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Original poster

AIBU to think school skirt bans undermine choice rather than equality?

264 replies

BadBadCat · 04/09/2026 08:29

AIBU to think banning school skirts reinforces the opinion that to be equal, women need to be more like men.

I don't fully understand the reasons behind banning skirts in the drive for equality. I can only think that there are other reasons behind it that are not being made explicit by schools- maybe to eliminate up-skirting issues, to avoid having to deal with girls wearing inappropriately short ones, to eliminate the issue of transgender boys wearing skirts etc.

However, in my opinion, removing the choice of a skirt, which has been the traditional wear for women and girls and enforcing trousers, suggests that men's traditional attire is superior to women's. I'm all for girls wearing skirts if they choose, but I think it should be a choice. Schools saying they want to ensure comfort for all is disingenuous in my eyes because girls who feel uncomfortable in skirts can wear trousers if they wish.

It seems to me another removal of women's rights,

What do you all think?

OP posts:
LlynTegid · 06/09/2026 10:37

Women and girls don’t dress for men and boys.

Differentforgirls · 06/09/2026 10:36

Goge · 06/09/2026 09:56

Do you not think it's a perfectly natural human reaction for a young teenage boy to perhaps look at a classmate's knickers if she's purposely showing them?

Do you think young boys should be allowed to wear dresses as well? Men dress like men. And women dress like women.

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You really have a problem with this.

PollyBell · 06/09/2026 10:02

Slightyamusedandsilly · 05/09/2026 22:29

No. BOYS need to control themselves in public. They're not bloody animals. Making excuses for them is part of rape culture.

And fuck off with the 'it's not normal for boys to wear skirts'. MEN and boys wear kilts and it's really bloody masculine. Nothing feminine about it. Men in plenty of cultures wear robes.

Nothing weak about femininity. Women have much higher pain thresholds than men. And as you've said, boys and men can't control themselves and what they look at. Another weakness.

Your ideas are sexist as fuck.

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So girls make their skirts as short as possible so boys look at theit knickers yet have a problem whrn boys look and boys shouldn't be doing what girls what them to do?

Sure i dont get any of it myself but why are girls making their skirts as short as possible then? They don't want boys to look so why do it?

Goge · 06/09/2026 09:56

Slightyamusedandsilly · 05/09/2026 22:29

No. BOYS need to control themselves in public. They're not bloody animals. Making excuses for them is part of rape culture.

And fuck off with the 'it's not normal for boys to wear skirts'. MEN and boys wear kilts and it's really bloody masculine. Nothing feminine about it. Men in plenty of cultures wear robes.

Nothing weak about femininity. Women have much higher pain thresholds than men. And as you've said, boys and men can't control themselves and what they look at. Another weakness.

Your ideas are sexist as fuck.

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Do you not think it's a perfectly natural human reaction for a young teenage boy to perhaps look at a classmate's knickers if she's purposely showing them?

Do you think young boys should be allowed to wear dresses as well? Men dress like men. And women dress like women.

Quicknamechange2025 · 06/09/2026 08:35

A8888 · 04/09/2026 12:42

I think banning skirts is really sad, I always felt much more comfortable in a skirt when I was a teenager and always wanted to hide my body.
When I was at school having a big bum was unfashionable and ugly, with trousers they either show your whole bum outline or you have to buy them to be looser on the bum and have parachute legs. Skirts are so much more adaptable to different bodies.

Exactly. My mixed race little one is on the curvier side bum wise with lean legs and flared wide leg trousers are great but anything else just highlights her 'peachy bum' as her Primary school friends called it. Her partially pleated school skirt covers all of this, she would really struggle being self conscious at school all day in trousers.

Differentforgirls · 06/09/2026 06:40

Goge · 05/09/2026 21:41

As I said. It's not normal. It's weird and encourages weak effeminate men.

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I hope you don’t have sons! What about kilts?

Differentforgirls · 06/09/2026 06:39

Goge · 05/09/2026 21:10

No boys can't..girls can because it's socially normal to wear. Boys shouldn't dress like girls.

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Misandry.

Slightyamusedandsilly · 05/09/2026 22:29

Goge · 05/09/2026 14:06

Even if a boy looks it's completely natural and I wouldn't hold it against them. Girls shouldn't be flashing their knickers

No. BOYS need to control themselves in public. They're not bloody animals. Making excuses for them is part of rape culture.

And fuck off with the 'it's not normal for boys to wear skirts'. MEN and boys wear kilts and it's really bloody masculine. Nothing feminine about it. Men in plenty of cultures wear robes.

Nothing weak about femininity. Women have much higher pain thresholds than men. And as you've said, boys and men can't control themselves and what they look at. Another weakness.

Your ideas are sexist as fuck.

TheEdgyMoose · 05/09/2026 22:08

Goge · 05/09/2026 21:41

As I said. It's not normal. It's weird and encourages weak effeminate men.

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Feminine = weak does it? Wow. You really are on another planet.

