To think that 5/6 year old little girls don’t need to wear shorts under dresses to “protect their modesty”

[Darthwazette]

Just what the subject like says really. I’d be interested to know other parents thoughts. I’m not a weirdo, this request has been made of my daughters from school and it makes me feel a bit icky.

Really? I think shorts are a great idea. Protect modesty sounds Victorian but how do you want them to say it? Personally, I still remember the embarrassment of a boy pulling my knickers down while I was happily hanging upside down and that was infant school. Shorts give girls freedom as do the jumpsuit summer uniforms. Also, as a vest and pants PE days child, who had a mother that didn’t bother with vests, I even more think they are a great idea.

For me it’s about dignity. My granddaughter is toilet training. As a family, we choose to put her in knickers, even at home.

She doesn’t know, at 2, about parts of the body being private, but we do and choose to give her dignity.

Mine always had those short style knickers from h and M. Problem solved

DD has always worn shorts under her dresses and skirts for as long as she’s been able to make that choice for herself. She’s a teenager now and still does it (because cartwheels and handstands are apparently still popular in high school 😁). It makes her feel comfortable, fuck all wrong with that and no one should be telling any girl at all what they can and can’t wear, whether its a short skirt or bloody shorts under their skirt!

@MaxwellCat 🫣 oh you're right didn't think of that

Surely knickers AND shorts are a recipe for UTIs when it's hot like today?

I’ve not got a DD, but have seen photos published on the school website where pants are visible. Some pants are pretty baggy so it’s not beyond possibility that parts are on show much more than they should be.

I think shorts (or massive short style pants) are reasonable, it means the girls can run and play without care, and can sit on the carpet cross legged without being concerned about showing off their pants.

I'm a nanny. Girls love climbing and doing handstands and playing 'wildly' (just like boys). Knickers are flimsy and can shift easily when doing movements.

This isn't about sexism/modesty culture, we just don't notice it with boys because they don't wear dresses/skirts. I guarantee if bits were flopping about on display there'd be a request to dress for 'modesty'.

This. In some cases I do wonder what makes them "want to" as I wouldn't be surprised if they are already hearing and being influenced by either modesty messages from grown ups to or the ugly green shoots of early misogyny from boys

It's so depressing that this shit starts so early

Not really. The shorts my daughter wears are the kind you'd use for freestyle dancing so they're really light and comfy.
She's 10 and never had a UTI in her life but has worn shorts under dresses since her nursery days.
Thick or tighter shorts might be different of course.

To me this sounds like a sensible continuation of the ‘what’s in your pants should only be seen by you’ message, which is really important. If some of the boys at the school were spending a lot of their playtime doing an activity that meant they were inadvertently flashing their willies at other children I bet there would be similar calls for modesty!

I don't see the issue with them having some shorts under dresses but i think parents should decide not school. I wear shorts under dresses after once a gust of wind blew my dress up flashing everyone around me.
My 6yr old wears short cycling shorts under her dresses as do most of her friends (they asked for them), we're happy as we don't want them flashing their knickers when doing handstands/sitting cross legged etc. Plus knickers move!
And for a PP we suggested she wears shorts as the uniform but got a flat no, she loves her dresses.

My daughter wears leggings or short leggins under her dresses. Didn´t know it was an issue for anyone else but ourselves. It really annoys her when she is going down slides that sometimes it pinches her skin and she doesn´t slide so easily. I didn´t put some on the other day as it seemed hot but she said she wanted them. Her call really.

I agree it's a poor choice of word, but it's a euphemism.

DD is 6 but very tall and slim. She has a preference for dresses so some of them I insist on her wearing shorts under as they are very very short (not school dresses, I just give up and buy massive sizes there, but at home there are some dresses she loves which are short on her now) its not even so much about modesty but just teaching what is appropriate.

Only if you don't buy the right size? Surely if they're tight you size up?

You wouldn't wear a size 6 thong if you were a size 14? 😂 such an idiotic thought process!

@StepAwayFromGoogling DD has been wearing knickers and shorts together for 10 years. Never once had thrush nor a UTI. Maybe you need to go back to google 😁

Interesting that in some (not all) cases of parents putting them on their daughters it's due to concern to protect from male behaviour

Which I absolutely understand

I suppose I have always thought that 'to the pure, all is pure', and that seeing a very little child's pudenda would be no more significant than seeing their ear, unless you happen to be a pervert, or have some weird ideas about 'modesty', but there are social norms. My mother used to tell me to keep my knees together when sitting on a chair.

😂 and Google "how to buy clothes that fit"

My daughter has just turned 7 and requested I get her some short cycling shorts for under her summer dress as she loves to carte wheel etc. This isn't school asking, it's her asking. I remember being that age and the embarassment of flashing your knickers when you did a hand stand. I guess now they teach pants rules etc in schools saying you must wear shorts just helps to reinforce this. I don't think it's a bad thing to be honest.

My daughter is 8 and is very active. She is always on the monkey bars and doing handstands and cartwheels. She also hates her knickers being too tight which means there is a risk of them not fully covering her.

I don't think it's an issue to teach all children that it's on not to show your pants to people.

She could wear shorts to school instead of dresses but she likes the summer dress with shorts.

I bought DD huggggge 'boxer' style knickers from Next because she hated pants going up her bum. She loves them, they're super comfy and they look like short-legged cycling shorts. She's even started wearing a pair with a vest as summer PJs. I think I need to buy another pack!
Buy Shorts 5 Pack (2-16yrs) from the Next UK online shop

I'm tempted to buy some for myself!

If she's got shorts on, why bother with the skirt?

Just stick a t shirt on her. Done.