11 year old girl wearing hot pants to school

[MalloryMae]

An article in The Daily Mirror (FYI I don't usually read or take this newspaper seriously but this article caught my attention) is of an upset mum who's 11 year old daughter was sent home from school, on a non school uniform day, on the hottest day of the year, for wearing cycling/sports shorts because they are deemed 'hot pants' and 'inappropriate'

Lots of comments from people who completely agree that a child wearing these shorts are in fact, inappropriate.

I'm having the same issue with my daughters secondary school. They won't let her wear black cycling shorts in PE - not because they might be branded and other children might not be able to afford them - not because of any justifiable reason but because they are apparently 'inappropriate'?

I'm sorry but is this not body shaming young girls? Sexualising yet again another item of clothing that are completely fit for purpose? Surely the only thing that's inappropriate about girls wearing cycling shorts are the perverted minds of those who think such way?

Is there a uniform policy, what do the other girls wear for PE.

I can see why a school might consider skin tight shorts inappropriate for school (for children of either sex), either as non uniform or for PE, especially if their uniform PE shorts are loose fitting.

My DD was at an all girl's school and was given a detention for wearing too-short shorts on non-uniform day! No definition of too short was given, just that they shouldn't be worn. I am the frumpyist of Mums and I had no problem with the length of her shorts 🤷

Cycling shorts should be ok but I know some teens wear shorts that cover less than most of my knickers
I think these shorts are inappropriate for school whatever sex wears them. Nobody’s bum cheeks should be on display at school or work

Why?

Surely, the fitted shorts are actually safer and more practical for sport. That's why sports people wear them.

According to the article, this school allows the girls to wear these style shorts for PE but because she wore them on a non school uniform day and would be taking part in other school subjects, and not just PE, it was inappropriate

For my daughters school, the PE policy is 'black shorts' but when my daughter has taken in cycling/sports shorts to wear because she wears them for dance and finds them so much more comfortable, she's been told by her PE teachers that they are inappropriate. She's 12 ffs, how are they inappropriate?

The asda girls cycling shorts are longer in length than their sports shorts but I imagine they feel quite hot as they are very tight. Have the school explained why they are inappropriate.

Why are they inappropriate though? These types of shorts are fit for purpose; comfortable, no chaffing, they wick away sweat. They are actually made for sport...

I think lycra cycling shorts are inappropriate for either sex to wear to school.

Would you be comfortable for your dd to see a line up of boys and their barely concealed genitals all in lycra shorts? (not to think of the absolute ridicule they'd subject each other to.)

It's not a part of the uniform. Don't be a dick and try battling the school about trying to bend the rules over a piece of clothing that literally outlines every crease in her crotch. Hugely inappropriate for school and the workplace (even for PE, unless you are a pro gymnast or cyclist. And I've NEVER seen a teenage girl get that hot and sweaty in a PE lesson to be considered a pro).

In hot weather its best to wear loose clothing to ensure better air flow. There is literally no argument for wearing lycra shorts to school.

I think sports people wear them as they cut down wind resistance. You don't see soccer players wearing the same kit as world class athletes.

Secondary schools are full of hormonal teenagers, both sexes. Plus disruptive pupils who will think nothing of complaining that a teacher is staring at their bottom or whatever. The shorts the male athletes wear are quite close fitted around the front which could I imagine cause issues.

I guess I just feel that unless you are OK with kids coming in in bikinis or swimming trunks then schools need some kind of dress code, and some students and parents will always try to push the boundaries.

I dont think wearing cycling shorts for the whole day is sensible, would a child usually wear their sports kit during all lessons on a uniform day. Wouldnt most kids change into shorts for sweaty PE anyway.

We used to have to wear gym knickers for PE... we campaigned against them for football shorts!

Black/navy cycling shorts are sold as PE wear. I had more trouble finding longer ones for my DD as she doesn't like having her legs on show.

Schools round here are still operating as they did during the height of the pandemic and on PE days the kids go to school in their kit and stay in it all day. Girls skorts seem to be made much shorter than shorts for some reason (and no, it's not the girls choosing short ones or 'adapting' them).

If it’s acceptable for PE then I don’t see why it’s not acceptable for school. It’s even more annoying when the school insist on their branded PE skort and then insist on girls wearing leggings underneath or tracksuit over the top to travel to school and in lessons.

I feel like I agree with this.

Some girls prefer cycling shorts because the pe shorts are see through when they did this with the high school shorts the girls enmasse decided not to wear them the school thankfully discussed the issue with the suppliers and went back to less see through materials they are still pretty see through though so some people wear jogging bottoms year round

I've read this article and the comments.
The comments are horrendous. It was the hottest day of the year. She's 11. She thought she could wear her PE kit but for an unknown reason she couldn't.

As for "barely conceals genitals" WTAF?!

She's 11.

but there is an argument - they are more comfortable, my DD feels more secure and in place when doing summer sports such as athletics, gym and dance. Especially when she’s on her period, as she fears that the pad could easily come loose and fall out the side of loose shorts, because these shorts wick away sweat and are actually made for sports. Because they are opaque and therefore you don't see their underwear. and no you don’t need to be a pro to wear them hence why they are readily available to purchase by us amateurs...

And on the unlikely day that boys are allowed to and choose to wear cycling shorts to PE I wouldn’t bat an eye lid because 1) girls and boys do PE separately at my daughters school and 2) because I teach my daughter not to stare at peoples genitals…

If girls are allowed to wear cycling shorts, then boys would have to be allowed too.

A pad shouldn't really become loose when wearing well fitting underwear.

I do think that at secondary such tightfitting items would potentially lead to accusations of staring whether true or not, and it is unfair on the teachers to put them in that position.

Having seen the see through clothing and tiny skorts that pe kits consist of they really should.look at the uniforms.they insist the kids have before they worry about what constitutes hotpants or inappropriate clothing tbh

She should follow the school uniform policy. End of

There's a uniform policy that covers mufti days. No crop tops, no leggings, no short shorts no flip flops and so on. At her old mixed school bicycle shorts were out too fir everyone.
They aren't even allowed to wear their games skorts without leggings underneath when not actually at games.
It's school, not home.

Boys should be allowed if that's what they want? The school policy says black shorts, these shorts are MADE for sports.

The pad might not fall out no, but I know that if I was on my period, made to wear loose, see through shorts and then made to jump up and down on a trampoline for an hour, I'd probably feel quite uncomfortable too. Would you not?

Ah yes, the reason why children can't wear sports shorts for PE at school is because of the potential blaming of adults (who are paid to safeguard our children) being falsely accused of staring at them inappropriately
If they were going to accuse their teachers of staring at them inappropriately I doubt loose shorts would hinder them tbh..

i previously worked in an all-girls secondary school and the cries of “waaaaah you’re body shaming me” could be heard a mile down the road, when girls came to school in questionable outfits.

Asking students to dress appropriately for school is not body-shaming. Wear what you like at home and at the weekend, but at school I’m afraid you’ve got to follow the rules.

The deputy-head had a genius idea of having a rack of what can only be called granny clothes from the local charity shop, which was handed out to students who refused to conform to the dress policy!

I know I couldn't believe some of the stuff I was reading! I put my DD4 in cycling shorts, so at what age as a child does it suddenly become inappropriate?