Page 3 | Would your DS want to wear a skirt?

Gunsanddaiseys · 2023-02-25T07:59:07+00:00

I’ve been seeing a lot of stuff about ‘protests’ going on in UK schools about inspections of the lengths of girls skirts. Often the dress code specifies that girls can only wear skirts and boys can only wear trousers. A lot of the suggestions have been that all pupils can only wear trousers as the new rule. However, there is absolutely no reason why a lad could not wear a skirt. So Aibu to ask, if it became allowed under the uniform policy, would your DS wear a skirt? yabu- yes yanbu- no

GreenWheat · 26/02/2023 12:31

No, my teenage boys would have no interest in wearing any form of girls' clothing whatsoever.

CharlotteUnaNatalieThompson · 26/02/2023 12:39

My youngest son nearly did this at high school. He wears shorts all year round from choice and was really pissed off that shorts weren't allowed. I would absolutely have supported him in this is he'd wanted to and he knew this. In the end though he chose trousers.

VyeBrator · 26/02/2023 12:41

ChickenDhansak82 · 26/02/2023 12:27

Lots of the boys at my school wore a skirt to school in the really hot weather last summer as the uniform is trousers or skirt.

All uniform policies should be gender neutral. I would have HATED wearing a skirt to school and always wore trousers.

I'd have no issue if either of my boys decided to wear a skirt to school.

Lots of the boys at my school wore a skirt to school in the really hot weather last summer as the uniform is trousers or skirt.

Lots of them?

I have 3 sons and not a single one of them/their friends/their year group or anyone in their 3 schools ever did that.

I'm curious, did lots of boys get together and discuss it first? Were they doing it to make some sort of point?

Or none of the above? I'm just wandering if there's a backstory?

SirSidneyRuffDiamond · 26/02/2023 13:04

DS's school historically had a boys uniform and a girls uniform. A couple of years ago they announced that either uniform could be chosen by pupils but no mix and matching, also no chopping and changing. Hair, make up and jewellery rules are now also the same for both sexes.

No idea how many boys wear skirts, but lots now have long hair and earrings. A few older boys wear "discreet make up", as per the rules.

Arthurflecksfacepaint · 26/02/2023 13:08

RenegadeKeeblerElf · 26/02/2023 12:01

I agree that uniform policies should be gender neutral but I also think pupils should have the option for a skirt if wanted. My daughter wears a skirt, not because it is more fashionable or looks better, but because she is more comfortable in it. She has sensory issues and dislikes wearing any trousers apart from leggings. Removing the skirt option would be quite distressing for her (and I'm sure she isn't the only one!).

My dd is the same.

She will wear leggings but finds any other type of trouser, even jeans really uncomfortable.

Dacadactyl · 26/02/2023 13:13

No he wouldnt, not in a month of Sundays. And if he said he wanted to i wouldnt allow it anyway.

Youdbetterthrowaparty · 26/02/2023 13:19

VyeBrator · 26/02/2023 12:41

Lots of the boys at my school wore a skirt to school in the really hot weather last summer as the uniform is trousers or skirt.

Lots of them?

I have 3 sons and not a single one of them/their friends/their year group or anyone in their 3 schools ever did that.

I'm curious, did lots of boys get together and discuss it first? Were they doing it to make some sort of point?

Or none of the above? I'm just wandering if there's a backstory?

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DS did this last summer. There were only about 3 of them who did it I think, Y7-9. They didn't plan it beforehand.
DS was annoyed that shorts weren't allowed in hot weather so boys had no summer clothing alternative whereas the girls could wear skirts although actually the uniform policy didn't specify that boys couldn't wear skirts it was just social convention. School have since changed the uniform policy so that all students can wear shorts in the summer and both my DS and DD now do.

EsmeShelby · 26/02/2023 13:24

No. He'd wear cargo shorts year round though, given the option.

VyeBrator · 26/02/2023 13:29

Youdbetterthrowaparty · 26/02/2023 13:19

DS did this last summer. There were only about 3 of them who did it I think, Y7-9. They didn't plan it beforehand.
DS was annoyed that shorts weren't allowed in hot weather so boys had no summer clothing alternative whereas the girls could wear skirts although actually the uniform policy didn't specify that boys couldn't wear skirts it was just social convention. School have since changed the uniform policy so that all students can wear shorts in the summer and both my DS and DD now do.

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Yes, that would make sense as I've read about similar protests in the news.

This is why I wondered if the PP had a backstory for lots of boys to be wearing them.

Paternosta · 26/02/2023 13:31

He not only would wear a skirt to school- he has. Several times.
DS is now in Year 11 and has often worn skirts to mufti day. His reasons are mostly just for fun but also to help anyone who wants to wear a skirt and wouldn't feel confident doing it alone. He's comfortable enough in his own skin and makes it work well. I think he's helped a few people so I'm proud of him.

Conkersinautumn · 26/02/2023 13:33

Skirts are not as practical as trousers. Uniforms should be more about practical than formal imo.

