Why does it irk me that school skirts must be a certain length?

[Ilostit]

My DDs school has a strict on the knee (or below) skirt length policy. It really pisses me off! I just don’t see it’s anyone’s issue what length a school skirt is?! I don’t think above the knee is an issue.

Or am I cross because I feel it’s othering girls. I’m not aware of a similar boys rule?

@Clarabe1

I saw one amply built lass who had obviously applied the self tanner only for her already short school skirt to ride up and display the shining white moons of her lower arse cheeks. I had this terrible dilemma whether to approach her and then I thought how? How can you possibly approach a schoolgirl and have a conversation about her arse cheeks??? Poor kid.

Quite easily.You begin, 'Right, milady' and take it from there. You might point out that the pink and scarlet love hearts on her knickers should not be visible, or that her thong must be murderously uncomfortable, or lacy edges are inappropriate. You can finish it off by promising to phone her mother to ask her about her proper school skirt. It is amazing how many mother's don't, in fact, let their daughters out dressed like that.

It's controlling, and also tackling a problem from the wrong direction. Why are girls wanting to show so much of their bodies? Because they are taught very early on by a patriarchal society that their sexuality is their worth. But instead of challenging that, we measure their skirts.

@idiotmagnet

It's controlling, and also tackling a problem from the wrong direction. Why are girls wanting to show so much of their bodies? Because they are taught very early on by a patriarchal society that their sexuality is their worth. But instead of challenging that, we measure their skirts.

It is possible to do both!

Ds school is a pleated, knee length skirt. The neighbouring school have a pencil skirt which it seems has no length rules.

The girls from DS school look so much smarter, it’s more flattering for all body shapes and moving In the pleated skirtmust be easier!

Both schools though the girls have the choice of also wearing trousers. Which much conform to the same rules as the boys trousers. So no unfairness at all, infact more choice for girls (although in theory I assume boys could wear a skirt)

Those who say they wish their local school had these rules, they probably do. My DC’s school has it but according to my kids some of the girls are getting more wise to shaming teachers if they say anything so they don’t bother to enforce it anymore. With a culture of “believe everything students say” in schools now, it’s now worth the potential career ending ramifications for the teachers. And I don’t blame them tbh.

Not worth

I live by 5 secondary schools (2 boys 1 girl 2 coed) the girls one is the worst for tiny skirts and as many have said you can see their underwear. The 2 coed schools have a by the knee policy and whilst some girls (including my own when she was there) roll the skirt a bit. It's not to the belt stage the girls school does.

The boys schools 1 have the rule of no sports gear outside the school the other not. I've seen boys wearing very little and I dont care much for that either

I am for sensible uniform rules. By the knee and presentable even if in sports clothing plus no spray on trousers work for me

@QueenofLouisiana

Boys at DS’s school aren’t allowed low slung trousers (nor are girls who choose trousers option). So no pants should be on display. And yes, girls choosing the skirt should have it no shorter than 2inches above the knee. Seems a fair system.

Boys at DS’s school aren’t allowed low slung trousers

Should be the same rule for builders as well

@AHungryCaterpillar

I definitely think there should be rules, some of the skirts I’ve seen round here barely cover anything 😕

Totally agree with this. I wish my DDs secondary school would impose such rules - most of the girls wear their skirts so short. Even my DDs, they hoik them up and refuse to wear them longer as they’ll look stupid compared to their friends

The skirts at our school rarely reach below the blazer. Often not fully covering their backsides. Sad that they feel the need. I'm not sure they need to be below the knees but some coverage would be sensible.

@AKASammyScrounge next time I see a schoolgirl with her arse hanging out I will remember your advice God it’s awful isn’t it?? Maybe I am looking at the past with rose tinted specs but I really don’t remember any arse cheeks on display when I was at school

@Ilostit I think it is because the whole idea that if a skirt is short - then she's asking for it. And the idea where girls (in US schools where there don't have uniforms) being corrected and disciplined for wearing strappy tops - as it distracts the boys/male teachers.

@Snorkelface

When I at was at school they'd haul potential hemline offenders on to the stage during assembly and measure from knee to hemline with a ruler in front of the whole school (the rule at the time was no more than 2 inches above the knee). No rules on how tight they could be, we could barely walk.

Did You to go to my school? I remember that well

I remember the ruler and the hemline too! I also remember being forced to scrub my face at the sink because I had dared to wear blusher. If we were not appropriately dressed we were sent home or at least a letter to your mum. Don’t teachers say anything now?

Oh give over OP. Firstly, the rule is to stop naive rebellious girls walking round with a skirt that barely covers their bum. This is entirely inappropriate for school. And second, my boys go to an all boys school. The rules on uniform, hair, shoes, hoodies, beards etc etc are several pages long. It's nothing to do with gender and everything to do with appropriate attire in the school environment.

It's the language used in the rules that can be irksome. I agree with those who have said that a well enforced rile removes peer pressure from girls. When I was at school our skirt had to touch the ground if we knelt down, easy for staff to check and enforce (no arguments about where the knee starts/ends) teens are always going to push the boundaries, it's up to adults to have clear rules that they push against.

My school did also have rules on trouser length (although back then girls weren't allowed trousers) and lots of schools have rules on material and tightness of trousers for both sexes.

I can't get het up about hemlines as long as the girls wear black opaque tights underneath. Still the same effect - no boys or girls legs on show, no boys or girls underwear on show.

The state schools near here have skirts nearer the ankle than the knee- looks so much better than the awful tiny things you see so many girls wearing!

Also, girls need to realise what appropriate clothes are for school and later work. They can’t go to work in tubes that barely cover their bum.

DCs school have a rule but it is only sporadically enforced. Until I spent some time volunteering there I had a similar opinion to you OP. They wear skirts so short or rolled up you can actually see everything. I saw a girl bend down in the corridor to pick up her bag and I did see EVERYTHING, in summertime with bare legs and if there was underwear it was also invisible. What a sight. Girls walking up flights of stairs, sitting in front of their teachers like this and there is absolutely no avoiding what is on show unless you face the wall. So yes it is a good idea for theirs and everyone else's protection.

It is also a good way to understand that in certain environments such as a workplace you usually have to adhere to a uniform or dress code.

When a 13 year old can’t bend down to pick up a dropped pen without showing underwear then it’s too short. They need lengths that are appropriate.

In most jobs wearing a skirt as short as the ones I see some school kids trying to get away with would be inappropriate. It's a uniform rule rather than "othering" girls. Boys can't turn up in shorts usually, is that othering them?

Go find something else to worry about, seriously!

1. If this is such a problem just take away the option of skirts. Everyone can wear trousers. I wore a skirt and it's handy because they fit for longer and can't honestly say I cared about seeing other people's thighs, but if adults are so bothered about it and they make the rules - trousers it is.
2. Heard a good show yesterday about dress codes, it really made me think a bit more about them - www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w3ct3hgx

I completely disagree with you. Strongly.

If you don't agree with the uniform policy then don't accept the school place. Our school has Very strict policies on most things. The Head made it clear, this is the way we do things and if you don't like that, that's ok but maybe we are not the school for you. How can you argue with such reason?

@AHungryCaterpillar

I definitely think there should be rules, some of the skirts I’ve seen round here barely cover anything 😕

I agree and would have thought it quite normal for a school to insist on certain skirt lengths.