Transgender pupils allowed to chose uniform

I went for an interview once at a US company in the uk. The American interviewer mentioned she was surprised (and envious) that wearing skirts without pantyhose seemed to be fine in the summer in the UK; she was wearing nude tights. In that situation, I'm not sure skirts would be the cooler option, though YMMV of course.

i would ptefer skirts only uniform for girls. I really don't care what argument you come up with.

I'm surprised at this from you, lass. I understand your personal preference for skirts but what is the point of girls (and boys) not having the choice, which they will almost certainly have when working?

I'm in trousers right now - they are lined and it saves me the bother of tights, a further expense.

Oh, and some people have legs that rub together in hot weather - linen trousers are more comfortable than a skirt and no hotter - more casually, shorts or culottes are another cool option.

Disclaimer: none of the above is intended to invalidate, disbelieve or otherwise criticise your own opinion of the comfort of skirts; I hope you will return that courtesy.

It does seem to be a school that goes in for press releases. They are apparently the first school to make mandarin compulsory and the top performing co-educational school in Sussex/the uk (not sure how far down the list they come when you include single sex schools) and the headmaster got some kind of award from esteemed educational journal 'The Tatler'.

www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationnews/12109564/Brighton-College-scraps-century-old-uniform-code-to-accommodate-transgender-pupils.html

This article has quotes from the headmaster. It seems to be very much about girls wearing one uniform and boys another, with exceptions only being made for pupils whose parents have written to the school to say that their child is gender dysphoric.

Why should I have a logical argument beyond I find trousers on women really unattractive.

You don't need a logical argument, but without one your personal preference for skirts is irrelevant to uniform policy.

Are you okay with boys in skirts then?

Not sure how has anything to do with my preference for skirts.

Blu I don't think that is what the school is suggesting but the articles are very badly written.

Actually Lass you did say you wouldn't support a daughter wanting to wear trousers

Yes, in the context of the uniform at my son's school. If I had had a daughter she would have gone to that school. The uniform is a skirt.

I don't actually know if my daughter is transgender or just a tomboy only time will tell. I just want her to be happy. Part of that happiness is that she dresses like a boy right down to her underwear. There isn't way she would be wearing a skirt to school if she did not feel happy to do so. I would actively fight for her right to do so.

Why all the hoo haa? Just allow children to wear what they want skirts or trousers.

Blu, that made me lol.

Hopefully the school will clarify this.

Sweet, I do not know how to explain how much I'd love to be able to say I never ever wore a skirt! My mum asked primary and secondary, they both said no.

I also hate it if boys are allowed to wear boots and girls aren't.

So to begin with they had a boys uniform, trousers, which only boys could wear, and a girls uniform, skirts, which only girls could wear .
And now they have a trouser uniform, which only boys and those who identify as boys can wear, and a skirt uniform, which only girls and those who identify as girls can wear?

Far out!

One of my daughters has worn trousers to school since she was 6, she does not own a dress or a skirt. Now she's approaching secondary she has been teased about having to wear a skirt but it's not compulsory and if it were I would not be sending her to a school that made skirts for girls compulsory.

Personally I would rather see girls in trousers than the bum skimming/same length as their Blazers things that pass for skirts these days.

Actually Lass you did say you wouldn't support a daughter wanting to wear trousers.

Ah, Lass, I thought you were saying girls shouldn't be allowed to wear trousers.

Are you okay with boys in skirts then? Sorry if I misunderstood you.

I also can't be the only girl who had that problem with tights and eczema. Haven't worn skirt and tights since I left school. When I think of that horrible weeping eczema I still shudder.

I grew up in the countryside, vaulting gates, in trousers

In the summer, linen/cotton wide leg trousers are just as cool as a skirt. And personally I just don't feel comfortable in a skirt, I feel underdressed and exposed. Personal opinion/preference again.

.Are you imagining climbing over? If you think of it as a vault motion then you might see more why the skirt is restrictive.

I grew up on a farm. Vaulting gates. In a skirt.

