Are tights unisex?

[trybest]

First of all, I don't want to come across as a conservative, old-fashioned mum, because that's not who I am.

A few days ago, I was visiting my sister in Poland. While we were strolling through the shops, I was surprised to find that they were selling tights for boys up to at least age 10 (not long johns or leggings, but actual footed tights!). She explained to me that it's completely normal for boys to wear them under their trousers during winter.

I mentioned that my DS (he recently turned 9 and is in Year 4) often complains about how cold it is, especially in the mornings during winter. She eventually convinced me to buy him several pairs.

At home, he initially tried on the tights reluctantly, but in the end, he agreed to give them a try under his school trousers when it gets cold enough in winter.

My DH is worried that he might get bullied at school if anyone finds out, while my DD (11) thinks it’s perfectly fine for a boy to wear them.

AIBU to think tights are unisex for children?

If you’re worried then get leggings instead? You can get sporty under armour type ones in decathlon that are very unisex.

I was thinking about buying a pair of adidas mens running tights

We've tried leggings, but he doesn't like them because his socks keep sliding down.

Personally I wouldn't be putting a boy in tights and sending the poor lad to school. Absolutely no way. Same way I wouldn't put him in a skirt or knickers. These are items seen as being for females (rightly or wrongly).

You can get thermals. My son likes them under school trousers in the winter.

If the child is reluctant, I'd say no.
he's the one wearing them and he's the one that would get the teasing, if it happens.

Maybe go for long socks and long under shorts.

I've had thermal leggings for my son in the winter, I do wonder if other boys might be mean about the tights even though I think boys should be able to wear them too

He agreed to wear the tights. Thermals either bunch up with his socks, or his socks slide down.

I seem to recall that some policemen wore tights in the winter when walking their beat.

Of course, now they whizz about in warm cars there is no need to.

I don't think they are unisex in the UK.
If a young boy wanted to wear them, that should be fine and no problem. But I think 8 or 9 is hitting territory when he could be teased for it. If he doesn't get changed for PE then unlikely kids would notice, but I would stick with thermals or footless running tights. I find wearing tights and socks uncomfortable too.

Fully grown men in the toughest jobs under the weather out there wear tights. Even in their changing rooms.
This is a perfectly normal thing for those guys.
It may get too hot for your DS once he is indoors though.

Toddler age yes.

But they are really uncomfortable u!der trousers anyway!

I work in an engineering environment where the guys will be out and about in all weathers. Many of them swear by a pair of woolly tights under the work trousers.

However, I think he'd get to hot through the day in heated classrooms, and children are often awful.

I'd try black knee high socks if he's prepared to wear them. Easier to adjust, less restrictive.

I knownof several men who work on building sites who wear tights (and thermals) in cold weather.
At school kids can be cruel. Maybe rename them for him to use. I just wouldn't put them on him when it's PE. Most kids won't know he's wearing them unless he tells them.

Get him thermals. The boys at school will rip him apart if he’s in tights. They shouldn’t do, but they will.

He doesn’t want to wear thermals with/or long socks. They slide down, and it bothers him too much.

When he wears his new (footed) tights, he won’t need any additional socks.

Thermal tights, long johns etc are par for the course in colder climates (like Poland).

Men's running tights/leggings have become par for the course everywhere.

Kids your son's age will pick on any sign of non-conformity or difference but it's an awful mentality the answer to that isn't necessarily to encourage conformity - your job as a parent is to let them know that it's OK to be different. So I'd be guided by your son. If he really wants to wear the tights, let him. If he's worried himself about the reaction, don't force them.

Has it really gotten that bad? So far, he has never had any problems at school. He has many friends.

I don’t understand the sock problem - presumably they don’t fall down when he doesn’t wear leggings?

Just get him sports leggings - all DS’s football team wear these for winter training - he’s 9. Then no risk of teasing.

BOTH my elder sons wore black tights very happily indeed until 10 (and later) and frankly nobody made fun of them and some of the boys were jealous. My youngest now 9 wears leggings or long johns as he prefers them but there’s nothing wrong with tights for boys. IMO it’s bloody absurd to think otherwise. And nobody wants to freeze in playgrounds during winter.

Some football club would make a killing selling them with a logo.

Tights under thermals are normal for male agricultural workers in winter. keeping warm outside is the priority.

But if he gets teased, why not use thermal leggings and put socks on over the top so that they don’t fall down?

I'd send DS1 (8) to school in them if he wanted, but a good chunk of the class is from Europe so I don't think he'd get teased.
He wears black leggings under his football shorts sometimes.

If they find out he'll only survive it he's popular enough