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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be annoyed that there will be a trousers uniform only at dc's secondary school from next year?

506 replies

bigbuttons · 11/05/2017 13:48

DD ( dc number5) starts secondary in September. All her older sibs have gone/ are at the school. Her 2 older sisters are in years 8 and 10. Up until now the uniform has been, for girls, a blazer, skirt or trousers, white shirt and optional tie.
We got an email this week saying that after extensive consultation( I would like to know with whom because parents were not asked to my knowledge) the uniform for new year 7's would be 'gender neutral'. Both sexes will wear exactly the same uniform i.e new school jumper, no blazer, smart grey or black trousers, no skirts and all to wear a tie. Pupils currently at the school can continue with the current uniform but change of they wish.
There has been 'issue' with girls rolling their skirts up to basically just below their backsides and members of the public/parents have been complaining about this. The new trousers only uniform will help with issues of 'decency' it says.
Year 6 dd is horrified, she has never worn trousers in her life and quite frankly is not a good shape for them anyway, - leggings yes, buttoned trousers, no, although I have never said this to her of course. She is short and stocky, always has been.
I know many women who feel very uncomfortable wearing trousers because they don't like their legs/shape and always wear dresses and skirts.

What this this gender neutral crap?
I support both sexes wearing ties and I liked the blazer so am sad it has gone.

I think the girls should be able to wear skirts and am confused about the whole 'indecent' issue. If a girl wears a short skirt it's surely not her fault if people find it 'indecent'? It feels like very little has progressed for girls since I was at school. So, they now all have to look like boys?

I would be interested to hear people's views on this.

OP posts:
Roomster101 · 12/05/2017 17:33

As for the uniform/education well that poster did say they would choose a school with a uniform they liked as apperance matters to them. Make of that what you will.

No, I said that I would let my child choose not to go to a school if they really didn't like the uniform if all other things were equal. That is not the same as saying that I would choose a school with a uniform I like and it in no way suggests that I think appearance is more important than education.

FlossyMooToo · 12/05/2017 17:36

The they bit was meant as your child not you. I didnt think for one second you would choose your childs school based on the uniform. That would be strange!

Roomster101 · 12/05/2017 17:42

The they bit was meant as your child not you. I didnt think for one second you would choose your childs school based on the uniform. That would be strange!

No stranger than anything else you have said tbh....

FlossyMooToo · 12/05/2017 17:43

Erm ok.

OooohHorlicks · 12/05/2017 17:44

Is it really gender neutral? Does that matter to the pubescent teenage girl who is trying to cope with massively heavy periods and wondering whether her wall of sanitary towels will show in trousers? A uniquely female concern.

Surely the point should be that the same uniform is available to both to wear and if skirt length is the issue then below the knee or they're sent home?

FlossyMooToo · 12/05/2017 17:48

How do sanitary towels show when wearing trousers?
I genuinly feel more secure wearing trousers when using towels as I seriously worry that I will lose the towel when wearing a skirt as there is nothing "supporting" it iyswim. I appreciate I am strange and this concern maybe just me Blush

PigletWasPoohsFriend · 12/05/2017 17:50

How do sanitary towels show when wearing trousers?

^ this.

I prefer wearing trousers.

FlossyMooToo · 12/05/2017 17:55

Crikey Piglet dont quote me! You will be accused of twisting words and their meanings Grin

*Disclaimer twas a joke posters who don't like me. It was not a dig or PA just an attempt probable fail to lighten the tone. Smile

Roomster101 · 12/05/2017 17:59

The same poster accused me of not caring about what I looked like despite never seeing me. She called me one of those people. So it seems I make assumptions about her on what she posts she makes assumptions about me.....big deal. Don't we all do that unless we really know the poster?

I didn't accuse you of anything.Hmm I have already explained that I said maybe you didn't care about appearance because you said ""If child A said one school was great but they didnt like the uniform I would question what kind of values i have taught them." If you do care about your appearance why do you think teenagers should want to go to a school where they hated the uniform if there was another school that was equally good educationally and reasonable uniform?

OooohHorlicks · 12/05/2017 18:01

Sanitary towels definitely show if you're wearing more than one.

Roomster101 · 12/05/2017 18:07

They will also show if you can't wear modern absorbent material (some people are allergic) and need to wear thicker old fashioned towels.

RufusTheRenegadeReindeer · 12/05/2017 18:10

Agree with roomster

Some of those towels are thick!

