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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Girls and PE Kits

18 replies

NickAndNora · 27/09/2014 01:05

I was out with a group of guys today and they were reminiscing about sadistic PE masters making them do rugby in their pants if they forgot their PE kit. Well boo hoo, when I was at school PE knickers were standard issue for the girls. Knickers were what we were forced to do PE in every day. If we had to do something particularly strenuous then we were allowed to wear a useless, flappy, split-to-the-waist, micro-mini over our PE knickers, which did nothing to detract from the knickeriness of our knickers. Twice, both times in blizzard conditions, we were permitted to wear the tracksuit the school had falsely conned us into purchasing.

Has it ever occurred to anyone that girls might become a bit more sporty if they weren't in danger of revealing their inner labia to the Upper Sixth 2nd XI every time they reached for a ball? I know that, sadly, at a higher level there are all sorts of sexist sponsorship issues that lead to skimpy outfits for sportswomen, but why don't schoolgirls get to wear shorts and comfy t-shirts? Why does feminine appearance always come before utility?

OP posts:
NerfHerder · 27/09/2014 01:13

I go into schools on a daily basis. They all have PE kits with shorts/tracksuit bottoms these days. Cannot remember the last time I saw a PE skirt.
The most 'skirty' thing I've seen is a skort.

scurryfunge · 27/09/2014 01:18

This issue was raised about 18 years ago when I last taught P.E. It was recognised then that young women need to feel comfortable when exercising. I fought for a change in uniform i.e. jogging bottoms, leggings, whatever. I remember the biggest complaint was about being cold so uniform was changed. Interested to know what schools are still insisting on skimpy sportswear for girls only?

OverAndAbove · 27/09/2014 01:22

OP, have you been in a school recently and seen girls doing sports? They're mostly wearing shorts or skorts, and with all manner of comfy, weather-proof tops etc. I'm not so sure that this is a "current" issue...

Trapper · 27/09/2014 01:23

Seperate issues surely? Men can complain about sadistic PE teachers. Women can complain about sadistic PE teachers.
I'm shocked that your school made you do PE in knickers - sounds mortifying and completely unnecessary. Hopefully schools don't do this anymore?

ElephantsNeverForgive · 27/09/2014 01:26

My DDs have skorts, I like them, they are much more forgiving than shorts on both very slim and slightly plumper girls and good for the wallet as they are decent even when very short.

Although since they are allowed to show their legs in PE, why is there such a ridiculous fuss about longer school skirts.

Why girls legs are perfectly decent in a PE skort, swimming costume or leotard, but utterly scandalous in a far longer school skirt mystifies me totally.

NickAndNora · 27/09/2014 01:29

Oh dear, I went to a private school and the school I went to still makes the girls wear the lovely knickers and skirt combo. Or just knickers. I can just imagine them not being willing to give into the 'lefty, PC nonsense' of girls wearing shorts or tracksuit bottoms.

It stills stands at a higher level. I think Martina Navratilova is the only woman I can remember who has worn shorts at Wimbledon.

OP posts:
scurryfunge · 27/09/2014 01:34

OP, surely that is a reflection on traditional schools' ethos not what is current in everyday education?
Have a whole different argument about women's beach volleyball attire though Wink

TortoiseUpATreeAgain · 27/09/2014 01:44

Victoria Azarenka wears shorts at Wimbledon but I agree it's unusual.

PetulaGordino · 27/09/2014 01:46

it was vest+knickers or gym knickers when i was at primary school (nearly 20 years ago). shorts/jogging bottoms and school logo t-shirt at secondary school, though you wore pleated short skirts if you did competitive netball or hockey.

YonicScrewdriver · 27/09/2014 06:37

I too had gym knickers and a tiny skirt. Tracksuit bottoms allowed only rarely.

Trapper, gym knickers are kind of like the bottom bit of a leotard, they go over your undies.

I don't remember ever bringing/ wearing a different bra on PE days - I hope that's changed now too.

AggressiveBunting · 27/09/2014 06:50

Tennis and netball skirts are usually now skorts (i.e. they have cycling shorts built in). They're actually awesome as they give all the flexibility of just wearing short cycling shorts, but more coverage due to the skirt. I'm a trail runner and I've noticed quite a few of the top runners have started wearing the running skorts made by Salomon etc in preference to shorts so there must be a performance/ comfort benefit.

I went to school 25 years ago, and then we only wore "just gym knickers" for athletics. Games skirt over the top for everything else.

SpaghettiMeatballs · 27/09/2014 07:13

My school was exactly like yours. Games knickers, airtex shirt and these awful knee length socks. This was early 90's!

I believe they have changed it now.

Eastpoint · 27/09/2014 07:18

DDs go to an all girls school & have skorts, leggings & base layers as well as technical fabric tops. Dd2 has just got a new top which has a half zip at the front so you can pull it over your head. I don't know of any girls schools where they have to wear old fashioned skirts anymore. They have athletics shorts when it's warm enough & sometimes she wears those instead of her skort.

Eminybob · 27/09/2014 07:23

When I was at school 20 years ago we were allowed to wear cycling shorts under our netball skirts. I'm also pretty sure we were allowed to wear just shorts if we wanted to and we definitely were allowed wear track suit bottoms.

meditrina · 27/09/2014 07:27

My school uniform had knickers for PE, but we all wore big pants over ordinary knickers (rather like you see top flight track and field athletes competing in today by choice). But if people didn't wear the proper athletics pants, I can see why they didn't like it.

DD's PE kit has always been shorts or skorts. But some of the high-performing girls choose athletics pants.

PuffinsAreFicticious · 27/09/2014 11:01

My school (state) still has the girls in big grey pants and a tiny pleated skirt. However, I doubt the PE teachers are allowed to check that they have the correct knickers on every lesson now. We did have a uniform track suit, we were allowed to wear it to warm up for hockey lessons, and we still had to have the knickers on, and it was still checked to make sure we did. The kickers had a pocket in them, on the inside. Quite why, I'll never know, it would have just about fitted a condom in it......

NerfHerder · 27/09/2014 22:02

It's for one's locker key!

PuffinsAreFicticious · 27/09/2014 22:15

Ah! We didn't have lockers.... lol

Or showers, after one of the PE teachers was caught taking too much of an interest in the girl's washing....

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