Requiring Female Students To Wear Skirts In UK Schools May Soon Be Illegal?

[ccharles000]

EQUALITY and human rights law may make it illegal for schools to force girls to wear skirts — because uniforms discriminate against transsexuals.

Official guidance from the Equality and Human Rights Commission warns schools that insisting that girls wear skirts may breach the rights of those who feel compelled to live as boys.

The watchdog, which has enforcement powers against public bodies that break equality law, says “requiring pupils to wear gender-specific clothes is potentially unlawful”.

It notes that “pupils born female with gender dysphoria experienced great discomfort being forced to wear stereotypical girls’ clothes — for example a skirt”.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article7034961.ece

[Warpy]

1. Good. Jeans are much more durable and practical

on the playground and less of an invitation to sexual harassment.

[dkf]

9. When gaining weight, skirts and dresses are much more comfy.

Unfortunately I am experiencing this first hand.

I am thankful I have a choice though.

[Captain Hilts]

2. I'd put all kids in dark blue chinos. nt

[snagglepuss]

3. It's bloody idiotic. What is going to happen with male students given that some

boys would rather be female and wear dresses and makeup?

[dipsydoodle]

4. First change here in the UK

would most likely for the girls to be given choice. In at least one of the local schools they that choice already. Most of the locals seemed to have stuck with skirts by choice with few if any wearing an alternative. :shrug:

[14thColony]

6. I had no idea there wasn't a choice already

My daughters can wear trousers or skirts at their CofE primary, and I see secondary kids walking home in either or as well, so I just assumed it was generally up to the girl and/or her parents. No?

[dipsydoodle]

8. There probably is.

I only notice the locals and that's really only because they walk past my house to get to one of the schools further up the road to me.

[provis99]

5. so do Scottish guys finally get to wear kilts to school?

trousers are so English colonialist...

[JCMach1]

13. Kilts are NOT 'proper' school uniforms

And for God's sake DO NOT show ANY individuality in appearance!

[antigone382]

7. While I certainly laud any protection of transsexuals' rights...

...you don't necessarily have to be a transsexual to be uncomfortable in a skirt. I can't really believe that any public institution in the 21st century would require girls to wear skirts in the first place. Here's hoping the laws do actually prohibit this.

[Jamastiene]

11. The community college I attended tried to make all female graduates

wear dresses to graduation. Thanks to the ACLU of NC and some letters to the appropriate people, they changed the policy. That was back in 2005.

[antigone382]

14. yeah, come to think of it I think they did that in high school, too.

In fact, I remember a story of a girl who didn't get to participate in her graduation because she showed up in clothes that met the mens' dress code requirements. And even on DU it was said she didn't have the right to complain because she was wearing makeup, which meant she couldn't *possibly* have had a legitimate problem with wearing a dress. :eyesroll:

[antigone382]

15. yeah, come to think of it I think they did that in high school, too.

In fact, I remember a story of a girl who didn't get to participate in her graduation because she showed up in clothes that met the mens' dress code requirements. And even on DU it was said she didn't have the right to complain because she was wearing makeup, which meant she couldn't *possibly* have had a legitimate problem with wearing a dress. :eyes:

[Jamastiene]

10. Good. I hope they do stop the skirt requirement.

I had to fight like hell to get RCC to stop forcing female graduates to wear dresses to graduation. It took several tersely worded letters to the President, Vice President, and Dean of the college and a small email to the ACLU in NC, but they changed the policy.

[JCMach1]

12. British Schools are ANAL about their uniforms...

However, many of them already have a pants option for girls.