Boy wears skirt because it is cooler than trousers

[scotsheather]

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-mid-wales-44530772

Honestly, is this any different to girls wanting to wear trousers when it is very cold? To say you can't wear x or y because you're a boy or girl seems regressive and plays into the gender stereotyping. He isn't pretending to be a girl, he is making what he sees as a practical choice girls have.

Is he allowed nail varnish at school? We were always sent to the science labs to have it removed

If girls want to wear skirts they should be able to. If you want to get rid of gender specific uniform, why not get rid of trousers? Skirts for everyone!

I agree with there being a choice. Dd school allows both - quite a mix of what different children choose (however all boys ‘choose’ trousers and shorts!)

Because skirts are impractical! It’s not about getting rid of gender specific uniform! It’s about getting rid of impractical uniform that schools seem to spend a lot of time policing.

Tbh perfectly honest I wouldn’t have formal trousers and black shoes either. I’d have jogging bottoms and trainers. Far more comfortable for everyone.

Peanutbuttercups

I agree, and I think it's great that children are rejecting gender stereotypes, but what worries me about this story is that it mentions him talking about his trans friends.

I am concerned that many teens are getting the idea that rejecting sterotypical gendered clothes and behaviour means they must be trans. He says he identifies as a boy. He is a boy.

They might be impractical-but I do not want girls choices to be restricted.

Don't start saying skirts are impractical... There are some women who love wearing skirts and are of the opinion they are far superior to trousers in all circumstances. Cycling elegantly round Amsterdam or climbing trees, and everything in between.

(Disclaimer, this is not my opinion, I don't own any skirts)

I know you don’t, I’m not uniform minister for English schools, this isn’t actually happening.

Lass, you do know it's different people posting different opinions? You're talking as if there's some kind of unified response from "feminist chat"

Did you miss I said "some"? And it is a thing - the amount of rubbishing that goes on in FWR about how stupid and impractical girls clothes are is a thing- unless a boy chooses to.

Assasinated, that is me

I cycle in skirt, and go hiking in my skirts....they are much less restrictive than trousers imo dresses are even better.

Yes, let's keep skirts!

Oh bore off with the sneering sarcasm Assasinated. I spent most of my school years cycling miles each day on an unmettaled country road wearing a school uniform skirt. Perhaps I was just better at cycling than all the tom boys.

I get that some of you don't like skirts and dresses but I'm sick to death of this over- egged exaggeration of how terrible they are.

Skirts are terrible for women who don't like them. They're not terrible for you and others who do prefer them.

Personally I get thigh chaffing (no matter what weight I am, it's something to do with my shape) if I wear a skirt with no tights. I hate wearing tights unless it's very cold, and even then they're annoying. I also can't bear the idea of my pants ever possibly being visible. Trousers don't have those two issues, so I prefer them.

The important point is not to waste time trying to prove that skirts or trousers are "better". It's obviously down to personal preference. It is more important to make sure that women and girls aren't compelled to wear one or the other where they have no choice in the matter.

Skirts should not be for females only. It frustrates me to have gendered uniforms at all - so utterly pointless. Schools are increasingly just having "uniform" for everyone to pick and choose from, which is great.

Re skirts, they are brilliant for people with disabilities in some cases. E.g. Often pelvic or hip or lower back surgeries can leave scars in places where they get aggravated by trousers, even loose ones. It's always seemed deeply unfair to me that's fellas are not generally give the option to avoid trousers if thy want to.

Also maybe if more boys and men wore skirts then upskirting legal redress will likely get more traction, due to it affecting more people.

There was a biggish news cycle on boys in skirts last summer, for an Exeter school, so I don't think it's only in the news because the boy mentioned trans friends in the interview.

I wish silk or cotton bloomers were more available for wearing under skirts. Thigh chafe fix, or an extra layer of warmth in the colder bits of the year.

"The important point is not to waste time trying to prove that skirts or trousers are "better"

Absolutely. Just to let people wear what they want to wear. And not assume that the boy's option is best.

Re skirts, they are brilliant for people with disabilities in some cases. E.g. Often pelvic or hip or lower back surgeries can leave scars in places where they get aggravated by trousers, even loose ones.

Very good point! I shall allow them

bert please know that I am not looking rid of skirts because “the boys option is best”, it’s because I think skirts are crap and cause avoidable problems that schools really don’t need to be wasting time dealing with. Jogging bottoms/shorts would be better for everyone.

For the love of all that is seen and unseen. my husband has what you would describe as a dress. SHOCK HORROR in his culture is mens apparel.
Any one who isnt Scottish most likely sees a kilt as a type of skirt. It again is traditionally menswear.
Can we stop with already, clothes are clothes.

I think a few people outside of Scotland have heard of a kilt lady

This is local to me. The story appeared in the local newspaper last week and the boy also posted a long message on Facebook which was shared by many. Neither the local newspaper nor the boy himself mentioned the 'trans' thing. Why then has it suddenly appeared in the BBC news piece?

Maybe they encouraged him to gender it up a bit.

Well done to that young man for having the courage to go against gender stereotyping.

I have never come across anything unisex or gender neutral that isn’t boy’s stuff that girls are allowed to use.

you mean like the ladies toilets/changing rooms that are now gender neutral?

Boys wore skirts a lot longer before girls did, take the Kilt for example men have been wearing those for years

Ds (13) went to school this week with glittery pink nail varnish on his finger nails.

Sounds like a bit of an attention-seeker to me.