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Original poster

Girls' school allows pupils to identify as boys

81 replies

IAmAmy · 04/03/2017 12:17

Apologies if there's a thread on this or if this should be in an existing thread. I found out about this at a school near my own the other week: www.theguardian.com/world/2017/feb/19/st-pauls-girls-school-pupils-choose-gender-indentity

What do posters here think of this? I think it's quite a shame in a way, though I'd never want any pupil to feel uncomfortable. Going to a girls' school myself, I think they should be fighting against "gender" and conformity to what's expected from one or the other, this seems to be enforcing the idea certain traits mean someone should be a girl and others mean they're a boy (although I acknowledge my thinking may not be as developed as it should be on this).

OP posts:
NapQueen · 04/03/2017 12:26

It is still a single sex school Fred. The sex of the student is still female. That they choose to adopt a male persona and a male moniker doesnt change their genetic make up.

Similarly a male student who chooses to identify as female wouldnt be a suitable candidate for this school seeing as he is genetically male.

SexTrainGlue · 04/03/2017 12:25

So it admits girls, and lets existing pupils continue through the school regardless of any gender issues that arise.

That sounds pretty humane tbh.

And as it's a private school, they'll see parents voting with their feet if any part of the ethos of the school changes in ways their customers do not like.

Original poster
IAmAmy · 04/03/2017 12:25

I don't quite understand the "wearing boys' clothes" line in that as that particular school has no uniform. I concur entirely though NapQueen, clothes are clothes. With regards to names, that's certainly the case at my school.

This seems to me to be cementing the idea of "gender roles" and, far from liberating students, is enforcing the idea of some things/traits being "for girls" and others "for boys".

OP posts:
Freddorika · 04/03/2017 12:21

It turns a single sex school into a mixed school. I hope parents of boys will ask to apply and they should be able to.

NapQueen · 04/03/2017 12:20

wearing boys clothes well, anyone should be allowed to wear aby clothes they like regardless of which section of the shop they are displayed in.

being called boys names dont most schools ask what a students given name and chosen name is? So if a Charlotte is sent to school but is only ever called Lottie the parents usually inform the school on the document that her usual name is Lottie. Therefore whats the issue with a Jenifer who gets referred to as Bill?

Crankycunt · 04/03/2017 12:19

Then it isn't a girls school and they need to let other boys in.