To think that this 6th Form Dress Code is wrong.

[alistron1]

DD1's 6th Form has a strict dress code of business/office wear. They have to look smart - which is fine.

This week it's been really hot, yesterday DD1 wore 'bare legs' with her very modest skirt suit. She got told off - initially for wearing flesh coloured tights (tights should be black) and was referred to the dress code which she brought home for me to read.

It contains this line:

"This is a mixed environment with particular implications for the way in which female students should dress."

AIBU to complain about this statement?

[foslady]

I would also be tempted to add about the health risks of tight fitting nylon clothes in hot weather
www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Thrush/Pages/Prevention.aspx

[foslady]

Same thought breatheslowly!

[NiceTabard]

I have bare legs at work every day (officey traditional environment with some client facing stuff) and it's perfectly normal.

I don't really understand what is the difference between bare legs and sheer tights - what's the point - and on someone like me it = discomfort, sweat and probably thrush. As it will = for some of these poor 6th formers.

Bizarre.

You did the right thing writing to them about it.

Apart from anything else, and IME, the most important thing in a workplace is can you do your job and actually are you really good at it, and as long as you are "office smart" then it's all good. This is surely telling the girls that what they look like will impact how they get on at work. Which is an atrocious message. Do men get that message? Hmm? What about the ones who spend hours on their hair and wear form fitting shirts and stuff hmm? No?...

[MammaTJ]

Do ask if women were raped, would it be their fault for not wearing a chastity belt. That is, after all, the logical conclusion!

[SconeRhymesWithGone]

Something else just ocurred to me; human flesh comes in lots of different colors, including black.

[quoteunquote]

Is this a state school or collage?

[NiceTabard]

Yup true scones.

There are lots of people on here who have said that bare legs are inappropriate in work but sheer tights OK. Can I ask your thinking on that?

[NiceTabard]

Oh not your thinking on that, scones, I meant the people who said it!

[Talkinpeace]

OPs is state - but the other one I looked up is private.
Suits in 6th form is not unique.
The sexism is the real problem ...

[utreas]

The statement is appalling and should be abolished. However nowhere I have ever worked would find bare legs or flesh coloured tights acceptable business attire so they are entitled to object to students dressing like that.

[SconeRhymesWithGone]

I am careful about using the word misogyny because it includes the notion of hatred, but the more I think about this the more I think it fits here. The "particular implications" smacks of the idea that femaleness, especially female sexuality, is somehow intrinsically fraught with peril for those who encounter it. This policy and the way it is stated is just so deeply offensive.

[EduCated]

I really am amazed at people saying bare legs are not ok/would be frowned on in their place of work. Genuinely, it's not something I've ever given a second thought to! Especially where flesh coloured tights wouldn't be acceptable.

[NiceTabard]

Where have you worked, utreas, out of interest?

I have worked in a range of jobs from retail and private/public sector through to traditional office/client facing and in none of them flesh coloured tights been out of line. I can't think there would be probs with bare legs looking back, even in retail, and there's no prob with that in my current role.

Do you mean everywhere you have worked, if you were wearing a skirt, you had to wear black tights? Or what colour? Thick ones? Am interested to learn what industries / roles & what sort of tights were OK!

[utreas]

NiceTabard- Its always been black tights wherever I have ever worked (accountancy and PR)

[grumpyoldbat]

Nowhere I have ever worked has objected to flesh coloured tights. More unusual colours such as green or purple were frowned upon. One place even mentioned that we should wear flesh coloured tights.

[DulcetMoans]

WTactualF! Yes, complain and complain until they understand how backwards that statement is.

[NiceTabard]

Wow.

That is really unusual.

I work in city of london in traditional industry (client meetings = suited and booted) and in my office and walking around all the other suits on the streets / train etc I can honestly say that bare legs and light suits / summer attire is what's happening.

I maybe would have noticed a woman wearing black tights in this weather - and I haven't. I am bare legged (below knee skirts) and honestly the gist in town there is weather-appropriate.

Are you in a different part of the country maybe? That might make a difference I guess. Otherwise am at a loss!

[NoComet]

This whole business attire malarkey is utter rubbish anyhow.

What present age of six formers nationally actually get jobs in formal legal offices and as full time customer facing accountants?

Most spend 3 years at uni, wearing jeans and then get a multitude of jobs or stay on to further study. Those who become teachers, vets, doctors, scientists, librarians etc, do not wear suits and tights except very occasionally. DH does shirt and tie, but he wears a jacket about twice a year.

Only two of our school gate mums ever wear city business attire. I'm guessing the one who's a solicitor can when necessary.

And that's the point, surely girls and boys can be trusted, at 21 to dress smartly without practicing for two years.

It's a load of money wasting crap.

Not to mention the likely hood of it slipping in to sexist nonsense like in the OP.

I had a similar tread a bit a go about all the letters from school moaning about skirt length and tight trousers on Y7-11 girls.

Why the fuck are the SLT so fascinated with underage girls legs?

[Want2bSupermum]

Bare legs are a not acceptable in my line of work. Business casual is a suit without the jacket.

I think mastering business wear is a skill and it is great that 6th form students have a safe forum to gain a confidence of managing a working wardrobe. I think only wearing black tights is a stupid rule. This defeats the whole objective of allowing sixth formers to follow a business casual dress code.

I would go to town on the school for the statement you posted OP. What they are inferring is that females attending the educational establishment are not safe because they might be raped/attacked/marginalized at any given moment by some boar of a male. Not acceptable. I would go so far as to complain to the govenors of the school if they don't remove the statement and consider removing my children from an institution that doesn't respect women.

[NiceTabard]

Why is it important for women to cover their legs with eg 7 denier tights which are made to look as if you're not wearing tights?

Does anyone know why bare legs are a "no go" assuming trad business attire otherwise ie not short skirts etc.

This is quite interesting.

[Want2bSupermum]

I think women are expected to cover their legs because men are required to wear socks with trousers. The female equivalent would be to wear a pair of tights so your feet are covered.

Also, if we go bare legged it means we would need to accept men not wearing socks with their shoes. This is the same reason as to why I never wear open toe shoes at work. I reallly don't want to smell or see anyone's feet. Men tend to have knarly feet which are smelly.

[merrymouse]

I think the male equivalent would be wearing shorts.

It's the difference between formal and informal dress.

(Having said that many jobs don't require business dress, as said above.. Must look a bit odd doing art and drama in suits.)

[merrymouse]

Maybe more men should wear shorts.

[JessieMcJessie]

utreas, when did you last work? No way are black tights the business norm in any office environment these days. They may have been worn by choice ( not by edict) when I was a trainee solicitor in the early 90s but they are now horrendously unfashionable. The only possible exception I can think of is undertaker.

[NiceTabard]

But women wear smart office wear / client facing with no tights all the time and the men still wear socks

Honestly black tights are not in evidence in the area I work and I'm guessing the city is one of the more traditional dress codes overall. The men are all suited and booted etc. The women look smart / suited but bare legs are the norm especially in the hot weather.