The Kilt that Isn't

[Stu]

My daughter's best friend has children who attend a local primary school and they have sent a letter to parents saying they are changing their uniform policy to be unisex (because they've been pressured to do that from government). The school-style A-line skirt will cease to exist as uniform but may still be worn. However, it will be replaced by a school A-line kilt, in solid maroon, immediately. The new kilt is not wrap-over style; it has no pleats and just a zip at the side to fasten it. In other words, all they have done is changed the name of the garment from (girls) "skirt" to (unisex) "kilt" and the supplier is on board with the name change. They know boys won't wear this because it's just the same old skirt, but they are using it to get around the unisex mandate.

[Grok]

Virtue signaling, but in name only.

[STEVIE]

the supplier is on board with the name change.

Why shouldn't they be, their salles won't be affected.
Given my attitude to the kilt, I find this quite interesting.
Steve

[Jim]

Virtue signaling, but in name only.

I don't know. I'd take this as an open invitation. Depends on who your crowd is. I was part of the geeky chess club gang; no one would mind, and some would openly approve.

[denimini]

It does mean that boys can now choose to wear the skirt, under the guise of a kilt, without getting into trouble.
I agree that most boys won't. It was a better option than just making all students wear pants.

[Coder]

I find it hilarious how pessimistic most of us are (myself included).

Regardless of that, don’t people here think these types of changes are the small steps that will normalize MIS? I get that the cynical take is that this is being done for “virtue signaling”, but it is a very visible change - and it will encourage conversations about what gendered conventions we put around clothing - because while this change may have been done to accommodate changing landscapes (ie, trans), one cannot escape having discussions about this at the dinner table.

[Faldaguy]

I find it hilarious how pessimistic most of us are (myself included).

Regardless of that, don’t people here think these types of changes are the small steps that will normalize MIS? I get that the cynical take is that this is being done for “virtue signaling”, but it is a very visible change - and it will encourage conversations about what gendered conventions we put around clothing - because while this change may have been done to accommodate changing landscapes (ie, trans), one cannot escape having discussions about this at the dinner table.

I like the positive take on this Coder. Granted the motivations may not be as pure as we'd like, but any movement in the direction of opening minds and maybe even freeing a couple of lads along the way is good. And a primary school is super as the kids are not yet fully indoctrinated with all of the adult hang-ups. It might even catch on.

[Mouse]

In the school I am a governor at, we took out the "boys" and "girls" from the uniform policy and just gave a list of items that could be worn by pupils how they wished.

Interestingly the request for the change was driven by the request for the girls to be allowed to wear shorts, which at the time was only part of the boys uniform set of options. Now options for all include shorts, skirts and dresses.

What we did fixed the "allow to wear" issue, but this school also in a way, encouraged the wearing of skirts for the boys. On the other hand, at our school, a male governor regularly turns up to meetings and events in a skirt....

[robehickman]

My daughter's best friend has children who attend a local primary school and they have sent a letter to parents saying they are changing their uniform policy to be unisex (because they've been pressured to do that from government). The school-style A-line skirt will cease to exist as uniform but may still be worn. However, it will be replaced by a school A-line kilt, in solid maroon, immediately. The new kilt is not wrap-over style; it has no pleats and just a zip at the side to fasten it. In other words, all they have done is changed the name of the garment from (girls) "skirt" to (unisex) "kilt" and the supplier is on board with the name change. They know boys won't wear this because it's just the same old skirt, but they are using it to get around the unisex mandate.

That isn't a kilt, and it probably also won't be shaped right in the hips to look natural on a male body.

In the fashion and pattern drafting industry the term 'skirt' is widely used to refer to any garment or part of a garment that covers the legs with a tubular stricture.

[Jim]

That isn't a kilt, and it probably also won't be shaped right in the hips to look natural on a male body.

In primary school, is the male body different from the female body in the hips?

[Stu]

It reminds me of the supposedly progressive childrenswear retailers that say all their garments are unisex. They show photographs of them being modelled and guess what gender the wearer of every single skirt and dress is. Yup - they re only modelled by girls and that now includes even the Scandinavian firms who used to make themselves out as pioneers of the unisex ideal. The notable exception seems to be a US supplier - primary.com.

[Barleymower]

It reminds me of the supposedly progressive childrenswear retailers that say all their garments are unisex. They show photographs of them being modelled and guess what gender the wearer of every single skirt and dress is. Yup - they re only modelled by girls and that now includes even the Scandinavian firms who used to make themselves out as pioneers of the unisex ideal. The notable exception seems to be a US supplier - primary.com.

The modern world is a real life Truman Show.

[STEVIE]

What we did fixed the "allow to wear" issue, but this school also in a way, encouraged the wearing of skirts for the boys. On the other hand, at our school, a male governor regularly turns up to meetings and events in a skirt....

Are you aware of any boys responding to the encouragement and exercising their new found freedoms?
Steve.

[Mouse]

What we did fixed the "allow to wear" issue, but this school also in a way, encouraged the wearing of skirts for the boys. On the other hand, at our school, a male governor regularly turns up to meetings and events in a skirt....

Are you aware of any boys responding to the encouragement and exercising their new found freedoms?
Steve.

No I am not aware of any boys in skirts, but it may have happened, I am only there from time to time in my role. I believe the girls now wear shorts when they want, which was the main driver of the change in policy.

[crfriend]

No I am not aware of any boys in skirts, but it may have happened, I am only there from time to time in my role. I believe the girls now wear shorts when they want, which was the main driver of the change in policy.

Of course not, because "Men, and boys, do not wear skirts.".

Call it "obsolete thinking" or "circular logic" -- either way it deserves to be kicked to the kerb.