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http://www.metro.co.uk/news/906663-men- ... university

Done to assist TG students, but I wonder if any non TG's will use it to avoid sitting in hot,sweaty trousers for an exam?

veletron wrote:http://www.metro.co.uk/news/906663-men- ... university

Done to assist TG students, but I wonder if any non TG's will use it to avoid sitting in hot,sweaty trousers for an exam?

Thanks for that, Nigel. Even if the deed was done for what might be construed as the wrong reason it's still progress.

It's worth noting that I am not casting aspersions at the trans- crowd; rather, I am observing that Oxford's approach played squarely into the stereotype that there must be something "less than masculine" about a guy who wants to chuck the confinement of trousers for something looser and more comfortable. It's the stereotype we must combat -- and that's a big hill to climb; it's also a big part of what keeps skirt-wearing out of the mass of masculinity in the west.

In any event, it's still progress.

Considering how rarely one sees men in skirts, I think it might be a good strategy to distract the other examinees, spoil their concentration, and give oneself a better chance.

Martin

I agree with the decision.
While it may have been at the behest of TG students, it applies to all.
It also appears from the admittedly brief article that female students already had the choice of skirts or trousers, so the new rule is improving equality for all.

This is a good start to see such a large educational establishment changing outdated rules. But as it only mentions formal occasions, does this imply that the male students could have always worn skirts at any other time if they wanted to?

Hopefully some of the schools will take notice and abolish gender specific school uniform policies. Out of interest, I looked on the websites of all the local schools where I live to check this and I found that only 1 out of the 6 local schools had a gender neutral policy that would 'allow' a schoolboy to wear a skirt. These were only 'normal' state funded schools though, the two 'fee paying' schools nearby only allow the girls to wear skirts (no trousers), so I doubt the boys stand any chance of wearing a skirt there...

I find it very disapointing to see that in countries such as India, where men have always been unbifurcated, schools impose a rigid distinction : short skirts for girls, shorts/trousers for boys*. In a generation or two, traditional open garments for men will have disappeared from the streets -- even though, in the hot season, it's quite possible they will still be used at home.

* blame the Brits!
Martin

I have previously spotted one student wearing a dark blue denim skirt - length a few inches below the knee - and black tights walking around the streets of Oxford at lunchtime.

Certainly wasn't a "student gag" but a quite natural form of clothing. Nobody seemed to notice or care.

(I noted this a little while ago in the "Sightings in the wild" section)

Good for him and good for the clothing regulation change!

SkirtedMouse wrote:This is a good start to see such a large educational establishment changing outdated rules. But as it only mentions formal occasions, does this imply that the male students could have always worn skirts at any other time if they wanted to?

Oxford students are no different from students at all other universities. Unless the occasion is formal, dress tends to be "what ever you want", with definite tracks down "as scruffy as possible" and "as outrageous as possible". There will have been no problem with the rules for male-identified students wanting to wear skirts prior to this rule change, except for attendance at formal occasions.

It's a good change, though.


Paul.