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Original poster

Why are teenage boys allergic to jackets?

38 replies

Stroopwaffels · 19/09/2023 08:46

It is heaving it down in Glasgow this morning, really heavy rain and forecast to be wet all day. Just walked home after dropping car at garage for a service, passing hundreds of teens on their way to the local high school.

So many boys in just a sweatshirt. No jacket, no umbrella. Few girls similar to be fair but most girls in at least a coat/jacket with hood up. Boys seem to have a real aversion to wearing a jacket and would prefer to sit all morning in wet clothes.

It's just odd.

OP posts:
Needmorelego · 19/09/2023 08:54

I can't speak for Scottish schools but down here in England many schools have a stupid rule about no wearing of coats indoors but then don't provide a peg or locker to leave them on.
No one wants to hump a heavy coat around all day so they simply don't wear them.
(that's both boys and girls down here)

whatt2do · 19/09/2023 08:57

And yet, here I am in a tropical country, surrounded by teenage boys in hoodies. It's 30+ and 80% humidity.

They're mad, all mad.

DanielleandBobby · 19/09/2023 08:59

That made me laugh 😊. I had six years of it with my DS in secondary school! Crazy, aren’t they?

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Original poster
Stroopwaffels · 19/09/2023 09:00

whatt2do · 19/09/2023 08:57

And yet, here I am in a tropical country, surrounded by teenage boys in hoodies. It's 30+ and 80% humidity.

They're mad, all mad.

Yes, in the summer when it was warm (well, by Scottish standards, 22c ish) all the teenage girls were in the wee denim shorts and skimpy tops, boys in jogging bottoms and hoodies.

They are like a different species.

OP posts:
TakeMe2Insanity · 19/09/2023 09:01

Scottish husband is still the same and won’t wear a light coat unless we’re in Scandinavia in winter!!

Vallmo47 · 19/09/2023 09:06

Boys and girls here are discouraged from wearing coats, the schools don’t want them to wear them inside (instant negative point as if the coat is breaking a fundamental behaviour rule) and the lockers are deliberately tiny. My kids can’t be bothered with all the hassle of having to carry a wet coat around all day, which plays into schools hands perfectly.

comedownwithme · 19/09/2023 09:08

We don't have daft coat rules at Scottish schools.

hooplahoop · 19/09/2023 09:09

My boys will just about wear a jacket - but seem to have an aversion to taking a rucksack when going out with Friends - so then no storage for water bottle/ inhaler etc . Why can’t they be practical ?!

BCCoach · 19/09/2023 09:12

I think it varies massively by area and even school. Chucking it down here today and DS had blazer in bag and wearing rain jacket for his cycle to school. And joggers definitely uncool - shorts and t-shirts at all times are de rigeur, pasty legs are social death. In fact after enduring weeks of 30°C weather the boys at his school are campaigning for a summer uniform option that includes shorts. The junior school had a great uniform with shorts with big patch pockets that they loved and it would make sense to have the same option for secondary especially with the way the climate is likely to go.

yellowsmileyface · 19/09/2023 09:23

I think at that age it's seen as a bit uncool to be practical and prepared with a coat and umbrella! Cool kids just aren't fazed by the cold, rain, hale, snow, etc. 😎

Original poster
Stroopwaffels · 19/09/2023 09:24

I think that's it - they just have a uniform of joggers/hoodies and default to that whether it's 25c in August, or -5c in January.

OP posts:
EarringsandLipstick · 19/09/2023 09:29

Here, teenage boys will wear A Certain Type of Coat and that's it.

They hate the school uniform jacket.

The school (and I support this) insist on it being worn, and if you wear another coat & they are it as you enter the school, they take it from you (temporarily). My DC are still refusing to wear it & I assume will eventually be in trouble.

I guess it was ever thus! With teens wearing / not wearing certain clothes & adults being baffled!

Annaishere · 19/09/2023 09:30

My teen boy was like this for a few years he’s 16 now and doesn’t wear hoodies but wears a jacket all the time now. I don’t know why they do that

ilovetea14 · 19/09/2023 09:39

My ds just started secondary school and they have to take there coat off before going in to school. They can't wear it on the premises which is stupid has no locker or anywhere to hang it, so they have to carry it around to each class.

I have to go and buy him another coat as the other one he has is too bulky to carry around or fit in his bag. I weighted his school bag the other day and it was 1st 12Ibs 😱

Original poster
Stroopwaffels · 19/09/2023 09:43

These schools with coat rules are crazy. We live in the UK. It rains.

OP posts:
TastesLikeStrawberriesOnASummerEvening · 19/09/2023 09:47

I have a house full of hoodies from when Dd was at school, she'd refuse a coat then come home wearing one of the boys hoodies.
She's 22 and I have loads of big snuggly hoodies, great at this time of year.

Crunchingleaf · 19/09/2023 09:50

The rules regarding coats in schools are just daft tbh. I really don’t agree with rules that only exist for the sake of it.
Not being able to fit it in a locker makes life very, very tricky for neurodiverse students who struggle with executive function. In fact many teenagers struggle with organising themselves so not bringing a coat becomes the solution.
I am not in UK but we have a similar mixed climate here. In DC school they got rid of school coat and now allowed to wear black or navy coats. They all wear black puffer jackets.

Stressfordays · 19/09/2023 09:51

My lad went to school in the rain in just his blazer today despite my pleas to put on his very expensive and 'cool' north face coat. He said he'd rather have a wet blazer all day then lug his coat around.

cocksstrideintheevening · 19/09/2023 09:52

I've told DTs (girls) I'm not buying them coats this year. the last few years they have literally not been worn.

Roundaboot · 19/09/2023 09:52

Stroopwaffels · 19/09/2023 09:43

These schools with coat rules are crazy. We live in the UK. It rains.

Yup. Schools seem to actively discourage children from wearing coats.
At DS's school they insist on the blazer being worn at all time, however towards the end of the summer term they were given special permission not the wear them due to the warm weather. As the weather was showery as well as warm, DS wore a light waterproof jacket over his shirt and got it confiscated as he wasn't also wearing his blazer.

thecatsthecats · 19/09/2023 09:53

My question is why are mums obsessed with foisting coats on teens, who can easily live with the consequences if there are any?

I'm eternally grateful that my mum never made me wear a coat. My ILs are always giving me scarves, jackets, wraps, gloves and layers that I don't bloody want.

user14699084658 · 19/09/2023 09:58

Because feeling the cold is considered a sign of weakness in the teenage boy!
Mine will still be wearing shorts in December…makes me shiver just looking at him!

celticprincess · 19/09/2023 18:09

My daughter seems to the only child who wears a coat most of the year round. NE of England. Coats are for wimps. Just look at the toon on a Saturday night and you won’t see any coats when the snow is falling!! Girls seem as bad as the boys. Bits often playing football though so probably get hot. Maybe lose them when they put them down as goal posts.

Comedycook · 19/09/2023 18:11

It's the opposite where I am in London

They wear their coats even if the weather is over 30 degrees.

Remember last summer...when it hit 40 degrees. I saw some wearing puffa coats

Man's not hot

saltnsaucey · 19/09/2023 18:12

Cos they’re well hard innit