School Uniforms Have Become Too Sexy - Is It Time To Say Stop?

[CRAWT]

Seeing as the schools are finished or are finishing up I thought I'd throw this one out to everyone here. I know it's commented on before, but I thnk it's getting worse over the last while. DD1 had just finished school and DD2 has two years left and all I can say is I'm glad the DD1 has finished and can't wait till DD2 has done the same. Simply because over the last few years the uniform at their school has become what can only be described as a perverts dream. Lets start with the belts, because to call them skirts would be a lie under the trade descriptions act. Because they are nothing of the sort. They are either floaty pleated things or the bodycon style type. And are ass level of course being so micro short, with only a few exceptions. Not rolled or cut, but bought that way. So no hope of any teacher ever correcting that in class. Because they go into class like that. Then it's either tights or socks. Tights vary from the thin sheer black type to various patterned styles, with some girls towards the end of the school year turning up in those horrendous mock suspender tights. The epitome of tartyness and totally outrageous for school. Socks are black, always worn long. Knee high and over knee. The over knee type with coloured ribbons on them. Footwear is usually standard, but heels have been known to be worn too. Not kitten heels either, but stiletto. Health and safety surely must be compromised with those. Shirts are too tight with buttons open, ties hang loose and not done up either. Blazers if buttoned hide the skirt giving a view that would suggest no skirt is being worn, the same with the school jumper. Down over the skirt, whether it's deliberate or not, is the worst possible look when they have the knee socks on. Coupled with full makeup, hairs all done up, fake tan, etc, it's just gone beyond what is appropriate for school, in my opinion. I'm not a killjoy, but the sight of these girls going to and from school and hanging around town during lunch or after school dressed like that attracting attention form the older male is a poor reflection of the school. One local school has skirts well below the knee, but the girls in it are considered 'square' by the girls in our school. I mentioned in at the last parents evening, 'we know about it' was the response. I'm sure they are as they see it every day. But so far have done nothing to fix it. DD1 was no worse than any of the other girls, but she was never going to listen to what I had to say as her peers decided that for her. And the school allowed it. Same goes for DD2. Especially as it's a co-ed school I would have thought they'd have nipped this in the bud. I do feel this a recent trend, when I was at school not one part of it would have been tolerated. Now it's the norm, I shudder to think where we'll be in 5 years time. I think it's time to say enough is enough and sort this out once and for all. Anyone else feel the same way?

[TiffanyAtBreakfast]

OP, you're the one buying the uniform and surely you could just stop your DD from wearing anything you consider to be inappropriate if you are this upset about it?

Girls have been rolling their skirts up since the dark ages with no harm done, but I agree on many points - Knee length socks with ribbons on and those fake suspender tights are VERY inappropriate for school wear and are unfortunately associated with adult fantasy.

Could I ask DeWe - Why on earth shouldn't hair be worn loose? Just from a tidiness point of view, or...? What's the logic with that?

I worry more about the fact that at the weekends in this weather I've been seeing what look like 12-13 year old girls walking around in tiny crochet crop tops with shorts that barely cover their bum cheeks!!

When I was at school, we had the choice of either wearing on-the-knee length skirts or plain black trousers (not official uniform - from anywhere) to school. Nobody chose the skirt because it was considered frumpy - Problem solved, nobody looked tarty.

[suchawimp]

I left school a decade ago but the girls wore skirts year round. Spot checks on skirt length, heel height, and if the tie / blazer were worn correctly.

Not a posh school either but lots of older teachers who were strict. No mobiles or chewing gum allowed. No swearing. 2 detentions in one term meant spending a couple of hours after Saturday morning school ended cleaning or litter picking.

[xylem8]

Journalist

[xylem8]

.. or perv

[treas]

Our school has just introduced a new uniform with blazer, shirt tie and a choice of trousers (available from everywhere) or a knee length skirt available at only one outlet costing a minimum of £30

Trousers it is then!

[Darkesteyes]

everydayvictimblaming.com/submissions/internalised-victim-blaming-and-mixed-messages/

[LadyBeagleEyes]

It was always thus with school uniform.
I left school in the 70's and we all hitched up our skirts and wore as much make up as we could get away with.
Teens will always tailor their school uniform to what their peers are doing.