Tangled123 · 05/09/2026 21:46

I think girls who already have the skirts should be able to wear them while they are still attending the school (if they still fit). Any ban should only be for new students. I think skirts and shorts should be allowed though, especially in warm weather.

Goge · 05/09/2026 21:41

TheEdgyMoose · 05/09/2026 21:34

You didn't answer my question.

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As I said. It's not normal. It's weird and encourages weak effeminate men.

TheEdgyMoose · 05/09/2026 21:34

Goge · 05/09/2026 21:09

It's not normal at all. Men don't wear skirts, dresses or lingerie. Men wear clothing for men. Women wear clothing for women.

I'd probably say they'd deserved to get teased for it for dressing like a girl.

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You didn't answer my question.

HowardsWahey · 05/09/2026 21:30

This reply has been deleted

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Goge · 05/09/2026 21:10

FieldInWhichFucksAreGrownIsBarren · 05/09/2026 15:12

Piss off, boys can wear skirts or whatever the fuck else they want, as can girls
The issue in schools is the appropriateness and endless fucking arguments about the correct length. I deal with this on a daily basis and frankly it's boring. Our uniform policy is flared & knee length, there are very few girls that can grasp this meaning and I see far too much arse cheek unfortunately. A flat out ban eliminates this.

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No boys can't..girls can because it's socially normal to wear. Boys shouldn't dress like girls.

Goge · 05/09/2026 21:09

TheEdgyMoose · 05/09/2026 15:06

Most boys don't wear skirts. But if a boy wants to wear one then where's the harm?

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It's not normal at all. Men don't wear skirts, dresses or lingerie. Men wear clothing for men. Women wear clothing for women.

I'd probably say they'd deserved to get teased for it for dressing like a girl.

DPotter · 05/09/2026 19:10

Keymoment · 05/09/2026 14:14

But short skirts aren’t in fashion. They haven’t been for years.
Personally, I’d be very happy with trousers for all schoolchildren.

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They may not be in general fashion but in school amoungst 14-15 years old there remains a trend for short skirts

LlynTegid · 05/09/2026 17:31

MightyGoldBear · 05/09/2026 15:28

For me I chose to wear a skirt because it actually hid my massive bulky sanitary pads rather than the school trousers which were ill fitting and made me look like I was wearing a nappy when I had my period. I do think choice is important particularly at a time of life where you feel your choices are restricted anyway. I have far more freedoms now as a adult as I did at university too. I think schools have lost the plot a bit with uniform. It all seems unnecessarily difficult. Not to mention expensive for parents to buy.

I agree.

I think uniform should end other than having sports kit. Just have a clothing code of what is and isn't acceptable.

Twoweeksinaugust · 05/09/2026 17:25

I really wish our local schools would ban skirts. There is absolutely no need for a child to have a wide belt like cloth, showing their arse, and walking around like that. Unfortunately there is so much pressure put on girls, but other girls, to roll skirts up - this is doing much more harm than mandatory trousers ever can.

damemaggiescurledupperlip · 05/09/2026 17:05

TheEdgyMoose · 05/09/2026 14:56

If skirts are allowed they should be allowed for everyone.

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Ah, this takes me back to 1980 and boys being admitted to the sixth form of our ancient Girls’ ex grammar school.

on Founders” Day there was a special service and guests, etc, and we were exhorted to ‘wear a nice dress, not jeans’ by our headmistress, who was not yet used to the idea of boys.

seceral of tbe lads did indeed turn up in nice dresses, but not for long …

Nocameltoeleggingsplease · 05/09/2026 17:01

It is absolutely because of upskirting and ridiculously short skirts, in secondary anyway.

You ABU

Nighttimeistherightime · 05/09/2026 16:57

Goge · 05/09/2026 13:37

As far as I know I don't see purposeful sagging in secondary school.

I deal with it every day, every class…

jellybeancockapoo · 05/09/2026 16:48

I think if you actually research it you'll find skirts have historically been unisex, just like trousers, not female-centric.

I believe everyone should have choice, therefore if girls are allowed to wear skirts, boys should be allowed to wear shorts, which they often arent.

What I do think though, is that girls should stick to the uniform policy if they do wear skirts. If they say 9cm above the knee, that's 9cm above the knee, not 9cm below their crotch. Suggest it's quite likely school are fed up of girls wearing wide belts instead of skirts; blame the girls who consistently break the rules and spoil it for everyone else instead.

catlover123456789 · 05/09/2026 16:12

It should be a choice. I hate wearing trousers and would always choose a skirt.

MightyGoldBear · 05/09/2026 15:28

For me I chose to wear a skirt because it actually hid my massive bulky sanitary pads rather than the school trousers which were ill fitting and made me look like I was wearing a nappy when I had my period. I do think choice is important particularly at a time of life where you feel your choices are restricted anyway. I have far more freedoms now as a adult as I did at university too. I think schools have lost the plot a bit with uniform. It all seems unnecessarily difficult. Not to mention expensive for parents to buy.

Differentforgirls · 05/09/2026 15:20

Goge · 05/09/2026 14:53

Skirts are what girls wear not

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What about kilts?