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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Why in 2020 are ours schools still instilling sexist rules

81 replies

NewYearNewTwatName · 24/06/2020 08:35

inspired by the modesty shorts for wearing under skirts skirts thread.

I don't want to discuss the rights and wrongs on that, As I think parents and their daughters are just reacting to the environment they have no say over.

Its the fact that lots of schools are still insisting on a child wearing a dress or skirt just because they are a girl. Lots of schools still will not allow a girl to wear shorts or trousers. What is this indoctrination in our children?

Also the fact some school also shame girls who are wearing the dresses/skirts they have to wear to attend that school, because they end up flashing their pants when sat on the carpet, doing hands stand, cart wheels and hang upside down. They are chastised for it, told off, told to cover up, in some schools girls are told they can only do those things if the are wearing "modesty shorts" or "safety shorts" under their uniform.

I honestly thought this type of sexiest dress code and expectations had long since gone. mainly because I went to school that allowed girls to wear shorts and trousers, and did not make me feel embarrassed or ashamed to hang upside down when I did wear a skirt. So I stupidly assumed all schools had gone with the laws and guidance on equality.

How come from such a young age we are instilling this in children. Girls must wear a skirt, Girls must be modest at all times.
all because..... well they are Girls.

How can it be changed? How can schools be made to take a long hard look at themselves and what they are truly teaching our children about the opposite sex.

  • * Title edited by MNHQ **
OP posts:
BlueBooby · 25/06/2020 18:02

I've just checked the website and it doesn't specify that boys can't wear skirts/dresses so I guess it's fine.

ShinyFootball · 25/06/2020 21:13

'Children can be very determined about not wearing clothes they don't like. I know one little girl who absolutely refused to wear skirts from about age 3 to late teens. It involved tears and tantrums and her mother gave up'

???

Why didn't her mum just say ok fine?
This is what I don't get.
When mine were babies they had babygros and dungarees and practical stuff like that.
The thing that I found really peculiar was with my postnatal group a lot of the girls were really in fancy clothes which is fine. When they started crawling though a lot of the girls were in dresses or skirts and they would kind of crawl up inside the dress and get stuck/ or topple and donk their nose. I watched these baby girls being impeded by their clothing and I couldn't understand it. The boys were zooming around of course as their clothes were practical.
Anyone got any ideas as to why? It wasn't just 1 or 2 but a good handful of baby girls who were struggling.

Oh and when they start toddling/ running around with skirts it gave me the heebie jeebies! Those exposed knees and all the tripping etc and skinned knees for the girls while the boys tended to have good thick denim.

Sorry rambling.

If she wanted to wear trousers then why not? What is the 'giving up'? Why did there have to be tears?

Mine got things that I liked irrespective of what section. When they were old enough to express a preference I went with it. One DD wore a boys suit to a family wedding when about 8. Loads of women came up and said she looks really cool and so comfy!

Now I have one who loves fashion, glitz, glamour, and is always doing awesome combinations. And one who prefers a more laid back look, and still never wears a skirt. In fact she hasn't for years, since maybe yr 3. Now at secondary she wears trousers and 'boys' shoes.

I suppose my point after that essay is. Children are people with their own personality and preferences. Why not go with it?

Why are these things so important to people? Why are girls constantly having it reinforced from a young age that what they look like is incredibly important? I got this in the 70s and my kids get it now. It's pervasive and rubbish.

DidoLamenting · 25/06/2020 23:05

Why didn't her mum just say ok fine?

Why are you selectively quoting and misterpreting what I said?

It involved tears and tantrums and her mother gave up. In the absence of a uniform policy at her school her mother was happy to let her wear what she wanted

What do think "gave up" meant - other than allowing her daughter to wear what she wanted?

DidoLamenting · 25/06/2020 23:07

I suppose my point after that essay is. Children are people with their own personality and preferences. Why not go with it?

Please point me to any part of what I said which led to your bizarre conclusion that the mother in question did not "go with it"?

Your "essay" was pointless and redundant.

StripeyBananas · 25/06/2020 23:19

One DD wore a boys suit to a family wedding when about 8. Loads of women came up and said she looks really cool and so comfy!

This is the problem. A girl in boys' clothes is "cool", she got positive comments, it raised her status. If your son had gone to a family wedding wearing a dress I am fairly certain you would not have got the same positive comments.

(

ShinyFootball · 25/06/2020 23:33

Dido why so aggressive?

You wrote

'
You have no way of knowing if that scenario is true. Children can be very determined about not wearing clothes they don't like. I know one little girl who absolutely refused to wear skirts from about age 3 to late teens. It involved tears and tantrums and her mother gave up. In the absence of a uniform policy at her school her mother was happy to let her wear what she wanted'

What were the tears and tantrums about?
What did the mother give up about?

Seems I have misunderstood your post so would be grateful if you could explain.

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