Teen Ignites Family Firestorm With Controversial Funeral Attire

"AITB for allowing her to wear 'boys clothes' to funerals?"

Jesse

• Published in Interesting
• May 17, 2023

In the heart of a modern family, a sixteen-year-old girl proudly marches to the beat of her own drum. Imagine a petite teen, barely 4'9" and 100lbs, draped in 3x tops and sporting a distinctive mullet haircut.

In addition, she refuses to be seen in a dress except for two extraordinary exceptions: prom and her parent's wedding. Throw in a distaste for baring her chest and a penchant for 'borrowing' her brother's formal attire, and you've got an individual who is unapologetically herself.

This teen's unconventional clothing choices led to a humorous situation when she swiped her brother's dress shirt and tied it for a family friend's funeral. The youngest of the family got a new dress, her brother a new outfit, and our star kept her brother's attire.

Unfortunately, this did not sit well with their more traditional grandmother, who was outraged at her granddaughter's choice to show up in "boy's clothes."

The family, while not religious, honors their extended family's rites and rituals. This includes attending church for significant events such as weddings, funerals, first communions, and baptisms.

Their latest occasion, the funeral of a beloved great aunt, has stirred up the same clothing controversy. The teenager insists on wearing her brother's clothes again – a choice that, while likely to cause a ruckus among the older relatives, feels true to her.

Her parent stands at a crossroads, unsure if they're in the wrong for allowing their daughter to dress in a way that feels most comfortable to her.

Should they uphold traditional expectations or support their daughter's unique self-expression?

The story in detail

OP's family friend passed away some time ago and it was odd for the family to see OP's daughter show up to the funeral in 'boys clothes'

Now the family is preparing to bury their great aunt, and OP's daughter has set aside another set of 'boys clothes' for this funeral. OP might not have a problem with this, but they're worried that the family will make a big deal out of it

Check out the comments from the Reddit community below:

"Let them b**h. Your daughter is fine."

"Your daughter wore appropriate clothing to the funeral and your relatives have outdated notions of wardrobe if they disagree."

"A suit is funeral-appropriate clothing regardless of the gender identity or gender expression of the wearer."

"Tell older family members to shove it and make sure your kid knows you are there to support and love them."

"People who think women can't wear trousers, dress shirts, and ties are a real problem with this society."

"When presented with the choice between supporting your child or keeping the peace, choose your child. Your mom will get over herself"

The Reddit community isn't giving room for anyone to tell this teen how to dress. According to them, being herself is the best decision she can make

Indeed, this story underlines the tension between traditional expectations and individual self-expression. It raises a question that many parents face: to what extent should we encourage our children to conform to societal norms, especially when those norms cause discomfort?

The real antagonist here isn't the girl's unconventional attire, but the rigid expectations that limit her freedom to express herself authentically.

Jesse