AIBU - Are school out of order?

[unisexforreal]

School have recently stopped doing a girls blazer and a boys blazer. They now only offer a "unisex" blazer. This is actually a "boys" blazer, re-labelled as unisex. So it does up the wrong way. I can't help feel that this is wrong. It's taking away the choice from "girls" (and boys if they want to wear the blazer with the buttons on the other side). It doesn't need to be labelled "girls" and "boys", It could just be labelled Left button and Right button, but to take away the choice is just wrong. I'm someone who in my career in the early days had to work harder than all the men to be their equal in the workplace. I have fought hard for where I have got. I want equality for my children -whoever they choose to be and whatever they chose to wear and whatever gender or not they choose to be. But to me equality = choice. If unisex is so important, why not keep the "girls" blazer and re-label that as unisex. And by taking this small choice away, I feel is a step back. Am i being completely menopausally unreasonable?

Sorry but I really find this something I couldn’t even find it in me to care about. I guess I just see it as a blazer. As long as it comes off the list I really don’t care how it does up and what side the buttons are on. Sorry

I think the school is unreasonable just because young men and woman's bodies are different and therefore it’s not unreasonable they would need different tailoring. Boys have longer arms than girls and girls have breasts and hips that are proportionally larger. Madness.

It’s the same with anything labelled unisex - really it’s just boys. Ie unisex uniform = trousers
If they want true equality then surely both boys and girls should have choice of trouser or skirt ….

The cut of each will be different surely?

The girls' cut won't even be suitable for all girls.

I honestly couldn't care less which side something buttons up. And most school wear is pretty shapeless so 🤷🏻‍♀️

I think this is another case of where 'unisex' means defaulting to boys.
My DD's old school moved from having separate boys and girls colours for blazers and trousers. Instead of eg picking the Boy blazer and the girl trouser colours, guess what happened? Yup they effectively moved to the boys uniform.
Similarly DD's 'unisex' overalls (age 17). The 'Small' needed 10inches removing from the leg length (and body length is too long).

Girls have enough trouble with school uniform.

How 750 students at various stages of development are meant to all fit in the same regulation items I don't know.

A default male blazer will regardless of its new unisex lable will likely be another obstacle to girls attending school.

Are the small sizes small enough for girls?

My DD has a very narrow frame. Anything labelled boys or unisex drowns her width wise.

@TeenPlusCat

Yes that’s the main issue, the unisex defaulting to boys. It’s infuriating

Benefit of unisex is that it can be passed down to siblings, which is useful for an expensive item. I also think a straight cut works on both boys and girls while a more curvy cut will look daft on about half the girls plus all the boys. I get the general objection to make as default but am not sure this is a good example.

IME kids never button up their blazers so button positioning isn't an issue. Not being cut correctly will be though.

*male

I thought the left/right button thing went out with Noah's Ark.

YABU

@Whatwouldscullydo

Girls have enough trouble with school uniform.

How 750 students at various stages of development are meant to all fit in the same regulation items I don't know.

A default male blazer will regardless of its new unisex lable will likely be another obstacle to girls attending school.

Oh behave

The cut of a blazer wouldn't be a barrier for any girl with some sense about her

It will be if sleeves are too long or the body too wide.

i guess as long as they don't require them to be able to do their blazers up it's not going to matter. If they want them to be able to do them up then fit will be a problem for a significant proportion.

I agree OP. It’s the whole male default thing. Same with having school uniform have ties for everyone.

This reminds me of the time I did the Clipper Round the World yacht race. We all paid thousands, tens of thousand in some cases, and we were given a “unisex” race kit. The unisex race kit was, quelle surprise, the men’s Henri Lloyd kit. Those of us with boobs and hips had to race in these ginormous outfits that didn’t fit us!

It was ridiculous then and it’s ridiculous now.

See also unisex slippers etc - men’s sizing!

If it's a primary I don't think it matters. If it's secondary then YANBU, girls need a different fit. But the buttons aren't the issue - women's buttons on the wrong side goes back to when women would be dressed by a maid. Unless a maid is dressing your daughter it's probably easier to have buttons on the boy side.

Which way they button up wouldn’t be my objection. My objection is that unisex just means suitable for men… oh and women can just make it work.

Maybe the school need to move an actually unisex uniform. Blazers are not a one size fits all garment.

Girls are more prevalent to worrying about body image.
A petite girl with a largish chest would be swamped in a boys-cut blazer to get it to fit. Could easily be worried about being laughed at etc if they were already insecure.
There is a reason why you have separate stylings. Why should the girls miss out on well fitting clothes just to be 'unisex'?

It makes sense as hand me downs within families can be done
I have no idea why you give a flying fuck about this non issue

I understood that traditionally men’s bottoms are the easiest way for the majority who are right handed to dress themselves while women’s are the other way as they were dressed by maids.
If this is true then I’m more than happy to do my buttons the men’s way and I presume the left handed people manage ok.

(Ps. Growing up our school only had one unisex blazer in the 80-90s)

Forcing teenage girls to wear clothes tailored for teenage boys is ridiculous. YANBU to object

Arghhhhh buttons!!!!!!

Not bottoms 🤣😂🤣😂🤣