[StepAwayFromTheEcclesCakes]

has always been so and twill always be so. tis fashion can't get worked up about it myself. men wil look at girls girls will look at men same sex will look at same sex its a fact of life.

[SanityClause]

Mmmm, interesting, darkesteyes.

I absolutely agree that women (and certainly girls) should not have to "tone down" their clothes to avoid sexual harassment or abuse.

The bit I'm having a problem with is the "appear confident so you won't be a victim." One of my DDs has been bullied at school. while making it clear that it is never the victim's fault, one of the strategies we have provided her with is that she should appear confident, as a bully will be less likely to choose her as the victim. I do get that this could be seen as victim blaming. But it also works for her as an individual. It doesn't stop the bully, but means that she, personally, is less likely to be the victim.

(This is re bullying of preteen girls, by preteen girls, so much less likely to be sexual in nature!)

[piprabbit]

OP - you seem a bit over excited about it all, perhaps the hot weather is having an effect.
Contact the school now and ask them to review their rules in September.

[SoupDragon]

You could try by controlling what your own children wear. You think they look tarty and too sexual yet still let them do it.

[Darkesteyes]

Thanks Sanity Its difficult for parents i agree but ive heard schools say in the past that girls cant wear this or that because it distracts the boys which shifts the responsibility for the boys behaviour onto the girls which creates a dangerous precedent IMO.

[SoldAtAuction]

I am so glad we don't have uniforms here! Everyone just wears jeans and t shirts, hoodies and sweat pants, or if its hot, shorts.

[JenaiMorris]

You sound like a fetishist after some grubby chat about 'sexy' schoolgirls, OP. Sorry.

[turkeyboots]

Our local secondary as such a ugly uniform that it puts me off applying there. Mustard coloured polo shirts and nasty shiny trousers for both genders. Suits no one and they look boiled alive right now.

Bet they wish for a skirt to roll up. Would be much cooler!

[FuzzyWuzzywasaWoman]

Don't worry, maybe next term you'll learn all about paragraphs.

[Eilidhbelle]

Don't buy them inappropriate school wear then! Problem solved.

[TondelayoSchwarzkopf]

TL:DR

But at a guess YABU

[soontobeburns]

I am going to be the only one to agree with the op here.

When I was in school (left 06) I was constantly picked on for my skirt being too long at my knees (I have always been obese it wouldnt be nice any shorter)

Now I walk by schools and like the op says its belts as skirts, sexy tights and see threw blouses with neon bras and all hair and makeup to the nines. Oh and heels too and fashion bags that their work spill out of

Its just not on and even as a straight woman I do forget myself sometimes and can think a student looks "sexy" (talking 6th formers so 17/18)

I don't agree with not having a uniform but when I was a tech we where much more modest than the school students.

[TimeofChange]

The girls at the school local to me look like the Op has described.
It is very popular school with a big MC intake, but a lot of the girls wear skirts that barely cover their knickers.

The comp in the 'rough' town 15 miles away is far stricter about uniform.
I think the Head is just wet about these things.
They also allow students to park on the zigzags outside the school, by turning a blind eye to it.

[gordyslovesheep]

at least most school still teach kids how to do paragraphs

I am 43 and used to roll my skirt up 5/6 times once I got to school - the shame!

[mumofthemonsters808]

My DD goes up to the secondary school in September at the open evening the school were very clear regarding what they regard as an acceptable skirt length. At tutorial each morning a uniform inspection is carried out, if inappropriate clothing is worn parents are contacted.

[JenaiMorris]

Is ass level the approximate height of an average donkey? Would that be from the ground to his shoulders, or to the tips of his ears?

Or are Ass Levels a new Gove thing?

[WLM1]

Crawt, where is this school?

[PointyChristmasFairyWand]

We have only one secondary here and they are strict but reasonable on uniform - certainly nothing like what the OP describes would be allowed to pass. They recently cracked down on school trousers too, no skinnies allowed. I don't think the OP's experience is the norm.