Proms today are an iconic, integral part of the high school experience. They come complete with stretch limos, fancy ballrooms, live bands, kings and queens, and, most importantly, dresses worthy of movie stars. However, proms have not always been the elaborate, inclusive show they are today. Many scholars believe that high school proms emerged from the popularity of upper-class debutante balls in high society. At these balls, girls in white dresses and white gloves would be proudly escorted into a grand hall for their official introduction to the social dating scene. Invitations were exclusive and official debutantes were few and far between. Indeed, the word prom is short for promenade,…