to be unimpressed by the school photographer insisting that the girls let their hair loose for photos?

[qwertypop]

DD is in Y6 and has long hair that she wears in plaits for school. This is a) a school rule and b) something I'd insist on even if it wasn't due to nits and tangles etc.

School photos yesterday and DD came home with her hair loose. The photographer had told all the girls to let their hair loose so they'd look pretty for the photos I totally believe DD on this as she hates having her hair in her face, hates wearing it loose, and was furious at having been told to do it!

Is this normal or AIBU to think it a bit crap and sexist of them? Surely they should know that children look pretty however their hair is?

[SantasLittleMonkeyButler]

Oh yes, because the most important thing a little girl will ever do is "look pretty".

How about keeping the plaits in because they look 'smart'? Or do we not require our little girls to be smart.

Grr. YANBU.

[BillnTedsMostFeministAdventure]

If photographer wanted them all to look similar then why did photographer say "to look pretty"?

[PeterParkerSays]

Hope you're giving them hell OP, and asking why the teacher backed the photographer up in this escapade.

[NatashaRomanov]

Wow, I'd be pretty unimpressed if this happens to my DD (she starts school in September).
School photos should represent how the child looks at school. Not how some photographer thinks is 'pretty'!
FWIW, I think my DD looks very pretty in plaits, which is how she'll wear her hair for school. Left loose, it goes wild within 30 seconds. She still looks pretty, just not neat!

[qwertypop]

Didn't get to see the teacher involved because she only works Fridays to cover PPA time. However I mentioned it to DDs normal class teacher who gave me the total brush off and said she knew what girls were like and it was probably their idea! So not holding out much hope that my point will be taken seriously... Will try this afternoon to catch the cover teacher though.