RufusTheRenegadeReindeer · 12/05/2017 18:11

It used to be like walking round with the times shoved between your legs in the bad old days

And they still sell those towels so people must need them

user1490734428 · 12/05/2017 18:13

Sanitary towels definitely show if you're wearing more than one.

Do people wear more than one sanitary towel?! They have a clingfilm-type base, what is the point of wearing 2?

I prefer trousers on period, you can carry pads and tampons in the pockets.

FlossyMooToo · 12/05/2017 18:15

Room because my teenagers dont go to school to look good. They go to learn.
They wear the uniform set out by the school it is not the purpose for which they attend. If they did say the uniform mattered to them then I would be concerned that they cant see what they wear does not matter to their education.
You disgree with me and thats fine. I am not trying yo change your mind.

Roomster101 · 12/05/2017 19:15

Room because my teenagers dont go to school to look good. They go to learn.

I'm sure that most teenagers go to school to learn.Hmm That doesn't mean they should be okay with wearing something they really hate, if they can go to a school where they don't have to.

FlossyMooToo · 12/05/2017 19:25

As I said earlier most state schools follow the trousers/blazer/shirt and tie uniform so I would struggle to find what they hated about it tbh.

I prefer uniform to normal clothes as I find it cheaper to replace £22 school trousers than £57 jeans/trackies Hmm bloody daft prices.

There are certain things in life where I hope my children will stand up and be counted for. Moaning about school uniform does not fall in to that category for me.
You do see it as important and I really am not trying to change your mind. I just wish you would accept that I dont see uniforms/apperance the same way you do.

Roomster101 · 12/05/2017 19:46

I just wish you would accept that I dont see uniforms/apperance the same way you do.

I'm not suggesting that you should see uniforms/appearance as important! I'm suggesting that you should understand that teenagers who care about their appearance are not "spoilt brats" or lacking in "values" and it fairly ridiculous to think that they care less about their education than your children.

Nocarbsorsugar · 12/05/2017 19:58

You can definitely see pads through trousers.
There is also the question of what the trousers are made of. Man made fibres smell. Women work differently to men. A bit of air helps.
Young girls can be as crap in their hygiene as young men.
Not everyone gets to wash or change their uniform every day/ few days.

BertrandRussell · 12/05/2017 20:05

The really baffling thing is that anyone would think less choice is better than more choice.

Trousers and skirts. And a crackdown on "upskirt photographs" if that's an issue.

IvorHughJarrs · 12/05/2017 20:17

The really baffling thing is that anyone would think less choice is better than more choice. Absolutely this.
My DD would have hated not having the choice

FlossyMooToo · 12/05/2017 20:17

Room i never said teeneagers who care about their apperance are spoilt or lacking in values. You said i did.

What I actually said was i would not allow my teenagers to put a school uniform above their education and should they moan about it I will not give in to their whims as it makes them spoilt and leaves me questioning the values I have taught.

You have somehow managed to make that about me not caring about my teenagers or my overall apperance. Confused

rosy71 · 12/05/2017 20:24

I don't see what all the fuss is about. Trousers are not a male garment - they are unisex (or gender neutral if you like.) Trousers are much more practical than a skirt. No risk of showing your underwear, no need to restrict movement in case your underwear shows, warmer in winter, no laddered tights etc etc. I was at school in the 1980s when girls were campaigning to be allowed to wear trousers.

Ties, on the other hand, are not very practical for girls imo & are not generally worn by women anywhere.

FlossyMooToo · 12/05/2017 20:29

Thing is no matter how reasonable I try to be certain posters will keep pushing and digging because they dislike my posts/me.

I have tried to concede on one discussion to allow the thread to move on as well as stating many times its ok to think differently/have opinions. Yet here we are and I am still having to defend myself.
I have been called boring,aggressive, goady, over invested (usually said by a poster who posts everytime you do Hmm) and a waste of space plus a few others I cannot remember.

Well you have your way. I shall leave the thread.
Please feel free to rejoice as clearly that was the outcome you needed.
I don't need it so enjoy.

Roomster101 · 12/05/2017 20:59

Room i never said teeneagers who care about their apperance are spoilt or lacking in values. You said i did.

You said that if a child said they didnt like the uniform you would question what kind of values i have taught them." You also said that you would be disappointed in yourself as a parent if your child had such a view of a uniform and you “tend not to indulge your children as you find it creates spoilt brats” This suggests you think that parents who would listen to their child’s opinion on their uniform have created a spolit brat.

You have somehow managed to make that about me not caring about my teenagers or my overall apperance.

No, you have twisted it around to that. I am saying that others are not wrong to care about their appearance whether or not you feel the same.

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