There is a clear issue with sexual harassment in our culture and society. Any action by boys falling under sexual harassment or bullying should of course be dealt with. It isn’t, though, is it? And all too often the same old stereotypes fall into play - he didn’t mean it, it was just a joke, he’s only being mean because he likes you, if you weren’t so uptight you wouldn’t mind, and so on.
There is also a problem with cultural stereotypes and attitudes affecting children’s choices re: what they wear.
Children like to fit in (generalisation). They like to find their tribe, and be a part of it. This will have an effect on clothes choices. Which is why, when there is a choice of skirts or trousers in school uniform, girls will often choose skirts.
My dd1wears trousers to school. Always has. Much more practical - she has severe ASD and learning difficulties, and wouldn’t be able to cope (motor skills wise) with tights and a skirt. She would:
end up with tights halfway between knee and crotch, and all twisted.
end up with her skirt tucked into her tights/pants after going to the toilet, or worse, not move it out of the way sufficiently when going to the toilet
not be aware of times when she might need to moderate her actions to avoid being exposed (windy days, for eg)
not b aware of social norms, and so not think about sitting “nicely” etc (ok for a small child, she’s now 13 and going through puberty)
and so on.
These are just a few of the things which affect younger girls, right from a time when even an NT child with no motor skills issues would struggle, wrt clothes choices, but they are expected to put up with modifying their behaviour in the interests of looking “girly” or dressing how society expects them to dress.
My dd2 has to wear a skirt as her school uniform. She hates it. Impractical - can’t run without looking undignified. Can’t climb high on the climbing wall at break in case boys look up her skirt. Couldnt use the play equipment when younger because comments were made (by boys and girls) about seeing pants etc. No useful pockets to stow anything away (swatch/fob for moving around school, money for charity days/bake sales etc, a list of what she needs to remember, a tissue when she has a cold, etc - all things boys can manage so much more easily and freely with their clothing allowance). And don’t get her started on the knock on choice of footwear, and the differences between girl/boy School shoes! She often comments on how dd1’s school is much more sensible with uniform choices than her school is (trousers, as above - girls are allowed to wear skirts but none do - and “a sensible closed toe shoe in predominantly blue, black or brown”) as she has permanently cold feet most o the year, and often wet too. Bonkers.