Why is this a protest?

NoLove, you are bringing other (admittedly important) issues into this debate.
Almost like those "what about men" comments when discussing women's issues, you're asking "what about women" when discussing men's (boy's) issues.

So you've taken some comments to mean "we". Never mind that so many men and boys attack pretty much any feminist cause or women standing up for one another. Odd.

Are "we"?

Well, yes. Some of "us" apparently are judging by this thread.

By the way I think boys wearing skirts is a great idea.

However - I think I sense why there may be some discomfort. I think many on this board tend to think in general that gender norms disadvantage women and girls - in fact, that is what they are for: gender is a hierarchical system with conventions designed to show that the masculine is at the head of the hierarchy and to subordinate the feminine.

In general, people who argue with that very broadly stated position, or who quibble about "the patriarchy", or say things like "yeah but women are equal now" or "well actually society is basically set up for women nowadays" blah blah blah - people like that can usually be safely identified as ideological and political enemies.

So these boys are cutting across these safe and familiar lines, because:

• they have adopted something traditionally feminine for the sake of comfort. It is very unusual that the feminine version of anything is healthier or more comfortable, so this feels like it's drawing attention to an implied whole raft of feminine comforts that do not exist.

• they are being good naturedly applauded for adopting feminine conventions. This cuts across the normal convention which is that the feminine receives contempt, and a male who adopts the feminine is reviled by society even more than feminine women receive day to day micro-aggressions as part of their lot. It feels uncomfortable if we think that people somehow believe that to be feminine is generally to be considered clever, witty, brave, and generally a good thing to be. usually it is not.

So these two things together make certain people uncomfortable: how have these boys got away with it? This isn't normal life. I hope people don't think this is normal life!

It's ok. People don't think this is normal life.

I think it's great, because

• I like "boys can wear skirts" a lot more than "skirt wearing people are feminine necessarily"
• I find skirts more comfortable than trousers / shorts and hate the "if clothing was rational everyone would wear trousers" narrative. I have argued against it on here before. Sometimes skirts just are better.
• I like that society is shifting to the extent that boys would consider doing this. when I was at school I think boys would literally rather have gone naked than been seen in a skirt.

That statement shows how normalised the idea girls should shave their legs is as it's suggesting skirts are only acceptable if legs are completely devoid of hair - shown also by some boys shaving their legs before wearing skirts here.

I think it is utterly appalling that one was told he couldn't wear a skirt because of his hairy legs.

Wtaf? So shaved legs is part of the school uniform? Do they apply that rule to girls?

A number of schools force girls to wear skirts. Similarly some workplaces are still able to insist on women wearing make up and high heels as the government refused to tighten up legislation on the matter.

Also the notion that it's women who are "outraged" when men do anything for men rather than men who are outraged whenever women and girls do anything for ourselves is risible. Any feminist campaign or even statement online is met with "what about men", never mind the misogyny.

When they do go out and do something for themselves we're also outraged by it.

Are "we"? Most women are hugely supportive of campaigns for men. I know of girls' schools who do annual collections and events for male charities.

any school which forbids girls wearing trousers (usually an issue in winter when trousers are warmer) would be liable to exactly the same form of protest, and would be on dodgy ground legally if they chose to enforce a gender based uniform. I think the boys in this story did a good job, well done.

Some of these responses are pretty funny.
When men moan on the internet about not having some of the things women have e.g. Race for Life, we tell them "why don't you go out and organise one yourself?".
When they do go out and do something for themselves we're also outraged by it.

Loopy I agree. Girls protesting a "no trousers" rule would not have garnered the same reaction.

That's what the OP should perhaps have been posting about, rather than calling these boys "dense" for effectively initiating change within their school.

I would absolutely support my DD to protest any such rule, but fortunately her school is more sensible and allows skirts, trousers and skirts for both sexes.

https://www.google.co.uk/amp/www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/06/21/french-bus-drivers-don-skirts-protest-shorts-ban-heatwave/amp/

Men do it too

I should imagine part of it was also that, as shorts weren't allowed, they didn't have any handy with which to protest but they could easily borrow skirts from their girlfriends or sisters.

I think it's a great protest. Good luck to them.

However it would be interesting if the school said "fine, we're happy for you to wear skirts" instead of capitulating. That would be a good move.

As has also been said on another thread which alludes to this, the law still allows women to be required to wear make up and high heels in certain work environments. Nicola Thorp tried to protest against that which is clearly ridiculously sexist and was of course met with significant abuse (before the government refused to legislate further on the matter).

Not entirely the same point but the second sentence in the article A few had gone the extra mile and shaved their legs. is also disheartening. Children learn at such a young age that girls must not have any hair on their legs, despite it being perfectly natural.

OP you are being deliberately goady and rude.

This is an open forum for debate. Your rudeness in the face of someone disagreeing with you does you no favours.

Protests don't have to result in someone getting in trouble. These boys wanted to be able to go to school, stay within the rules and not overheat. They have managed that. If it happens to embarrass the school, that isn't the boys fault.
It would be a great outcome if the school realised the policy is unfair and simply allowed a choice of trousers, skirts or shorts for all pupils. If it doesn't, the boys have still achieved what they wanted.

I don't understand your issue with this at all.

There's no reason for boys or men not to wear skirts. That it's considered worthy of mirth shows how anything deemed to be associated with women and girls is seen as weak, laughable etc.

I support the boys' protests and think all schools should let all pupils choose between skirts, shorts and trousers.

However, at least they had a means of protest and actually a way to get around the heat - wear skirts. Girls can't protest against not being allowed to wear trousers in the schools which don't permit them to without breaking the rules.

rather than make martyrs of themselves for no good reason, as it seems would have made you happy)

Plus it avoided the whole "they broke the rules,what do they expect" and "if you don't like the rules pick a different school" parent bashing.
Sarcastically or not,the HT instructed them to wear skirts. They wore skirts.

"Kids are hot. Kids ask to wear shorts. They are told no,wear skirts instead. Kids wear skirts."

^^ This. TBH I think they look perfectly smart and nice, the skirts all appear to be knee length or almost so (so not unreasonably short), and they are wearing school shoes and black socks as I assume their uniform specifies. It's the 21st century - we've got over the horror of girls wearing trousers, perhaps we can now get our head around the fact that in hot weather boys might be more comfortable in skirts.

Indeed Loopytiles and it seems to pass without comment that many schools still force girls to wear skirts.

I am on the fence on this: the students' actions (girls must've been involved too, in loaning clothes etc) were effective IMO, but wonder if school and media reaction would differ if girls in schools where they are not allowed to wear trousers or shorts wore boys' uniform.

Also you can protest without breaking rules you know OP. Not every protest has to be about getting yourself into trouble just to "protest" about something.

By remaining within the boundaries of the school dress code the boys have found an effective and harmless way to get their point across.

"...But being sent home would have been a better protest..."

They seem to have done a pretty good job this way round. They've made the protest AND have very cleverly stayed within the school rules (rather than make martyrs of themselves for no good reason, as it seems would have made you happy).