To wonder if skirts are inherently misogynistic and objectify women...

[Oakenbeach]

... and that women who continue to wear them are perpetuating the notion, albeit mostly subliminally, of a man’s entitlement to easy and unimpeded “access” to women.

W ⚓️

Why all the ‘cool girl’ ganging up on the OP? She says she’s just wondering and it’s a really interesting question.

Why is it that in western societies (with the exception of Scotland and also in the priesthood) skirts are an exclusively feminine item of clothing? Of course now we have the option to wear trousers, but that’s fairly new - we didn’t 100 years ago.

I genuinely don’t know the historical reasons. My guess is that originally trousers or breeches were more practical items of clothing (for hunting, horse riding, etc) but more expensive to make - ie required more material and time - whereas a skirt would have been easy and cheap to make.

Pockets!!!

I think for schools they actually are quite impractical - there are some interesting articles on how they can impede play in girls - and girls are more likely to be active and enjoy things like climbing trees etc when in shorts or trousers. In primary school, I think it can influence things quite a lot and I find it sad that it can be so restrictive (think it was in the Telegraph or Independent). They were talking about unstructured active play.

My post was deliberately provocative... and I don’t necessarily believe it myself (hence why I phrased it “I wonder if...”), but i do wonder why in general skirts are generally the preserve of women (even most Scottish men wear trousers most of the time!), and whether it’s based on sexual accessibility afforded by a skirt/dress whether conscious or not.

Nope. Trousers just because popular amongst the males and as such females couldn't have them. There was a lot of bollocks about skirts being more modest, trousers showing off their body and so on,but I think deep down rather than access the thinking was " this identifies me as a high and mighty man, you can't have it because you are lower".
Practical reason would be ease of going to the toilet in the times when you'd Just go on the street/field wherever.

Nowadays? Women have it as an option and it's up to them to choose.

Lots of us want to carry make-up, hairbrushes and items of femininity. However I have no desire to carry a suitcase.
Strange!

DDIJ are you quite well? Dont people normally wear coats to Tesco where you live?

I have no idea how you "perform" femininity. What does that even mean?

If you like the look of tailored clothing, wear it. You dont have to have a special place to go to wear more formal clothing! And of course people wear coats inside shops - what do you expect them to do? Leave them with the cloakroom girl? Most shops dont have a cloakroom!

Why wouldn’t you carry feminine items around? I am feminine.

What about the people who have nipped into Tesco on their way back from somewhere they may have worn a tailored coat?

Skirts and dresses are comfortable, warm in winter when layered and cool in summer when not. Not everone's cup of tea, but definitely not a misogynistic item of clothing.

The feminine items you mentioned yourself, e.g, make up, hairbrushes and mirrors. I usually have perfume in my handbag too.

Being a woman I want to embrace my femininity - I love dressing feminine

Why would I want to carry a bloody suitcase with bits and bobs in it when I go out.

Clarify ‘performing femininity’ please.

And a handbag is an appropriate size to carry my stuff. I am not at school or out hiking so dont require a backpack. I dont use a briefcase because I am not carrying work related items and there is too much to fit in a pocket.