DD in shorts

[ostwest]

13yo DD's school has sports' week. As the weather is warm (SE England), she's been wearing shorts to school. This morning DH (her dad) had a go at her for wearing it 'all week' and how short they are- she has 2 pirs, so not been wearing same. I normally berate my DD for wearing her school skirt too short, but this time had to defend her. Yes, the cycling-style cotton shorts ride-up a bit, but I see every other young girl having the same 'problem'. DD had skort, but she hates it and I don't think it's good in this weather as it is synthetic.
AIBU to think it's not 100% ok, but there is no alternative and she can walk to school in 'short' shorts. The shorts come to maybe 1/3 of her thighs.

Because children's bodies are ... dirty? Sexy? Tempting? Ugly? What?

Are we talking Nike Pro shorts? All the girls here wear them, in and out of school.

Yay, let's body shame young teens. I mean, it's not as if they're ever self conscious or insecure, are they?

I would be having a very stern word with your DH if I were you.

Really? They wouldn't be allowed at DS school. They're very strict on uniform here .

Goodness. They are clothed, they aren’t showing anything other than some legs or maybe some midriff, and they are children. Seeing a child’s legs or midriff should not be something distasteful

My dd is 13, she finished up for the holidays a few weeks ago but has been wearing shorts like you describe pretty much every day lately. They are comfortable and she likes them. I don't police what she wears, she can wear what she is confident and comfortable in.

Don’t look then.

Oh hi Op’s Dh.

@Silvergoldandglitter I was surprised they're allowed at school to be honest, I thought school PE kit was mandatory but I've not had any consequences through.

Yep agree, my 11yr old wears exactly the same for PE and even under her skirt so she can play and cartwheel without worrying about her skirt going up. This length of cycling shorts is the norm now, they use to be longer when I was younger, down to the knee, but you’ll struggle to find them that length now.
Let her wear what she’s comfortable in and the school allows, it’s up to men to self govern themselves and their grimy thoughts, not our daughters to have to cover every inch of their bodies. Your DH also needs to be careful about giving her issues about self image etc. and lighten up

@Bambooflowers what are you talking about? Cycling shorts are not exactly school uniform. We can have a difference of opinion.

It's not the "only" option. I've seen some of these cycling shorts and I don't think they are OK for school IMO.

My opinion seems to have rattled you. This is a public forum sweetie learn to consider others views too 😉

@Silvergoldandglitter from OPs description they sound like these type of cycling leggings.

The further you used to get from our school gates, the shorter the skirts became. Rolling them up was totally normal when I was a teen!

Your DD is wearing school regulation PE shorts, so if the school don't have a problem with them and your DD is comfy, then your DH shouldn't either.

I drove past our local secondary school today and loads of the kids were going in in their PE kit and I can assure you that the netball skirts a lot of the girls were wearing were a lot shorter than 1/3 of the thigh!

Good on you for sticking up for your DD.

Exactly.. let kids wear clothes, if people have an issue then they're the weird ones.

Would he have a problem with the length of the shorts if she was a boy?

They cover everything. The school doesn't seem to care. Please do tell me how someone's clothing affects their ability to learn? I have never understood it, coming as I do from a country that doesn't have school uniform and yet manages to produce educated functioning adults.

They are just shorts. And they show leg. I can’t see why that’s a problem.

Your DH is being really odd and a big creepy making an issue out of it.

Your DH is coming across a bit creepy here. They are just regular pe shorts. He shouldn’t be making his DD self conscious.

I don’t understand- if they are acceptable for PE why do they suddenly become unacceptable when she steps off the sports field?

Yes I understand. They're not allowed at DS school.

What's the point of his "having a go" at her? At 13, I doubt she's going to use her own money and initiative to go out and buy different shorts for school. It sounds like the school have asked pupils to wear shorts this week, and these shorts are part of the approved uniform? If they don't fit, and she has none in her wardrobe that do, then why doesn't he buy her some properly fitting ones from among the uniform choices?

In cycling shorts, u wouldn't think a bit of thigh would be of concern so much as the fact they're basically long knickers. I'm surprised the school is OK with the teen girls in such form fitting clothes which their shirtd will barely cover

My 13yo DD's school sports shorts are that short on her. Not so bad on the girls who aren't so tall and skinny.

They are legs. It's within uniform. He needs to take his concerns away from her.

If her bum cheeks are fully covered and the tops of her thighs then what’s the problem? She’s a child wearing summer clothing. If he is sexualising that, then it’s a he problem.

This is the option at my girl's school.

They come in short bike shorts and 3/4 leggings. Nothing in between.