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Re: Another school with gender neutral uniform

Posted: Sat Sep 21, 2019 8:03 am
by Pdxfashionpioneer
Don't underestimate today's kids; some of them are more evolved than we are.

While you're at it, don't underestimate their teachers and school administrators. Yes, there are a few whack jobs like that principal in Texas, but there are many more who don't tolerate bullying and have fine-tuned radar for it.

Re: Another school with gender neutral uniform

Posted: Sat Sep 21, 2019 10:31 am
by Dust
It's not just what the kids want to or are willing to do, or even what the other kids or teachers will tolerate. Many times it is the parents. Some members here still have issues with parents, now as adults. Do you really think many parents are going to spend their hard earned money on a skirt for their son? Kids are fickle and might not go through with it, or stop after one day of teasing from their peers. Or the school might fight it even though the rules are written gender neutral. Even if parents are okay with it in principle, in practice they might not go through with it...

Re: Another school with gender neutral uniform

Posted: Sat Sep 21, 2019 12:46 pm
by crfriend
This:
Dust wrote:[...] are okay with it in principle, in practice they might not go through with it...
sums it up in a nutshell. Practise is very frequently quite different from theory or principle. I'm not sure how many here recall the dynamics of the school-yard environment, and those who don't may be considered lucky. Few creatures are as cruel and thoughtless as human children, and usually the adults look the other way when things start to get nasty. The adults also take sides. So, the notion that a boy could wear a skirt in a school setting without verbal harassment (at best) or physical violence (at worst) is almost inconceivable. The adults will look the other way when the bullies try to "correct" the behaviour of the one who dares to be different.

Anti-bullying rules were in policy manuals when I went through school, and not once were any of them enforced.

Change is not going to come from the school years. (Or, if it somehow does, I'll be very, very astonished.)

Re: Another school with gender neutral uniform

Posted: Sun Sep 22, 2019 8:57 am
by Pdxfashionpioneer
I remember when I first started coming to the Skirt Café there was quite a discussion as to whether or not all of the publicity about transsexuals and the rights of transsexuals were helpful or hurtful to our cause. As I remember it, the issue was fought to a draw. (Shocker!)

I would say the subject of gender neutrality in school dress codes is an instance where the transsexuals' cause has benefitted us Men-in-Skirts. In response to the publicity and lobbying by the appropriate advocacy groups, the California Legislature passed a law requiring that all school districts respect and support students' choices in gender identity. Did all of the school districts instantaneously snap to it?

Of course not! But when moms in the various districts found that kids weren't getting the support the law required, those districts soon got remedial lessons on the wisdom of poking a mama bear (And aren't they all where and when their kiddo is involved?). Did the affected moms win every single battle? No again. But they won plenty of them and this is a situation where every battle fought creates progress.

What I'm saying is that the facts do not support the naysaying so, let's celebrate every such change in policy. Let's have some faith that those policies will be given the support they deserve. We can believe that because today most educators take bullying VERY seriously. They do not accept it as "just kids being kids." And most educators are committed to helping kids achieve their individuality rather than being forced into the Procrustean bed of conformity. Times really have changed. I know this from having taught part- and full-time at community colleges and from having been the financial officer of two grade schools.

Re: Another school with gender neutral uniform

Posted: Mon Sep 23, 2019 2:11 am
by phathack
I have not been keeping up with this post but I noticed today that Mexico City has adopted a gender-neutral uniform.
Mexico City’s new rule for public school uniforms, which allows students to wear skirts or pants regardless of their gender.
I consider that a Win.

https://fronterasdesk.org/content/10107 ... exico-city