Conkersinautumn · 26/02/2023 13:34

It is also ridiculous that children can't wear shorts to school in hot weather!

VyeBrator · 26/02/2023 13:37

Paternosta · 26/02/2023 13:31

He not only would wear a skirt to school- he has. Several times.
DS is now in Year 11 and has often worn skirts to mufti day. His reasons are mostly just for fun but also to help anyone who wants to wear a skirt and wouldn't feel confident doing it alone. He's comfortable enough in his own skin and makes it work well. I think he's helped a few people so I'm proud of him.

This makes no sense as mufti days are completely different to a boy turning up in a skirt on a random school day.

My DS once wore a Shrek outfit on mufti day and no-one batted an eyelid...

2bazookas · 26/02/2023 13:39

My sons have all worn pleated skirts since they were children; in middle age pleated skirts are still their favourite dress for weddings, dances, parties, football matches etc.

RenegadeKeeblerElf · 26/02/2023 13:40

Conkersinautumn · 26/02/2023 13:33

Skirts are not as practical as trousers. Uniforms should be more about practical than formal imo.

Out of curiosity, what do you think secondary school aged girls are doing that they can't do in a skirt? Sitting at a desk, standing around chatting to their friends at break, standing at a bench to do practical work, all fine in a skirt IMO. If they want to play sports at break I would imagine they would choose trousers, and for PE they change into PE kit.

Wanderingowl · 26/02/2023 13:48

RenegadeKeeblerElf · 26/02/2023 13:40

Out of curiosity, what do you think secondary school aged girls are doing that they can't do in a skirt? Sitting at a desk, standing around chatting to their friends at break, standing at a bench to do practical work, all fine in a skirt IMO. If they want to play sports at break I would imagine they would choose trousers, and for PE they change into PE kit.

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Be warm. Most of the school year is in colder weather and skirts just aren't as warm as trousers. You can wear tights, but they are often pretty uncomfortable. One of my abiding memories of school, is being really cold a lot of the time. Usually sitting with my legs folded under me for warmth.

RenegadeKeeblerElf · 26/02/2023 13:50

But again, if it's their choice to wear a skirt and tights rather than trousers then who are we to say they can't, as long as they do have that choice?

MaryShelley1818 · 26/02/2023 13:52

I just asked my 5yr old DS if he would wear a skirt to school. He said "no mama, skirts are girls clothes" "I would wear one for you though"
I told him anyone can wear what they want and he said "OK then" lol.

Picklypickles · 26/02/2023 13:59

My ds is 9 and he wouldn't want to wear a skirt, he's never had any interest in "girly stuff" at all, if his sister likes it 9/10 he hates it!

My little brother used to want to be with me and my friends all the time when we were young, he'd often let us dress him up in skirts/dresses and do his make-up and seemed to find it all quite fun, I'm not sure he'd ever have wanted to actually wear a skirt outside of the house though. My youngest brother would never have been seen dead in girls clothes!

Catspyjamas17 · 26/02/2023 14:00

The default for men and women in many cultures is some kind of robe, more skirt than trousers.

Shortening skirts went on when I was there 30/40 years ago, there was no talk of banning skirts then and we also had the option of trousers.

It's bad enough that they have to wear ties - most men don't even wear them at work these days, let alone women. Why is it always about girls defaulting to the default male option in mixed schools? Because of increasing misogyny, and because some people in school leadership seem to be on a bizarre kind of insular power trip.

I don't agree with uniform at all. It's costly, outdated and unnecessary. But if there is a uniform there should be a choice of items that either sex are permitted to wear.

Catspyjamas17 · 26/02/2023 14:04

I also find it really odd that some schools don't allow shorts. At one time it was all shorts for boys even in the depths of winter! It's just ridiculous heads on a power trip. Same in the 1930s, same now. Pathetic.

tuppacoffee · 26/02/2023 14:10

My DS8 wouldn't be seen dead in a skirt.

I wouldn't let him out of the house in one either.

Ncgirlseriously · 26/02/2023 14:11

My son is only 3, so he doesn’t really care what he wears yet. I am very much of the opinion that toys are toys and clothes are clothes, but I’ve never bought him a skirt (he’s had shirts, leggings, socks and coats from the girls section). I’ve just never considered skirts because I don’t wear them myself, I don’t like skirts or dresses.

Theunamedcat · 26/02/2023 14:12

They don't allow shorts because inevitably they will wear booty shorts or cycling shorts personally I would just keep ringing the parents to collect or bring in appropriate uniform none of this isolation nonsense if I fucked around at school my mom would be called and informed I was walking home and she would have to leg it down the motorway to get back to let me in or deal with the issue

VyeBrator · 26/02/2023 14:12

tuppacoffee · 26/02/2023 14:10

My DS8 wouldn't be seen dead in a skirt.

I wouldn't let him out of the house in one either.

I think the vast majority of boys outside of Mumsnet wouldn't be seen dead in a skirt either, unless it was for some sort of mufti/fancy dress.