Girls told to wear longer skirts at school because the boys are distracted and male teachers feel uncomfortable.

[Exercisejunkieforlife]

My DD is 15, yesterday all the girls were kept behind in assembly and told they must wear skirts from the official uniform shop.
I have no problem with this as this is where we get DDs skirts, my problem is with the reasons given.

They were told that it distracts the boys when the girls walk up the stairs and makes the male teachers feel uncomfortable.

AIBU to think that the girls should not have to modify their behaviour / what they wear so the 'boys' don't look up their skirts and that the male teachers are responsible for their own feelings. ?

It doesn't matter whether erections are voluntary or not, they're the man's issue to deal with and nobody else's problem. They're not always sexually motivated anyway so we couldn't stop them happening even if we all wore burkas.

If it doesn't have a uniform.

Nancy - I don't think boys in skinny jeans or low hanging jeans was ever meant to be a seductive look Its not the same at all. Men can and do dress in other ways to get female attention if they feel the need to.

We have a strict uniform policy where I work. Girls do roll up their skirts (even to the point you can see the top of the line on their tights). However on so many occasions when asked by a male member of staff to put their skirt to the correct length they are called 'pervs', 'peodos' etc. The boys with trousers showing boxers are told to pull them up and if it is a female or male member of staff they receive the same response as above. It's a no win situation!

impossible situation. Boys dont wear skimpy clothing, its completely cultural that girls do it, and the fashion only exists because we expect girls to dress sexually and display themselves for the male gaze. The only equivalent for boys are clothes that are specifically designed for gay men to wear for other men. Its one thing on a night out, its another thing in an office or school. Its distracting for everyone, not just boys and men. I dont want to see someones arse if im not sleeping with that person at that moment

Well if the school doesn't have a uniform they will have to deal with boys and girls wearing whatever they like really.

I don't know of any schools without a uniform in these parts.

Nancy - I don't think boys in skinny jeans or low hanging jeans was ever meant to be a seductive look confused Its not the same at all.

What's it all about then? Either way, the point is not whether it is meant to be seductive, I don't believe girls wear mini skirts in the main to be seductive, simply whether someone may find as they might on a female.

Ay my daughters' school, only Years 7-8 are allowed to wear skirts. Years 9, 10 and 11 can only wear trousers. It is explained to them that it prevents issues with girls wearing skirts that are too short and that they are encouraged to wear formal, business-like uniform to prepare them for work. It is a single-sex girls' school and I think that teenagers should be taught how to dress appropriately for different settings. As a teacher I do not like to see pupils' underwear, as it is private, but it cannot always be avoided.

I teach primary and have to be very mindful of my dress. Everything I buy to wear for school, I have to jiggle about and in the changing rooms to ensure that my cleavage is not on show. I have to make sure that blouses are not too sheer to show my bra, tops do not rise up when I bend over or stretch up and show my underwear or tattoo over the top of my waistband. If a skirt has a split up the back, I make sure that it does not show too much leg.

^simply whether someone may find it so as they might on a female.

itsmine:

That is what I am saying. It is totally normal for a man to find the post-pubescent female body arousing. It isn't required and it isn't always the case - your DH obviously hasn't come across this situation. But if he does, he would do his job, as I am certain male teachers do every day, and wouldn't be fired unless he behaved inappropriately. Teachers who happen to be men have the usual professional boundaries to observe, but could be fired for finding a female student's near-nudity arousing. It is unreasonable to expect them to never find a student attractive. They shouldn't have to deal with being exposed to near-nudity when it would normally be accepted that they might find that near-nudity arousing, then be fired if they do. It is unfair.

itsmine

I've taught secondary abroad. I didn't really see the kids as vulnerable in the same way as I would adults or children in a clinical environment. Male erections are involuntary although mainly avoidable as most men have learnt strategies to stop/cope with them. But it is not to say it couldn't happen. Less so boys, who are learning to manage the mind/body connection and are still maturing.

It'smine:

You have also neatly avoided answering my question!

Haven't rtft but surely the simplest solution would be to just wear trousers? Does the school allow this? If not, why not? And I don't think feeling uncomfortable has anything to do with sexualising others.

Zzzzz what was the urm for ? My DD is a lesbian is that not allowed ?

Skinny jeans or trousers are totally about sexual signalling LaSegunda.

They are supposed to show

1. Muscularity of legs/thighs/bum
2. Size of genitalia.

Well there are plenty of schools in London with no uniform. Indeed my old school didn't.

Trifle

You said what I wanted to say that time

Yep. Totally seductive.

Nancy - I'm not sure I follow your reasoning on this tbh, but surely what men find attractive about women (in general terms) is not the same as what women find attractive about men, so what is the point in comparison?

I wouldn't like to send my sons to a school with no uniform.

I dont think school girls usually wear short skirts to be seductive. They do it to be fashionable, but the point is, its become fashionable because its based on sex wear and we have a sexualised culture. Its also a problem with school uniform on people that are actually physically grown women, when usually it doesnt fit properly, and at an age where they want to express themselves. Getting rid of school uniform would be better. Most european kids go to school in jeans and tshirts, and dont have the same problems in this respect

I think as far a coverage is concerned the same rules should apply to both pupils (of either sex) and staff. So if you think it's ok for Miss FrenchTeacher to be occasionally flashing her crotch at the pupils and Mr GeographyTeacher to wear knob hugging Lycra then crack on.

IF however like most of the sane world you would like the adults, who are in close contact and have authority over your children in your absence, to keep their bits to themselves then have the manners to ensure your children (of either sex) do the same.

Totally agree with this, zzzzz

Sparklingbrook it's a very odd look to be sure, but it's not aimed at us.

I was thinking more this.

The other thing of course is that women who wear short skirts tend to wear skirts which are straight or which cling to the legs. Meaning that when they bend over or walk up stairs they are not flashing their knickers. The skirts that the girls roll up are normally flared and pleated and not designed to be rolled up and so when they do everything is on display.

As zzzzz said, can you imagine if your child came home saying "mum, today my geography teacher was wearing pink knickers. Normally they're blue or white".