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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Non uniform at school - provocative clothing.

82 replies

MotherMorph · 02/07/2020 20:54

I'm probably really late to the party about this and has been discussed a million times before.
I was discussing with a friend the other day how only womens clothing is really ever described as provocative/suggestive. "They were dressed like a slut etc" I've literally never seen anything written about how a males clothing could be overtly sexual or provocative. It made me wonder why there always eems to be some responsibility on woman (and the way they dress) for how how men behave.
Then recently on a local fb page someone started a discussion about 6th form dress codes and non uniform policies at school. The list of what girls cant wear is as long as your arm. What cant boys wear? Ripped jeans. That's about it. (In 6th form to be fair, they are expected to wear suits)
The argument was brought up about hormones and whether girls would dress provocatively. I realise that they would need some boundaries, but my DD has "cropped" tshirts that finish on her belly button, it's not the same as wearing a triangle bikini. No strappy tops, vests, cropped tshirts, off the shoulder, cold shoulder, short shorts, ripped jeans etc. There is not a lot in her wardrobe that isnt in this list and yet she dresses quite conservatively!! (This is for non uniform)
In 6th form they must also wear suits or business like clothes. But there are 100 rules about that as well.

OP posts:
midgebabe · 02/07/2020 21:09

Fashion equal less fabric...because girls should only exist for the benefit of men . From birth baby girls are praised for being pretty not strong or clever, so they know being pretty is important

FFSFFSFFS · 02/07/2020 21:08

Hopefully someone much more clever than me will be along - but its all about girls/women being sexually objectified and being responsible for men not being able to control their urges.

There is often no way for women to win - conform to fashion and you're often "provocative", don't confirm to fashion - you're unattractive.

Damned whores and gods police - it starts young

MotherMorph · 02/07/2020 21:08

I guess the question should be why does fashionable = less fabric for girls? I am sure most teenage boys would be able to pull something out of their wardrobe /off "the chair" and it would be suitable. DD said I might need to buy her something else to wear....which I dont particularly want to do for 3 mornings of school. She generally wears shorts and a (slightly) cropped tshirt, or skinny jeans with a crop tshirt or cropped jumper. Less than an inch of her belly is on show. She would rather wear school uniform.

OP posts:
HPandTheNeverEndingBedtime · 02/07/2020 21:06

Non uniform days are a nightmare, girls often come dressed inappropriately, it is fashion that is the problem and how sexualised it is, as well as greater choice for the girls and not understanding what is appropriate. Boys generally wear jeans/ trackies and tshirts and hoodies with trainers. All appropriate to be in a classroom. The last non uniform day there was a girl wearing a boobtube crop top and was almost falling out of it, most others were wearing crop tops of other designs Jeans that were ripped all the way down the leg, open toe shoes, very short skirts, shorts you could see the bottom of their bum cheeks. None of those things are appropriate for school / work place and I teach science so having that much skin on show is a safety hazard.

However I am aware that particularly in America they are very strict and boys can wear vest tops but girls can't as they can't show their shoulders which is obviously not OK and is sexist.

MushyPeasAreTheDevilsFood · 02/07/2020 21:04

Dont you think it's because mens clothing is not at all Adventurous in any way and women's clothing is so varied?

What are the makes going to wear thats provocative? Hot pants?

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 02/07/2020 20:58

I see your point on the language used when describing women's clothing.

However with regards your lists boys/girls clothing - perhaps the school didn't think it necessary to tell boys not to wear tops which do not cover their midriff.

A top which shows midriff is inappropriate. Yes - it covers more than a triangle bikini. But it is not suitable clothing for a professional environment (which I would class a secondary school as).

The school would be better placed to share one list and have it apply to both sexes.

fascinated · 02/07/2020 20:56

If boys routinely wore equivalent clothing it might be described as provocative.

But they don’t.