum did my hair and a family friend did my makeup.
My cousin had her prom 2 weeks ago and it cost in the region of £1000. That to me is insane money.

I think DS has cost about £125 £75 suit, £25 ticket, £10 drinks, £10 taxi there, £5 taxi back. Appreciate girls spend more on hair makeup and dress but how can it be £1000?

This style of leaving party IS a relatively new thing. Limos, FFS... Seems we're obsessed with copying American culture.

They're not new. We had a Ball, but it was really a disco with better food and some country dancing. I bought a second hand cocktail dress and some heels, total cost about £30. One of the teachers was a hobbist photographer, so he brought his SLR camera and did proper photos of us all for free.

The pressure to spend spend spend is what's new.

I left school 6th form in the late 90s and we had a ball. Nothing when we left year 11 though, probably because the school put more emphasis on leaving year 13 as a thing, whereas if you left in year 11 the majority of us were going to come back anyway.

Dd is about to leave middle school and her ‘prom’ hasn’t cost us that much. A dress and shoes she will also wear to a family wedding in the summer is all that’s expected.

I think the prom is just a glorified school disco, they all get a ‘meal’ (probably burger and chips from what I’ve hearing) and a bit of dancing. The opportunity for photos and being together before they all go to the (same) high school.

DS1 went and had a good time. DS2 and all his friends all boycotted it as they said it was too commercial and they were always the outsiders ! he may regret not going along, but he hasn't up to now. he was pleased to leave school and go to college.
its not for everyone but i must admit, my friends that have girls they always look stunning when i see the pics on facebook.