to be annoyed that there will be a trousers uniform only at dc's secondary school from next year?

[bigbuttons]

DD ( dc number5) starts secondary in September. All her older sibs have gone/ are at the school. Her 2 older sisters are in years 8 and 10. Up until now the uniform has been, for girls, a blazer, skirt or trousers, white shirt and optional tie.
We got an email this week saying that after extensive consultation( I would like to know with whom because parents were not asked to my knowledge) the uniform for new year 7's would be 'gender neutral'. Both sexes will wear exactly the same uniform i.e new school jumper, no blazer, smart grey or black trousers, no skirts and all to wear a tie. Pupils currently at the school can continue with the current uniform but change of they wish.
There has been 'issue' with girls rolling their skirts up to basically just below their backsides and members of the public/parents have been complaining about this. The new trousers only uniform will help with issues of 'decency' it says.
Year 6 dd is horrified, she has never worn trousers in her life and quite frankly is not a good shape for them anyway, - leggings yes, buttoned trousers, no, although I have never said this to her of course. She is short and stocky, always has been.
I know many women who feel very uncomfortable wearing trousers because they don't like their legs/shape and always wear dresses and skirts.

What this this gender neutral crap?
I support both sexes wearing ties and I liked the blazer so am sad it has gone.

I think the girls should be able to wear skirts and am confused about the whole 'indecent' issue. If a girl wears a short skirt it's surely not her fault if people find it 'indecent'? It feels like very little has progressed for girls since I was at school. So, they now all have to look like boys?

I would be interested to hear people's views on this.

[Blissx]

I think it is fantastic. It is actually very restricting wearing skirts at Secondary level - you will see boys running about playing sports during break and lunchtimes but not girls as their skirts are not suitable (evidence through feedback from my students).

[MycatsaPirate]

Wearing trousers does not make you look like a boy.

I actually think this is a good idea.

School isn't a fashion show. It's about education. Making them all dress the same is fine. I don't see the issue with it at all.

If your dd can't get trousers to fit her then you'll have to get a size up and adjust the length. I had to do this with DD1 (short for her age) and DD2 (tall for her age - had to adjust the waist on hers).

Just buy some of that wonder web stuff and take up the length.

[MycatsaPirate]

I actually think it's quite worrying that you'd rather your DD's were able to wander about with skirts just covering their bums (looking indecent) than wearing trousers.

[isittheholidaysyet]

I'm not a fan of strict school uniform.

I haven't worn a dress since my wedding day. I don't think I look like a boy (or a man) though.

[Maudlinmaud]

I don't see the problem.

[Yukbuck]

Great idea. Well done to the school for putting a stop to the short skirt thing.

[ZeroFuchsGiven]

I don't see the problem at all tbh.

[ProfYaffle]

Our local High School has had this policy for a few years now though it's not labelled as 'gender neutral', just that uniform for all is trousers and polo shirt. It was the idea of the pupil school council and was adopted by the head. Caused a bit of a hoo ha when it was introduced, nobody really cares now though.

[MarklahMarklah]

The simpler the better, I think. If you're not worried about flashing your bum when you sit down, and can run and climb or do anything else more easily then good.

Wearing trousers don't make you a boy. I hear this crap from DD who tells me school friends say it (then again, they're 5 & 6 years old). I suggested that she asked the children who say this if their mums wear jeans. If so, jeans are trousers and therefore their mums must be boys.
Childish, but it got the point across.

[TeenAndTween]

This will have come about either due to 'trans issues' or due to the girls wearing skirts so short that they show their underwear which fundamentally isn't a smart look and isn't all that nice to see, especially when girls are walking up stairs, or doing drama.

Our school got around the skirt issue by
a) introducing pleated skirts which are harder to roll up and better looking when short
b) enforcing skirt lengths more rigorously

[JustMumNowNotMe]

I am a massive fan of school uniform, its a great leveller and should reduce bullying.

Id have no concerns with this, trousers are far more practical and if everyone wears the same, more the better!

[PuppyMonkey]

I also think this is a good idea. I'm sure your DD will find SOME trousers to fit?

Although I give it a couple of months before you get a letter home telling the girls their trousers aren't allowed to be too tight, too low rise, too trendy, blah blah. THis is what my eldest got when she went to secondary.

[Blimey01]

I think it's great. A step forward in my opinion.

[Februaryjones]

It's a great idea. I'd be delighted.

[sheepskinshrug]

I think it's a great idea!

[Kokusai]

Nope, no issue with looking like a man here.

You can get he trousers altered to fit her better OP.

[Kokusai]

The tie is a shit idea tho.

I strongly disagree with making children wear ties. Outdated and serve Jo practical purpose and look daft with a jumper.

[Kokusai]

My school had pleated high waisted skirts that came down below the knee.

Looked fab on practically everyone and were impossible to roll up.

Was a boarding school so you didn't have to wear uniform to play in - you got changed into sports kits for games after lunch 3 days a week.

[FeistyColl]

As zzzzz says, If there has to be a uniform, then making it 'uniform' would seem to make absolute sense!

[Reow]

WTF. Wearing trousers does not make you look like a boy. Ridiculous goady comment.

I don't remember the last time I wore a dress. I wonder if people mistake me for a boy.

[bigbuttons]

I actually think it's quite worrying that you'd rather your DD's were able to wander about with skirts just covering their bums (looking indecent) than wearing trousers.

You see this is where I can't make up my mind. Why is it 'indecent/ I'm sure in the 60's they said it 'indecent' and decades on we are still saying girls should cover up? Why? Cover up for whom?. So women have to cover up but men can walk around with no tops on in the summer?

I want my daughters to feel comfortable with their bodies, I want them to have a choice. I think we have different standards for some and men, even now.

[JessicaEccles]

and quite frankly is not a good shape for them anyway, - leggings yes, buttoned trousers, no, although I have never said this to her of course. She is short and stocky, always has been.

She is 11. It is school not a fashion parade.

[Scribblegirl]

I would hate this. No-one has seen me in trousers for years, bar exercise leggings. I have the legs of a 5ft woman and the torso of a 6ft woman and look utterly ridiculous in trousers. As an adult I spend most of my time swishing around in vintage dresses and cardis - my DP of 5 years has never seen me in a proper pair of trousers

As puppy points out, there are just as many problems with over-sexualising trousers (quick read of the Daily Fail will tell you that much) and teenagers have been modding their uniforms since the dawn of time - unless you get them all in hessian sackcloths it will happen.

Personally I think that limiting freedom of choice for girls is not the way to deal with teenage girls who are grappling with new-found sexuality. I understand and agree with uniforms, but our society says that skirt or trousers is an acceptable choice for women and I think school uniforms should address that and allow the choice.

[bigbuttons]

btw I only ever wear trousers and am not at all comfortable in dresses and skirts. But I do know a lot of women who are the opposite.