Liberal Democrat Layla Moran has called for schools to give boys permission to wear skirts. She believes that gender-neutral uniforms are the way forward.
She stressed that it is not a way to force students to wear certain items of clothing, but rather to give them the option to wear what they are most comfortable in.
“Would the boys want to wear the skirts? Maybe they would, and what’s wrong with that? I see nothing wrong with that whatsoever.”
“We’re not trying to make everyone wear trousers for example, it’s actually about giving people more choice not less choice,” she added.
Traditionally, boys wear trousers and girls wear skirts or pinafores to school, but just because this has always been the standard uniform doesn’t mean it can’t change.
Students may be happier having more variety.
“I have no issue at all with putting all the different options out there on the table. Let’s encourage kids to feel like they have ownership of those and what they mean.”
Exactly. What about male equality! Is there something more inherently female about wearing a skirt than male? Looking at ancient warriors I’m not so sure. It’s society that has the issue. But if that changes and fashion can do quickly I don’t see why boys should be stifled.
— Layla Moran (@LaylaMoran) February 21, 2019
Layla’s call for gender-neutral uniforms has receieved waves of support from the transgender community.
She explained: “It’s quite an emotional thing for children who are considering transitioning, actually being forced at that point to come out – that’s the way that one family put it to me.
“The subtext of people who say that by putting the options on the table you’re encouraging people to do it suggests you can coerce people into changing gender. That makes no sense whatsoever.”
Layla will present her school uniforms bill to the House of Commons on March 6.
Do you agree with her?
