‘Catching print’ trend humiliating DS - contact college or let it go for now??

[DandyPeer]

DS, 17, is feeling upset by this ‘catching print’ trend. Some might already know about it but on TikTok over the last few weeks there’s been a trend where women can estimate a male’s ‘size’ based on the print on the trousers. When this trend was brought to my attention by DD, 14, last week I thought nothing of it as it was just on TikTok at the time.

Apparently since going back to college on Monday, some girls are using this trend to mock boys and DS feels judged by it. He told me that in a group task, whenever he tried to contribute, the girls were saying things like ‘shut it A print’ and he and another boy felt quite humiliated.

At first I thought it was just a silly trend that will fade in no time (and I still do think that) but today DD had a friend over and I overheard the friend say ‘Your brother is an A print’ whilst laughing. I thought that was really rude and inappropriate. DD, told me that on TikTok people were saying it’s about making them feel as uncomfortable as they make women and it’s levelling the playing field. I do understand the argument in theory, but I don’t like the idea of DS feeling judged and embarrassed in college over something like this.

Part of me thinks it’s just a passing trend and will die out in a week or two, but part of me feels it’s crossing into bullying.

Would it be best to contact the college about DS’ bullying or just let it pass? At the moment that’s what I’ve told DS that will just pass after a few days or weeks.

Why are pp saying it's ok because girls have put up with this stuff for years?
Sexual harassment is not ok whoever it's aimed at.
Ask your ds if he wants you to have a word and do whatever he wants.

Well usually sixth formers studying for A levels are a little bit more intelligent than school kids, maybe a bit more politically correct. It certainly is at our local sixth form college, this just wouldn't happen.

Don't be so ridiculous.

Teenagers from all over get swept up in TikTok crazes.

You're being very naïve.

"Teenagers" yes some do get caught up in TikTok trends, the less educated ones.

You're still being ridiculous if you think more 'educated' teenagers don't get swept up in internet crazes.

It's got more to do with being a teenager than it has to do with being educated.

Exactly!

We need to nip this sort of thing in the bud asap as soon as there is any hint of it, regardless of whether it’s boys towards girls or vice versa, or the same sex or ‘gender fluid/neutral’.

Saying that it’s happened to girls for years so let them carry on is implying that it’s acceptable to do it to girls as well.

This should absolutely be reported to the college and it’s shameful how many posters are implying that’s it’s embarrassing for his mum to be complaining.

If this was my DD I’d be ringing up the college immediately.
My DD is in college and told me about a girl in her class, I wasn’t her parent but still rang the college and made them aware of potential grooming.

You think 'all' teenagers so 13-19, 17 year olds studying for A levels to get into good universities are caught up in Tik Tok trends, you don't think these are a bit cringe. Yes, school aged teenagers, I think those who are 17 or adults themselves trying to achieve decent grades at A level, don't get caught up in ridiculous trends like the one in the OP at a scale you are convinced by.

You think 'all' teenagers so 13-19, 17 year olds studying for A levels to get into good universities are caught up in Tik Tok trends,

No - hence the reason I didn't say this.

you don't think these are a bit cringe

They're absolutely cringe - hence the reason I didn't say I don't think these are a bit cringe.

I think those who are 17 or adults themselves trying to achieve decent grades at A level, don't get caught up in ridiculous trends like the one in the OP at a scale you are convinced by.

I haven't mentioned a scale.

You however, said "at our local sixth form college, this just wouldn't happen."

Which makes you extremely naïve.

I hope this post has cleared a few things up for you as you seem to be struggling a bit with comprehension.

I know this is massively not the point of the thread - but what is the ‘print’ on their trousers? Do you mean like a pattern?

On the one hand, your 17 year old child is being sexually harassed in a way that could long term self esteem issues. I would at least talk to him about you or him raising it in college. I would also refuse to have the 14 year old friend over again until she's grown up.

On the other hand, this isn't the first time women have tried to harass men because they have to deal with it. It backfires and justifies continued harassment of women by men.

How come the 17 yo is a ‘child’ yet the 14 yo needs to “grow up”?

This is aside from the harassment, the son is old enough to drive, marry etc. he is a young man, not a child.

ask your son. What would he like you to do? I can’t imagine a 17yo wanting you to bring it up with his college…

but you definitely should not tolerate this under your roof!