I did not say girls should not be allowed to wear trousers. I said I don't like them , the advantages of trousers are dubious as are the restrictions of skirts or dresses.

It is beyond me why anyone would choose to wear trousers in summer. It looks so uncomfortable. In winter jeans in particular are not warm.

I agree Culture I fully appreciate you probably all thought my comments were nonsense. So what , it's my opinion. I see plenty of opinions on MN I can't take seriously (we are past Christmas now but really, some of the threads....)

However this blanket mantra that trousers are so much more practical blah, blah. I can't take that seriously either.

There was a thread on AIBU about this recently and one of the supposed disadvantages of a dress was a girl could not play in puddles or mud or paddle in the sea. As someone pointed out Why not? Are dresses not washable? So far as paddling , it is far easier to tuck a cotton dress into knickers than roll up trousers.

Also how can you say "ditto" for cartwheels.. How do you do a cartwheel or handstand in a skirt without showing your legs?! Where are these gravity defying skirts sold?!

Lass, just because it worked for you doesn't mean it works for others
I did say sprawling on grass rather than sitting.

Gates, think of railings then. Are you imagining climbing over? If you think of it as a vault motion then you might see more why the skirt is restrictive.

Are you really saying that a girl should not be allowed to wear trousers? I can't see the point of skirts but I wouldn't stop anyone wearing them.

As I said before, this just shows its individual choice. Lass preferred a skirt, I didn't. I was very fond of cartwheeling, doing handstands, and other amateur gymnastics when I was (much) younger. Trousers meant I didn't have to worry about anything. Just my preference, which is why girls shouldn't be compelled to wear one or the other when wearing a school uniform. It's really not about which is better.

Lass, why are trousers tight and digging in?

Because that is how many people wear them. I see women squeezed into trousers and think that looks painful.

As for your other comments about what girls can't do.

Climbing over a gate- no idea what you are on about. Perfectly possible.

Turning cartwheels. Ditto-although have to say cartwheel turning seems to have been an activity conspicuous by its absence in my life - can't recall anyone going in for it much (despite on MN it being second only to tree climbing.)

Re sitting on grass- again no idea what sort of skirt you were wearing, haven't encountered any difficulty.

Lass, why are trousers tight and digging in?

How does a girl in a skirt climb over a gate or turn a cartwheel without showing the full length of her legs, which she might not want to flash to all and sundry?

How does she sprawl on the grass on a sunny day without worrying the same, or that she'll show gusset and knickers? I too wore a skirt and hated it.

Thats just the practical side. If you don't believe in any of those issues then surely your only objection to girls wearing trousers is you don't like the look of them? Presumably you think boys look fabulous in trousers?

Do you think girls should just be stuck with waving their arses at all and sundry because they wanted to do some active play?

The point, Lass, is that it should be personal choice for each girl/woman! Some will prefer trousers, some skirts - each to their own, for different reasons. So, no one should get to dictate trousers over skirt or vice versa. Give each child of whichever sex the choice.

Lass, I occasionally do find myself wondering how you come to find yourself posting on FWR. Are you lost? The 1950s are that way >>>>

I suppose as well as imagining what my childhood was like I must be imagining that I've had a very successful career in a traditionally male sector, returned to worked full time after pregnancy,kept my name and been financially independent all my adult life. So 1950s

Why is a skirt less practical? This gets trotted out every time as a mantra. Didn't stop me doing that holiest of feminist holies climbing trees or riding a bike. Where do you get this nonsensical idea that you can't move about or run or climb in a skirt. Guess I must have imagined my childhood.

Why are tight trousers digging in at the waist more comfortable or easier to move in than a loose skirt?

As for trousers being warmer - how does that work exactly? Trousers are one layer of usually unlined material , same material winter and summer,under which you will wear socks. How is that better than a thick lined skirt with thick cotton tights?

And as for tights causing thrush(which I anticipate someone will come up with ) the only time I had thrush was in the brief period I wore jeans.

merry you talked about taking opinions seriously - I find this mantra that trousers are so much better ridiculous too.