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.

A few perhaps older Scottish men would be a tad upset at a kilt being called a skirt . A bit like my husband and his traditional man s dress.

I don't understand why he wasn't allowed to wear shorts. Girls can wear skirts whatever the weather, boys should be allowed to wear shorts, especially when it's too warm for trousers.

I'd have been delighted as a teen if skirts had been replaced with trousers for school uniform.
My dd has ASD and will not wear trousers or shorts of any description. So now I'm less keen.
The practical answer is that shorts of a suitable length should be allowed for pupils during the summer term.

Sounds like a bit of an attention-seeker to me

You say that like it's a BAD thing

Suburban, that is possible

I've been to a music festival in the last few weeks, the weather was nice and there were loads of young men in skirts there, saying it was cooler.

I'm with Bertrand, no need to ban anything. As shown by the different responses here some people find skirts more comfortable or practical than shorts or trousers, some the opposite. So a uniform just needs options: trousers, shorts, skirt (of a specific type/length if necessary). No need to specify who can wear them. Then everyone can choose but still fit into a uniform.

Lots of schools insist that kids keep jumpers on whatever the weather so unlikely to be able to challenge gender bias based on that.

If skirts are allowed and he wears them then good for him, shouldn’t be news. but ridiculous to not allow shorts.

Good for him. Making a practical clothing choose in the conditions while.not.botheing about gender. Stereotypes

Something tells me he’s an irritating twerp, actually. Possibly I’m just grumpy because of his rationale 🙂

This lad is a hero!! Good for him and I hope my DS grows up to have his courage.

I've always thought that if girls can wear trousers or skirts, so can boys. I applaud him.

Some new definition of the word hero I have not previously come across.

Yes, boys and girls should be able to wear trousers or skirts if they want to.

Urgh! Hero? No.

This story comes around every year now.

Let boys wear shorts or skirts.
Let girls wear trouser or skirts (or shorts).

Who the hell cares? People who like skirts can wear them, people who don't can safely ignore them.

Dd and ds school have a gender neutral uniform- anyone can wear any of it.

If a teenage boy wants to be a hero for feminism, tackling sexism among his peers is pretty heroic. Being the one prepared to stand up and be counted. Being the one who calls out the other boys who watch porn, tell sexist jokes, and low level sexually harass the girls. But it wouldn’t get his picture in the paper.

BertrandRussell I agree, but this is also important don't you think?

It's considered 'demeaning' for men/boys to do/wear women's/girls' things (lots of slashes there!)

Men can change that by saying hey, I'm a man and I like to wear skirts/knit/spend time with my children/make sure the kitchen at work is kept clean and tidy.

Aargh that last point was insane, please ignore . I do NOT enjoy making sure that the kitchen at work is kept clean and tidy. I meant more along the lines of being prepared to pull one's weight and not expect someone else to take care of it.

I don't see a problem. He wants to wear clothing that is appropriate to the weather.

If girls have the choice between skirts and trousers boy should have the same choice.

“BertrandRussell I agree, but this is also important don't you think?“

It would only be important if it was a symbol of all the other stuff. Rather than something which renders the other stuff unnecessary. “I can’t be a sexist arse- I’m wearing a skirt. Make me a cup of tea, love”

But why? I mean that seriously - I gave examples of why I think it's important, but you've just said it's unimportant without actually explaining why.

I’ll try.

It’s very easy for men and boys to make gestures. This particular gesture is one that has happened at least once a year for ages. I think people should be allowed to wear whatever they want to- if he wants to wear a skirt then he should go for it. Anybody sensible thinks that. But it’s not a blow for feminism. If the school refused to let girls wear trousers, for example, the boys all weary for skirts would be making a feminist statement. This is much more of a “it’s not fair if boys can’t wear skirts” thing. There are loads of other issues that need addressing, but they don’t get you media attention, and people calling you a hero.

I agree. It's certainly not a blow for feminism.

I do think, though, that all these little things add up and will hopefully help to break down the ridiculous rigid gender roles we've (re)created.

But yes I do agree that he's not any sort of hero and I can't get overexcited about him striking a blow for the poor repressed white men.

It's hopefully an ill wind that blows nobody any good though.

Haha do you like my flip-flop writing style there? I think I'd better get back to work