Short school skirts "sending the wrong message"

"I really object very strongly to such a dangerous message being sent out to impressionable girls"

I am not convinced that this is the message they would be trying to get across. The fact is that exceedingly short skirts are simply inappropriate for school and for the office. Several year 7 parents have said to me that they don't approve of how short the skirts are.

Round our way, it is the girls at the girls private school that wear the shortest skirts.

DD has an ingenious skirt which she can roll up or down according to requirements

The boys are meant to be able to think 'gosh, you know what, that girl may be wearing a very short skirt but that still doesn't give me the right to touch without permission'. It's not that difficult.

I really object very strongly to such a dangerous message being sent out to impressionable girls. 'It's all your fault if you get attacked, you were sending out the wrong message'. Women of all ages are raped - do you think 90s are 'asking for it'? Women wearing all sorts of clothes are raped - a pair of baggy jeans is no protection. It is incredibly dangerous to start girls off into adult life believing it is their responsibility to avoid being raped. That is something that is not in their control. Rape is the fault of rapists. Doesn't matter how you behave or how you dress - wearing baggy unflattering clothes does not protect people against sexual violence.

I got a letter yesterday saying dd's school (she's 13) are now going to be selling skirts to stop the 'short skirt' problem. They will be a kilt type skirt that have a waist panel that stops the skirt being "rolled over" at the waistband. They have also banned the lycra type girl's trousers and say they have to "fall away from the leg". The skirt will cost £20

Can anyone argue that it's right for teenage girls to be showing their knickers as their skirt is so rolled up?

What are the boys meant to make of it? What message does it give?

It does not forgive rape, nothing does

But still

I agree with Evil as well. It just sends the wrong message. DD's school had a uniform check yesterday. I bet there were a fair few detentions handed out.

and if the 'it's all the fault of girls wearing short skirts' brigade were right about sexual violence, women in strict Arab countries where people have to cover would be free from rape and abuse. Sadly they are not.

Two different things here. Fair enough to make the point that ridiculously short skirts are not acceptable at school. But most definitely NOT acceptable to say anyone other than the culprit is responsible for sexual violence, harassment or intimidation. It doesn't matter what clothes someone is wearing, sexual harassment - or worse - is WRONG.

No teacher in their right mind would ever dream of justifying racist language, abuse or violence. They should apply the same reasoning to every other form of discrimination, including gender.

agree with evil, spend a lot of time asking girls to unroll their skirts. It is done to invite sexual attention, and my lessons are not the place for that, plus i don not want to see thier knickers

Was it to do with sex or the fact that they are there to work and flashing knickers is not appropriate at work. (Hmm. Now to tackle the problem of boys with low trousers revealing pants or worse. Boak!)

I teach in a secondary school and the girls' skirts are ridiculously short. I ask girls to pull their skirts down constantly- a large number wear them with tights, and the skirts are so short you can see where the tights change colour at the top. It DOES send the wrong message-it says "I do not respect myself". I do not for a minute think that girls who wear short skirts invite sexual violence, but wearing skirts so short that your knickers are practically on show does invite sexual attention, and girls need to be aware of that. And school is not an appropriate place for that.

Not sure about this one. I don't agree with girls (or anyone) being told that clothing invites sexual violence. On the other hand, I do think very short skirts are inappropriate for school and invite sexual attention. I have seen the knickers of some girls at our local school, as their skirts are sometimes shorter than the bottom of their knickers!

(I send my DDs to a school which requires knee-length skirts, and anything above the knee, never mind shorter, is considered too short.)

i have noticed some girls skirts are really ridiculously short and these are quite posh schools. surprised me as our local bog standard comp would not allow it

If the school are going to take this view they need to just state a skirt length (no more that 2 inch - yes I know schools don't measure in inches any more!)about the knee and leave it at that.

At what age are girls too young to be sending out this supposed sexual message? 11? 9? 6? Should I put my 6 yo in a longer school skirt, for fear of attracting sexual interest?

I totally understand your objection, OP. Fire off an email. You may well be ignored, but I think you need to make your point with the school.

I agree that it sends the wrong message. Why do girls wear very short skirts? It is inappropriate for school age girls and whether you like it or not is is perceived as tarty/encouraging sexual interest. If I were you I'd be pleased the school were looking out for the girls rather than trying to look for trouble.

Have you ever seen Ladette to Lady

Young ladies do not represent themselves in this manner

Frankly, I'd just tell DD that the woman is barking and forget about it.

Send the wrong message could mean leisure wear rather than smart?