to think that school uniform ties for girls are ridiculous

[Hiyamaya]

Why on earth do schools make girls wear ties?

We have a compulsory pullover even if boiling. As it is Ireland and the school year ends in May, that is rare. On days when tracksuits are worn, the polo shirt can be worn without the jacket, which is fairly crazy. Obviously no ugg style boots or canvas shoes are allowed. There was a 'no mules' rule for a couple of years too .

I had to wear one all the way through school from being about 8 or 9. Never bothered me.

Dd has worn one for winter uniform from 4y. Learnt to tie it herself within the first week or so, no problem. She doesn't mind it.

Uniform is there to piss you off...I was told off for wearing the wrong colour coat..black not navy...and my skirt was too long ...get over it... it's part of school life...

The fact that teenagers may not like them is pretty irrelevant. Teenagers will hate pretty much anything they are told they have to wear, it's what they do! Least it gives them something trivial to rebel against.

I wore a proper tie all through school. Never did me any harm. I now know how to tie a tie unlike a lot of women and men I know. Plus, I like tying a mans tie for (on on)him

Autodiadact yup. That's basically it. Boobs and ties don't go (I wonder if that's what the whole trend for tying them super short is about)

Bolter I dont see how it's sexist to not want girls to have to wear clothing that's not designed for them. Lots of schools require male teachers and sixth formers to wear ties. Is that sexist?

Uniform is a load of bollocks imo but if you have to have one then make it one that will not unduly embarrass those coming to terms with their developing bodies. I repeat, ties and tits are not a great mix.

x post hiyamaya:)

I hate ties. They are ridiculous germ ridden things that even most doctors and consultants dont even wear these days. They should be consigned to history. Schools should be dragged kicking and screaming into the 21st century.

Germ ridden? Seriously? Where do people it them?!

YANBU; uniforms in general are a pet peeve of mine, but ties in particular for girls reinforce the notion that school is male turf, academic interest and achievement are something masculine. I don't see why girls can't look like girls (which a lot like to do) and still be fully engaged in school. Banning makeup and nail polish from schools is another thing that makes me grit my teeth.

My girls all had a strong interest in all things 'girly' and still excelled in school. The school oldest DD went through (in the US) turned a blind eye to makeup and hair colouring and all the rest that seems to make some parents and head teachers apoplectic. Still managed to send a huge number of teenagers to top US universities year after year.

StLeger I remember boiling to death in my scratchy v-neck in Ireland. Same horrible colour for most Irish complexions from kindergarten to the end of secondary, ties in primary, v-neck and wooly sweater for secondary not too easy to wash a wool sweater and dry it in the balmy sunshine Irish weather either...

Sorry - "where do people it them"??? They harbour germs.

Howstheserenity - and that's the other thing - what do boys get out of wearing ties at school: it's role play for when they go to work,..what do girls get out of it: they learn how to do their husbands tie.

I love a good uniform...no friggin messing about in the morning 'I don't know what to wear??'...wear your uniform!!!...and why are they germ ridden?..do you not wash your uniform till they stand up on their own???

Oh please!...so you learn to do a tie...fuck me feminism is dead..

If they are not germ ridden then why are medical staff encouraged not to wear them? Who washes a tie every night? What on earth is the point of them?

YABU

Its the concept of a uniform, not what you are actually wearing that is important. I have never worn a knee length grey skirt and knee length socks since I left school, but it is all about confirming to the school rules and being smart.

You can ask for special treatment for girls in one breathe, but campaign for equality in the next.

DD has said something like this recently. She quite rightly pointed out that adult women, even if they work in offices like Auntie Karen, don't wear ties or blazers. We sat and thought for a bit, and came up with pilots as the only professional women who wear ties and blazers. Even policewomen don't any more, and military women have a different kind of jacket for smart occasions - they dress the same as the men in practical situations though, which gets rid of the need for ties.

I think one of the teachers had been using the old "uniform prepares you for dressing for work" riff that day. I have tried to impress on DD not to try and torture the teacher with her logic.

Who is to say that in 10 years time, it won't be fashionable for women to wear ties?

I think it all went very wrong when we got rid of gym slips and navy knickers for the gels, tbh. All downhill from there.

They put girls in this daft stuff to desexualise them, so there is no hanky panky.

and why friggin not?..they are at school to learn not procreate!!..not that I believe thats the case...

It obviously doesn't work, BoffinMum.

Interesting thought though - why do civilian pilots have to be desexualised as well, and not airwomen on parade? A friend's DD has just joined the RAF and the male and female parade uniforms are very different. The female one is quite ridiculous.

YANBU

I hated my tie at school and never quite learned how to tie it properly. I went to a girls school for secondary and we wore a lovely open neck shirt, with a nicely shaped collar with no tie. It wasn't at all sloppy looking, in fact it's more akin to what women wear at work in adulthood.

I once saw a woman in a tie at work. It so doesn't look right. I don't see the point in girls wearing a what is essentially a man's item of clothing until they are 16 or so and the never wearing them again.