Are tights unisex?

Men wearing tights is more common than you know. Some tights retailers now report that 40% of their customers are male, and while some do crossdress to masquerade as women, a great many men wear them because they feel great, keep you warm, provide support or even look very fashionable worn with shorts. I am male, 56 years old and I've worn tights since I was 10, and wearing them hasn't changed me one bit, I have never had any desire to look or be female, to me they are just long socks, so please don't be concerned about it, it's totally ok.

Yes, tights are unisex, you can get a whole range of tights specifically for men and boys and some retailers report that 40% of their customers are now male. Your son may get teased at school but I will bet if the tights had their favourite football team embroidered on, every boy would want a pair!

My son in reception wears tights under his leggings, he is currently in school in tights, no one will even notice he is not going to be pulling his trousers down showing the tights off, if he's worried they will notice when he goings toilet use a cubicle otherwise the only time they will show is when his trouser ride up a bit and people will think he's wearing long socks

Of course. That's what @gannett meant by the OP being led by her son I expect.

There’s a difference between teaching them to conform and making them wear something that’s not conforming when the kid doesn’t want to wear it

I don't think anyone would ever notice unless changing for PE.

Some children are more at risk of being bullied for something they wear or own, others aren't, but it very much depends on the dynamic of the class.
You won't generally find the popular sporty boys getting bullied for clothing choices but in kind supportive classes shy kids don't get bullied for what they wear either.

I know boys who would have been absolute prime targets for bullying, but were very happy in their primary school environment. Unfortunately for them secondary school changed this.

If your son has a good group of classmates, then don't discourage him from making perfectly reasonable choices out of fear of bullies.

They are unisex on the continent but not in the UK. They are also very very hot and uncomfortable if you spend most of the day indoors so I would avoid for school.

Tights are very popular amongst anglers, in the winter.

My friend was a postman. He swore by tights in the winter.

Look at the threads on bullying and the long-term consequences for those who are bullied.

With thermal base layers as well as socks being readily available I wonder why you are going out of your way to encourage your son to wear tights in school.

You may feel very practical and liberal about it ( and I agree it is in reality just a piece of clothing) but it really isn't worth the risk of your son being bullied and ostracized.

As I type this, I know full well that you will still send him in tights though.

DH grew up in Germany and told me about the tights his mum used to buy him to wear under trousers in the winter, he insisted that they were special "tights for boys". I suggested that this wasn't a thing so he checked with his Mum who admitted that she bought the same ones for him and his sister!
Your DS should be able to wear whatever he wants but if he doesn't want to wear tights its his decision and yes, he could well get bullied for it - unfair but there we go

Nope not for us. I wouldn't do that to them.

Who's going to know? If he is often taking his trousers off at school then that needs addressing!

Dh used to wear footless running tights when riding his motorbike and then wore them all day as he worked in a massive cold warehouse but if he could have easily found footed ones he absolutely would have.

You've never met any man that worked outdoors then.

if he chooses to wear them that’s great but I’d probably have a chat about other boys potential reactions so that he’s prepared to speak up straight away with a cheerful reply that he’s seen how comfy they are on his cousin in Poland where all the boys wear them and most importantly that he’s loving being warmer.

That sounds really cute

It is absolutely normal for boys and men to wear tights in winter in mainland Europe, where it can get much colder than the UK. Absolutely normal.

It’s absolutely pathetic if someone thinks a young boy is somehow wrong for wearing tights under trousers to keep warm.

I’ve had people comment that my nearly 1 year old is “dressed like a girl” for wearing green and brown wool tights with braces as trousers. Some people really need to get a life.

This!

@trybest , if your son puts on socks first and thermals over the top, the ribbing of the thermals will keep his socks up. Trust me - former cross country skier!

You know a lot of crossdressers?
(or you don't know any men who wear tights but want to say it in a fruity way?)

This

@trybest you can actually buy mens' tights with a zip at the front!

A male or female wants to genuinely wear tights under trousers sure, if they last more than a day I would be surprised

🤣🤣🤣 I knew very manly men who wore them under work clothes in the 70s! Because they're a thin warm layer.

Honestly!

Whilst I have no issue with boys wearing tights, I can't imagine they'd be very comfy under trousers!

I totally understand the socks plus leggings issue though. The way I solve it is by wearing knee length socks under them. They definitely don't slip down as much.

Could knee length socks plus leggings be an option?