AIBU to challenge the school’s wording about pupils rolling skirts up?

I would take that to mean that only some girls choose to wear skirts (others wear trousers).

I wouldn't mind receiving this email.

I know a secondary chool that introduced pinafores to stop girls rolling their skirts and so that the girls who can't/won't wear trousers don't have to. Surprisingly the girls who couldn't wear trousers for "medical reasons" somehow can now when the other option is looking like you escaped from Malory Towers.

My daughter is 12 and rolls her skirt. I tell her off, school tells her off. She can't even articulate why she has to wear it rolled up and it's definitely not bum revealing but it's still well above the knee. Her answer is just "well all the girls do". So next year she will have to have trousers. I've told her again and again that she's breaking the rules and if she gets detention then it's her problem

Sorry but I disagree. Sanitary pads are both much thinner and much more absorbent than they were in the past and there is no reason why they should show under trousers.

It’s giving you, the parent, the chance to choose why you say it’s unacceptable. That could be ‘it’s against school rules’ or ‘nobody wants to see your arse’.

This.

Uniform, particularly in secondary school is there to teach you that there are times and places in life where you have to be professional. Showing your butt cheeks is not professional.

It’s not about pull your skirt down because men will look at you. It’s pull your skirt down because nobody needs to see your butt.

I am a woman and will notice things like cheeks hanging out of shorts, or bright red g-string under white leggings, on an escalator - doesn’t make me a perv, it does draw attention. Now in adults women who understand that and are happy with it, happy days. But with a school girl this makes me uncomfortable because they are a minor.

My daughter is only 12, looks 16, showed me some cropped tops and shorts. I said a total No, you are not wearing those, about uniform I am much more and properly stricter

No that’s not the point. It’s not about men. It’s not a girls’ responsibility to spare men from being pervs. It is their responsibility not to have their bums hanging out at school. It would be the same if boys were wearing their trousers half way down their bums. I’m a female teacher and I don’t want to see anyone’s arse at school, male or female, teacher or student.

Oh please the women to tell me who is that man who knows which bum is over 16 and which not so he knows where to look.....this is despicable and then the men are called pervs

I agree with you

Literally a man is a visual and sexual being. They do like bums. What is not to understand why young ladies should not be doing this to men

I wouldn't blame male classmates for looking either

This is not the point. Men cannot always make a difference. It is a naked bum to them...how often on this site men are called pervs

There is no clear slut shaming, So id leave it

Yes thats a fair point

My stepson used to find it really uncomfortable when girls at school were walking up the stairs ahead of him because everything was on display and he didn’t know where to look for fear of being accused of inappropriate behaviour. You wouldn’t expect the school to allow them to come in wearing a bikini top so why do you think they are wrong to ask them not to have their knickers on show?

This is the right response. I think its about respect for yourself and also it just looks ridiculous. Yes we are aware that no women should cover up because of men etc but reality is that it does happen

The girls at the local high school wear skirts shorter than their blazers, its not about blaming or shaming girls its about decorum. If its too short for an office or church its too short for school.
Also some of the girls are 12 and 13 and tbh shouldn't be wearing skirts that show their knickers off.
If women want to wear short skirts out clubbing or on the beach or even about town thats up to them however they still shouldn't be showing their knickers as other people really don't want to see that.
Really its about teaching girls to have some respect for themselves

Pushing for trousers only is a bad idea. Skirts allow girls with extremely heavy periods easier coverage of bulky pads. A pair of uniform trousers with little choice is a great way to make a teen who already feels awkward about a heavy menstrual cycle even more uncomfortable.

plus there are children with other conditions that can benefit from the more forgiving drape of a skirt.

Not a good idea

Is exactly the same as 'unprofessional', or 'inappropriate'

In my lifetime in public services I have seen all manner of new upwording (if that is a word, if not Ive just invented it), nothing is 'ok' or 'not ok' or just 'wrong', or 'bad', it has to be 'inappropriate' or 'uncomfortable' etc etc

Its why we have ended up with bullshit job descriptions for shop assistants or warehouse workers.

Just call something what it is

Its not a good idea.

This is the first dress code letter I have seen that doesn’t bother me.

1. it doesn’t imply that skirts are female attire
2. it does not link how the skirts are worn to the male gaze

The vague “not a good idea” isn’t perfect, but this is tricky territory. Personally I might have chosen, “unprofessional”, but I am not sure that would be taken correctly by everyone.

Why would kilts be any better? Just say trousers only. Solved!

Why would kilts be any better? Just say trousers only. Solved!

Heaven forbid asking the parents to pick up on the actions of their children.

.....there should be different standards of dress in education settings.

I don't want to see girls and young women's underwear and bums anywhere. And it's not different standards of dress in educational settings. They're not asking for anything most workplaces wouldn't ask for. I doubt very much whether Sainsbury's, for example, would think it acceptable if a Saturday girl turned up looking like many schoolgirls do.

I don't care what anyone wears, and I'm not a fan of overzealous uniform enforcement.
That said, I think these barely there skirts are ridiculous. You'd get a better idea of what others could see if you left the skirt off altogether.