What is an Anti Prom?

A new trend in proms in the anti prom, also called the Morp, which is Prom spelled backwards. The purpose of the Anti-prom is to boycott the official school prom and to have an alternative celebration. The popularity of the anti-prom is probably due to such events being featured in popular teen TV shows such as Dawson's Creek, What I Like About You, and Ugly Betty.

There are several reasons that people might consider and anti-prom. It could be because they want different music than the prom coordinators have chosen. They may want a smaller more personal event. They may want fewer rules than the school has set. In some cases, anti proms are attended because of religion. Morp goers may find themselves on the outskirts of the in-group, or they may just find themselves date-less. Others attend anti-prom because they want to celebrate alternate lifestyles and sexuality. In a few southern schools, that still has separate black and white proms, for the purpose of having an integrated prom. You might even call a homeschoolers prom an anti-prom.

There is actually an organization called LIFE.The Anti Prom. This group is about as anti-prom as you could possibly get. In describing the social effects on the prom, this website says: Research on prom attendees has shown a marked increase in interpersonal relationships and social dependency, even with only one attendance. Friendships are created and strengthened, emotional bonds forged, and individuality stifled. A small percentage of attendees will eventually be traumatized sufficiently to engage in violent crime. They also claim negative effects on the brain and the body.

The site actually appears to be a tongue-in-cheek parody of the Anti-Prom movement. It encourages parents to get educated about the prom and to not be afraid to talk with teens who may be experimenting with the prom. Then again, they just might be serious.