Girls school uniform - skirt length, make up etc

[Emmaheather]

Interested to hear people's views on this. I don't have any direct experience as a mother of boys who are at a school with a very relaxed attitude to school uniform. I don't understand why it's viewed as so important by some and why schools would send children home rather than let them attend school in a short skirt/make up. I worry about the messages being given by these attitudes.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c3gg178850xo

What I don't understand is why some girls wear those skirts SO short, that they're literally ABOVE their arse cheeks? Seen it many times. A girl walking, tight lycra skirt, arse half-visible hanging out. What's the rationale behind it? It is comfy? Pretty? Sexy? Cool? It just looks sad, sleazy and ridiculous. I myself wore minis in my teenage years and still do, you can wear a mini skirt which is still edgy/cool/whatever and it covers your arse at the same time, it doesn't have to be a choice between uber-micro or dowdy matronly 40s job.

Mum's a teacher (private school abroad). Pupils have to wear blazers (not in hot summer), but the rest of the outfit is completely their choice. Any kind of clothing, footwear, makeup allowed. I've seen photos. All the pupils are in various cuts of jeans (mostly straight or wide leg/baggy), simple comfy tops and trainers. Pretty much the same they wear on weekends + blazer. No 'underage hooker chic'. Everyone's comfy and happy, no skirt measuring, no angsting over bog-standard black shoes being 'too trainer-y or not'.

And I know it's difficult to believe, but generation after generation of these kids grow up, find jobs, work and somehow still manage to wear even the strictest of uniforms, if needed.

Then perhaps as well as teaching you about good skincare and how to look your best without judging young women if they do, your mother should have taken you to the doctor to find out what was causing such heavy periods and dealing with it.

What? I’ve literally never heard of periods being the whole point of the ‘skirt’?

This is very strange..

In your opinion make-up should be banned. You also infer that it is damaging. Can please provide research based evidence about this?

Please also indicate why you think it's strange that I have worn make-up since I was 14 "EVERY DAY". It's a perfectly usual and feminine practice, it makes me feel better, it protects my skin and it enhances what nature gave me. I have never

I have my hair coloured and cut regularly and, wear nice clothes and have also encouraged my dd to. Oddly enough it didn't prevent her going to Cambridge.

I believe issues with self esteem, self image and compulsion go far deeper than using cosmetics which for most women have a positive impact on their feelings of self esteem. Many women like looking their best but I do appreciate teachers often disapprove of that.

Teen DD wears her skirt short. She isn't supposed to do so and has had detention for not complying with uniform requirements.

She would prefer to wear leggings or jogging. bottoms, but her school will not allow jogging bottoms, as part of the uniform unless it is for PE. DD will not wear the regulation school trousers because she feels they are unflattering.

I often think if schools relaxed their uniform policy and allowed a more relaxed uniform like leggings and hoodie in school colours if it would stop all of the competitiveness over who can wear their school uniform in the most stupid way and it may also improve behaviour.

Current trend in y 9 and 10 at DD's school is to tie a knot in the school jumper at the bottom with a hair band to make it shorter and fitted!

All girls School

@sheoaouhra there are so many ways of dealing with periods, heavy or otherwise, that do not mean women have to wear skirts. Pads are no longer bulky (in case you hadn't noticed). There's period underwear for backup purposes. There's tampons. And honestly, I've managed to deal with heavy periods in full competition fencing kit. Women are better and stronger than that.

And just because some girls have issues about not wanting to go out without makeup, that doesn't mean it has to be banned for everyone in a school. The solution here is to work on the self esteem of female students, not ban things.

You seem to believe that women are weak-willed creatures, totally lacking in resilience. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Nope. I’m in Ireland!

When my DD started school they had to wear skirts that were below mid calf. I thought it was ridiculous and complained as can't think of any professional environment where this is necessary and they couldn't give a reasonable explanation for why. They have eased off to below the knee now but I still struggle so see the need. All students need to learn what is appropriate clothing for different environments but I think any skirt length that would be ok in an office environment should be OK at school. They get around the sexist nature of the regulations by saying girls can wear uniform trousers but not many do for some reason.

What girls wear should not be dictated because the male students and teachers cannot behave appropriately!

No uniform, but sports kit has to be worn for PE for Y7-11. Doesn’t have to be official kit, anything plain black or white is fine, though the younger years wear the uniform kit 2/3 days a week; my DC say it’s really comfy.

Rest of the time it’s largely jeans/cargos and hoodies, with a few individuals choosing goth, dark academia, smart business dress etc. Oh, and some younger ones are clearly dressed by their mums, looking very stylish and put together.

My sister is still peeved that she got one for not wearing her school beret whilst in uniform in the late 50s. She was on the other side of the city, two tram rides away and someone cared enough to report her.

They definitely are the devils work. Extremely tight and revealing because it’s like wearing paint