Short school skirts

[Kteeb1]

AIBU to think the reason given to me for girls not wearing skirts at school is worrying? So just been called by the school. Apparently all parents have been because girls skirts are very short and it's against school policy. I can only assume the little tyke (13) is rolling her school skirt up because it's not short when she leaves the house and ill sort it when she gets in, but I am concerned with what the female teacher said to me. The reason why the girls skirts shouldn't be short is because male teachers and other boys may feel uncomfortable. Also out of school grounds the girls might be attacked. And young girls must learn to protect their dignity. I have no problem with a uniform and following it, but if male teachers are uncomfortable in seeing a 13 year old with a short skirt, should they really be teaching? And why are we saying what a person wears means they may be attacked. I did ask if any girls had been attacked and I didn't get an answer. I just think it's a really bad message that girls have to change what they wear for those reasons.

I think it is worse for male teachers because where I can say 'Dawn, pull your skirt lower' without much fuss, my male colleagues would get accusations of delinquency thrown at them for 'looking'.

I don't think that 'uncomfortable male teachers' should be given as a reason though, I think 'it's not appropriate to show your upper thighs in a school environment' would be better.

They aren't just short nowadays. They are full on arse cheeks hanging out.

Inappropriate for anyone, not just males.

It's not just male teachers though, is it? Why should the boys be forced to look at it?

No doubt I'll be accused of victim-blaming. But it seems a bit unfair on the boys with their raging hormones as teenagers? Not saying it justifies anything...but just...why??!!!

@OzziePopPop

The simple answer at my daughters school is trousers only, male and female. No skirts. They still have a trouser policy but it’s just ‘black, not skin tight or leggings’. Simple!

I think this is the most sensible option.

It would be interesting to see the reaction If the boys started wearing clothing that showed off similar parts of their bodies. Seems to be one rule for one, but then again boys don't seem to feel the need to do this to gain attention.

There’s a local secondary school near me and literally you just have to drive past when they are walking to/from school to see the lasses bums clearly on display to the whole world and that’s just walking, some of them look so young couldn’t even be much older than 12, which just isn’t appropriate to be honest.

You will find that schools in warmer climates like Australia, have uniforms that are generally much shorter than in UK. I assume that our Antipodean male friends have more self control.
Also I went to a girls school in the 80s, we all rolled our waistbands over , and there was not a male anywhere in sight!

Skirts in those Australia pics are much longer than what we are talking about here.

The skirts I’ve seen are much much shorter than the ones in those pics!

It's not necessarily to attract attention from boys, it can just be to fit in with the crowd. Girls can be cruel and make fun of someone who is wearing their skirt at an appropriate length.

While I totally agree that girls and boys shouldn't be told that wearing revealing clothes is "asking to be attacked, harrassed or raped" I do think it's acceptable for schools to require decency and nobody (male or female) should be showing underwear or their bum at school.

Its absolutely social with other girls. Not for boys. Its the queen bee "alpha female thing". Ditto makeup. Its never for the boys

Same with the lads and play fighting, peacocking behaviour. Top dog determination.

As soon as they hit teens it's a competition as to who's at the top of the social pile all of a sudden. Add hormones, brain "rewiring" and everything else and it's a heady mix.

I'm a big proponent of the plain black loose fitting trousers for all. Polo shirts and sweatshirt. Easy, practical, comfortable.

Those skirts are the length we’d roll our skirts to as teens, the skirts now literally flash knickers and bum with every step

You will find that schools in warmer climates like Australia, have uniforms that are generally much shorter than in UK.

The skirts the girls in those photos are wearing are nothing like the type of skirt referred to in this thread.

Ok, so it's for the girls.

Are we not concerned about a prevailing mindset among girls where competition revolves around who can expose as much flesh as possible? Is that not a bit weird, and worrying?

Those Australian skirts are loooong.

If you google 'stretch black micro mini skirt' you'll see what girls at my school are wearing.

@WestendVBroadway the girls in your pictures are wearing skirts. The girls at our local secondary have their bumcheeks on display (you can see they are wearing thongs and identify the colour when they walk past).
Most people would feel awkward seeing this - its comparable to boys wearing speedos to school - clearly inappropriate

I got my arse handed to me on a plate (no pun intended) on another thread about the amount of bottoms, pants and flashing of vulvas in primary schools and how girls should wear cycling shorts if they insist on doing handstands and cartwheels every 5 minutes.

Boys uniforms are smart. We never see boys pants or penises on display in schools so why is it ok for girls to be dressed inappropriately?

I think the answer is to get rid of skirts in schools. Trousers are far more practical anyway. At primary school girls could play freely. At secondary school girls would look professional, getting ready for work.

I support the school in this respect. There are plenty of ways of expressing yourself without having your bits hanging out.

@NeverDropYourMoonCup

I don't particularly enjoy seeing teenage girls' inner thighs and gussets when they sit down/their arse cheeks when they go upstairs either. Sometimes I see even more than that, not because I'm looking with malevolent intent but because it's in my line of sight, I can't work blindfolded and frankly, it's all out on display for anybody to see anyhow.

If I chose to deliberately shorten my clothes so that was what everybody saw at work, neither they nor their parents would appreciate it.

Well said.

My DD has the playsuit shorts style "summer dress". So much better for her. Wish they'd been around when I was a kid.

Agree totally the fact that it's the done thing to show off your body to the point of indecency is worrying. Welcome to the world where many girls seem to think they should live up to "Instagram" lifestyles and standards which we know bear no resemblance to reality.

Despite over a century of feminism we appear to be going backwards in some respects.

Our school moved to kilts which makes rolling up harder.

Male teachers are uncomfortable seeing girls in short skirts because of the general illogical consensus that all men are out to prey on women. They don't want to put themselves at risk of accidentally coming into contact with the arse cheeks of a young girl who has deliberately broken the rules and has them on show.

I regularly see girls walk past while I'm waiting for my daughter outside school, and am subjected to seeing a heck of a lot more than I should have to. I don't understand how some girls have their skirts as short as they do because there's only two skirts that they're allowed to buy and one place that sells them. The lady that works there doesn't even sell shorter length skirts without seeing the child.

Some girls need to learn a little self respect.

Our school has solved the battle by removing skirts from the uniform list completely. Both boys and girls have to wear trousers.

I think different generations have different definitions and ways of expressing 'self respect'.

This generation, as far as I can tell, is saying that it's their choice how to wear their clothes, and if others have a problem with that, that's on them - be it older males, females, or young men.

A bit like the sixties?

I've got to the point where I've pointed out potential issues, and now it's their choices, their consequences. (When it comes to being pinged for uniform, especially after I've tried to reinforce the code, and been undermined by the school, not when it comes to pervy bastards catcalling or worse).