School discriminating against girls re pe kit

[Universitychallenging]

(Braving here because I want a feminist view)

My daughters school makes the girls wear skorts for pe and games. The boys wear shorts. The girls are not allowed to wear shorts for hockey and pe.

Boys are allowed to leave the school grounds after pe and games in their shorts.

Girls are made to change into jogging bottoms because that's re rules.

At this stage, DD just refuses, they threaten her with detention and she tells them to ring me.

I am going to have to email - so far I've got

It's regulation kit. The school picked it. Therefore if you chose it she's doing nothing wrong in wearing it.

If the boys leave in shorts girls should leave in skorts. Or both in joggers.

It's pure clear sexism. And as such illegal. Treating the girls differently pure on the grounds of their sex.

Is there anything else I can say to make it stronger?

Also. Skirts are compulsory. No option of trousers. But that's a battle for another day.

Also. Skirts are compulsory. No option of trousers. But that's a battle for another day.

Maybe, but on the other hand it's another example of how the school treats girls unfairly compared to boys. It also makes their forcing girls to change out of skirts/skorts even more bizarre, not that I agree with their probable reasoning for doing so anyway. So the school doesn't allow girls to wear trousers as part of uniform, forcing them to wear skirts, yet doesn't allow girls to wear PE skirts to leave school, forcing them to wear jogging bottoms?

Bizarre rule OP. I wouldn't have a problem particularly with skorts for girls, shorts for boys as the overall functionality is basically the same (not that different from having a uniform blouse for girl / uniform shirt for boy for example). It's not like skirts vs trousers which are substantively different.

(I'm assuming here that the skorts are like dd's pe uniform - basically slightly stretchy shorts with a little skirt-y front bit? They can choose either, but the girls mostly have skorts as the shorts are that sort of unisex that is nobody-shaped.)

But I'd be inclined to ring up myself and ask exactly why girls have to put joggers on, yet boys can leave in shorts.

Wait, girls aren't allowed to wear trousers?

Is it a state school, OP? Cause if so, I'm fairly sure that's illegal.

Cycling shorts with a short pe skirt over. Basically.

And IAmAmy. Yes. Totally baffling

I think skirts being compulsory is as bad if not worse. I hope your daughter isn't alone in finding this unfairness wrong.

She isn't but she's the only one who challenges it.

The rest are more compliant.

Is it legal that boys can wear skirts if they want to?

No the uniform is set by the school. Yes it's a state school.

flumpybear you seem to be suggesting you think it's fine to force girls to wear skirts as part of their uniform, yet said you wouldn't want pupils to walk home in PE shorts or skirts.

It's good others see the unfairness of the uniform although it shouldn't be up to the pupils to challenge this kind of thing and I can't blame others for being compliant, though think it's great your daughter stands up against it.

Good for your dd!

Even the school can't make themselves make sense ffs. Joggers bit no trousers and a pe kit which they insist on yet the girls can't be seen in

Wtf

Can I ask if girls can wear trousers on religious grounds?

This was our school in the 80's

No trousers unless for religious purposes

Not as far as I know but I'll check the policy. I hadn't thought of that so thanks

Still not enough if girls are only allowed to wear trousers on religious grounds. There is no reason to force girls to wear skirts as part of their uniform.

Those are baffling rules OP.

Surely any uniform should just be a list of things that are uniform which both boys and girls can wear. So either could wear trousers or skirt.

Nope. Boys trousers girls skirt Is the uniform. I will double check later but mr and me are going for dinner.

Government website www.gov.uk/school-uniform

First para:
Each school decides its uniform and must not discriminate based on gender, race, disability, sexual orientation or belief.

and then
Discrimination
Schools can decide if girls can wear trousers, or if religious dress is allowed. If you think your child is being discriminated against, talk to the head teacher.

riiighht. They're not allowed to discriminate, but are allowed to decide if girls can wear trousers.

Of course, it doesn't actually say they can't discriminate based on sex which is what the no trousers for girls doing.

Of course, it doesn't actually say they can't discriminate based on sex which is what the no trousers for girls doing.

Yes. Very nice loophole they have themselves there!

Vestal I won't be doing that. This isn't a trans issue.

Vestal I won't be doing that. This isn't a trans issue.

If your daughter wants to wear trousers, then according to some definitions, she is genderqueer. According to some definitions by genderists.

I haven't invented the nonsense. I don't believe in gender. A girl who wants to wear trousers is a very normal girl.

But "you have to wear skirts" is the feminine gender role that is forced on girls by society. It has everything to do with gender.

Vestal. I specifically have said I didn't want to post in feminism because all threads became trans threads.

You've proved my point.

It's absolutely not a trans issue - its sexism, and part of that is in relation to enforcing gender stereotypical clothing.

Amy - there's a big difference between a longer school skirt and skorts which are short and shows bare legs ....
whoever said about victim blaming and clothes .... words fail me ..... but perhaps pass that message on to attackers who perhaps didn't get your memo