Misogynistic - School uniform

[LadyGAgain]

Right. This is a weird one so pls hear me out.
School has a very strict uniform policy. This isn't the AIBU.
Boys can wear trousers or shorts throughout the year with a shirt and tie plus pullover.
Girls can wear the same as above (including skirt) but are allowed to wear a gingham dress only in the summer term.

So boys can wear any of their uniform options throughout the year but girls are only allowed to wear part of their uniform when they are told it's ok.

None of my issue is about uniform. It's about boys being able to do anything throughout the year and girls being told they can't until the school say they can. So the subliminal messaging is happening without people realising it.
Girls conform. Boys can just be.

The girls won't recognise this right now but it's there. Subliminally there.

AIBU?

It's the opposite complaint at my DC school.

When it's hit the boys still have to wear a tie. And the girls don't have to.

*hot

So the girls get all the same options as the boys. Plus more. And you’re saying it’s unfair on girls?

I don't see it that way. The boys are being disadvantaged by not being allowed gingham in the summer.

YABU. You could just as easily have a boy ask why the girls are allowed another choice that they aren't allowed, one throughout the year and another one again in the summer months.

My kids school said it’s because the gingham dresses aren’t warm enough in the winter 🤷‍♀️

Yes, you are.

Thanks for your input. It's really helpful to hear other opinions!

@Mscarna

I don't see it that way. The boys are being disadvantaged by not being allowed gingham in the summer.

I agree with this too

@DobieGrayshark

So the girls get all the same options as the boys. Plus more. And you’re saying it’s unfair on girls?

As I said. It's not about the uniform. It's the fact that they 'are not allowed' to wear part of their uniform until summer term whereas their friends who are boys have no restrictions. I agree about the unfairness of boys having to wear ties in the summer. Like I say, it's not about the actual uniform - hot or cold - it's about the messaging.

So to clarify, girls can wear trousers, short or skirts all year but also have the option of gingham dresses in summer? If so I don't think it's an issue.

Aren’t shirts and shorts similar and both can wear the trousers. So girls have more options. Personally I think they should be able to wear it all year round. But I don’t see it as misogynistic.

Boys have less options as no dress (girls can do dress shorts/skorts too at any time). If it were truly fair it would be exactly same uniform for boys and girls. Why does it need to be boy/girl. Why not trousers for all?

It's a lot more sexist at high school. Blazers and shirts don't work with women's body shapes and blazers and ties in particular are not generally worn by women elsewhere as they don't flatter (they're pointless for boys too but at least some men wear these items by choice). The skirts are often a set type such as tartan where as boys can buy any grey or black trousers from Asda. No idea if this is a statistical fact but seems more heads at secondary are men. Does this have any bearing on this. Who knows? The female teachers don't have ties and blazers though with tucked in shirts.

It won't be fair until they just let them wear polo sweatshirt and joggers with trainers. Why do kids need faux business attire?

The boys do have restrictions. They cannot wear a gingham dress at any time of year.

But really, doesn't this just show how ridiculous uniform is? High time we got rid of it entirely.

It more about little girls arriving in think summer dresses not suited to the weather -

Surely it’s easier for parents to say ‘you’re not allowed’ and dress appropriately than to ‘just let them for a quiet life’

Girls aren’t disadvantaged, they are warm.

I don't think its an issue, the girls just get an extra option for the summer.

What a load of codswallop. Looking for misogyny where there is none. The girls have more options than the boys anyway.

My kids school said it’s because the gingham dresses aren’t warm enough in the winter 🤷‍♀️

No, but they’re plenty warm enough for a hot September day. Seems a silly rule that hasn’t been thought through rather than misogyny.

whereas their friends who are boys have no restrictions.

Aren’t they also restricted because they can’t wear skirts or gingham dresses?

Too, misogynistic means that the uniform policy demonstrates actual hatred of women/girls...there is no way this could be anything more than slightly sexist. And sexist towards both sexes by restricting the boys to traditional boy wear all year long and girls to traditional girl wear in the summer.

It more about little girls arriving in think summer dresses not suited to the weather

Which suggests they think parents are too stupid to dress their girls appropriately for the weather.

Maybe they should ditch the dress as part of the uniform. I don't remember having so many options as a kid nor do I ever remember boys wearing shorts.

Oh come on! Really?! You are really wondering about this? To make it fair then boys ONLY should be given the option of a polo shirt (no button down and tie) in the summer. Then they too would be denied the option of wearing traditional summer attire (gingham dress/polo shirt) in winter.

Madness.

Perhaps boys could wear gingham. It's not in the uniform policy but how could they say no given girls can wear shorts/trousers?

Anyway. Not sure I've explained my point well as discussion is solely around uniform.

Boys - consistent uniform throughout the year.

Girls - not allowed to wear a certain uniform until school says so.

Flip side

Boys - consistent uniform throughout the year.

Girls - have additional choice in summer term.

I get both sides. Thanks for engaging. I love to hear other thoughts!

Which suggests they think parents are too stupid to dress their girls appropriately for the weather

Or can’t say NO for their little darlings.

Eh? What are you on about? The girls have more options, so they’re treated better than boys. I suggest you look up the definition of misogynistic because this isn’t it.