Skirt for a boy

[glesgal]

Following the case the other week where a boy turned up to school in a skirt in protest my DS has decided he wants to do the same. (his school also say trousers or skirt for all pupils) He can't borrow his sister's as hers is brown and DS school requires grey or navy so we'll need to get one separate. Can anyone think of a good style for a boy of 11 at primary school (ie not too short, thin, girly pleats like the drop-waist etc.) btw it will be with white ankle socks as tights are too girly and would defeat the purpose of ditching trousers.

Exactly, he should have just worn shorts.

The reason he didn't wear shorts is because school policy bans them! By wearing a skirt he is pointing out that it is unfair that girls have the option of skirts. As skirts are not banned and gender is'nt mentioned in the school uniform policy, Only the wearing of long trousers and skirts being allowed. He would not be breaking any rules wearing a skirt. Thats the protest about how silly the rule on shorts is!

oh I see. I would still wear shorts. Because I think the rule regarding shorts would be overturned if enough of the boys wore them in the correct uniform colour. Wearing a skirt would just be a bit daft and I can't imagine it would encourage the school to take the protest seriously.

are the girls allowed to wear trousers?

i'm quite surprised by this thread. i obviously don't get out enough.

i would have thought that most mners would have been supportive over a move towards equality. of whatever form.

hey ho.

i think one mner did have a ds (or it might have been dh?) who did this (in 6th form?) i think it was a group protest iirc, and the school rules changes as a result. can't remember who it was, though...

Maybe I spoke too soon. He came home yesterday with a skirt a girl in his class sometimes wears to school. He may wear it on Monday if its not cold or wet and that girl will wear her trousers that day. He's debating whether to wear shorts underneath (and a few threads here suggest lots of girls do that) or just his underpants. In fairness he has worn a kilt recnetly so it won't be totally alien to him.

I don't object to him doing it but it's under his own steam. He is old enough to cope himself. Will report what reaction he gets.

seeker

It is a bit unfortunate it has already been done-not the same impact.

I'm a bit late entering this one, but I'm a bloke and a dad and here is my view. People have prattled on for years about equality of the sexes. Many schools have been threatened in the past by the Equal Opportunities Commission for refusing to allow girls to wear trousers, and most have caved rater than face legal action. In the final analysis, a skirt is just a simple tube of cloth for covering the lower torso and upper legs. In western countries for some years, this style of garment has been regarded as exclusively female and taboo for males - and yet we have seen all the taboos regarding what females can wear get smashed. Now either we believe in equality, or we don't. If we do - and if we MEAN it - then not only should a boy be allowed to wear a skirt for school - he should be made to feel it is perfectly acceptable to do so.

I'm a bloke so i don't wear skirts - I'm not sure I would want to. However, I really would like the choice - a choice that women take for granted - and to know that, if I exercised that choice, I would no more be mocked or considered some kind of freak than my wife does when she dons a pair of jeans.

Equality means equality for all - not just for girls and women. That, in turn, means that when your DS says "Mum, I'd like to wear a skirt for school, is that OK?", the ONLY answer you can give him is, "of course you can, it's not an issue".

sunshinenanny - I agree with you - I don`t think because rules are rules they should not be questioned.

I would let my son wear a skirt (if i had a son that is) - he is doing no damage what so ever by questioning the rules and standing up for what he believes in ... even if it is all just a little but of fun.

Rules, law etc they all need to be "updated" and i always encourage my daughters to questions matters for themselves - not follow the "sheep" ...
there are enough sheeps already, let's educate some lions !

Bisonex, it is more complicated than that. When people say that they want equality what they really mean is 'you have something that I don't; I want it, too' It is always the underdog fighting for what the top dog has. No-one ever fights for the right to starve or be oppressed, do they?
So females (unpowerful) have fought for the right to wear the same as the males (powerful). There are not many males who would fight for the right to wear badges of unpowerfulness. However, it may come in time - I remember the days when no man would be seen dead wearing pink but these days they do it without a second thought.

PS The skirt is always a tricky issue. They are generally for girls but rename it 'a kilt' and, all of a sudden, it is a manly piece of clothing fit for a warrior. Bizarre, innit?

I totally agree with Bisonex. It shouldn't be an issue.

And that headmaster Nickschick mentioned: it would make me want to take my children out of the school. Blindly following pointless rules is a lazy and stupid but popular thing to do. I wouldn't want my children going to a school in which this was enforced in such a trivial and aggressive way. "In this school girls are girls and boys are boys..." I wonder how this attitude shows itself in teaching and options, careers and uni advice...

Ok this is 2012 - but the situation has arisen again - one school in hertfordshire allows boys to wear skirts if they wish with no sanctions - so early on in this debate it was suggested that they ( both mum and ds) go to the High Street to buy a skirt - what a fantastic idea - I do think they should also consider a petticoat ( full ) its better than a half - as he may start slipping ( its snowing down south ) dealing wth a skirtdress at school is one thing but todeal with ashowing petticoat is another

why wd a ds want to wear a skirt? it restricts movement and doesnt protect. my ds plays football, rugby and cricket at school - trousers and shorts hold everything in!

OK then wear coulottes - I do question why skirts restrict movement - how about a "A" line

Far too much restriction here - My male business partner was not allowed into a venue as NO tie - he went back to the Hotel Changed into a skirt suit /bouse (no tie ) etc etc and this time WAS let in!
Women have the right to wear trousers at work and the women at the professional golf association took them to court ref trousers - so why should not the males have the same rights?

www.facebook.com/toohotfortrousers/ - our sons are campaigning for the same, please support

I don't see the problem, suggesting that a boy should be treated like a business man is like something out of the 1950s. I work in a creative environment, I imagine if a man turned up to work in a skirt it might prompt some interest but certainly nothing more or anything judgemental.

Rules, law etc they all need to be "updated" and i always encourage my daughters to questions matters for themselves - not follow the "sheep" ...
there are enough sheeps already, let's educate some lions ! This!

There have been a few protests in the news lately of men wearing skirts in protests of not being able to shorts in the heat. Some bus drivers were some of the first I saw, but I saw a few involving other businesses and boys at school. Seems to have happened every year for at least the last few when it's started getting hot...

I'd happily let my DS get on with it, would recommend what your DS did - asking a girl who already had one if he could borrow one, or maybe a utilikilt if it passed the rules and he really wanted one of his own as I find them the most comfortable to use for being active (I pretty much only wear skirts, and wear utilikilts for hiking or anything sport like).

This is a six year old zombie thread. OP's son is presumably now a sixth-former.

Hot heat?

Would shorts be a better compromise?