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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Skirt length responses

55 replies

Newq · 14/04/2021 07:07

Dd12 knows a girl age 11 whose skirts have to fall below the knee. She found this odd.

I tried to explain and probably did a crap job.

I know this sort of thing is going to come up again one day and don't want to mess up a second time so please help me what do I say in something of an age appropriate way that isn't going to immediately make her horribly self conscious?

OP posts:
Newq · 14/04/2021 07:23

@Tibtom I explain headscarves by being an old fashioned hygiene thing to eg prevent spread of lice. I wear one myself to stop pollen getting in my hair when gardening. They just still seem to be popular and why not - they can be practical.

OP posts:
TheHoneyBadger · 14/04/2021 07:21

I don't think it's 'un-feminist' to talk about modesty and some people not wanting to show too much flesh or risk flashing their underwear so long as it's not all about girls. I'd explain the modesty thing and say imagine if you're dad wore such short shorts that when he sat down everyone could see his pants?

I don't think it's too young to talk about some people being pervy and looking up skirts and say there's even been a law made because people were taking photos up people's skirts etc.

Also a general some people don't think you should show lots of flesh for reasons a-z but then other people say you should be able to wear what you want because a-z. In fact pre teen is the perfect time to open that can of worms.

justanotherneighinparadise · 14/04/2021 07:18

I’d go down the road of modesty, religion and culture.

peak2021 · 14/04/2021 07:16

Young women have different preferences. As do all women. Some prefer jeans/trousers, others skirts/dresses. Some feel the cold more than others seems a reasonable explanation.

Though if you think the 11 year old may fear pervy boys and men looking up her skirt, maybe at 12 it's not too early to start conversations about inappropriate male behaviour and how to challenge this, and when to tell you.

Tibtom · 14/04/2021 07:13

How do you explain headscarfs?

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