Reshma Ravishanker

A Facebook post by the mother of a girl child in Bengaluru received unanimous support from a large majority of parents pushing schools to have gender neutral uniforms.

The discussion was triggered by the rant of Shreyosi Mukherjee (name changed), who wondered why girl students are mandated to wear skirts, despite having to be physically active as against comfortable trousers or long shorts like the boys.

“As I’m ironing my daughter’s white skirt for school tomorrow, my mind begins to wonder about the futility of two things- the skirt and the color white. I have a problem with the skirt. The school insists on it being knee length, and for modesty’s sake, the children must wear cycling shorts underneath the skirt. Also, skirts can ride up. Instead, wouldn’t a pair of trousers or even knee-length shorts be more comfortable for the kids? Some other schools in my area embrace trousers for girls. They look so comfy and am I jealous?” she said.

Mukherjee added, “Next, I have a problem with the color white. It’s a beautiful color, but oh-so-high maintenance. These are school kids who play, sit down in the ground for lunch, and are just entirely carefree. Before half a year is over, the white-y white starts turning grimy. But really, do we need white uniforms and skirts for girls? Maybe schools should think a bit more about more comfortable uniforms for children.”

This post drew support from parents who agreed that skirts are uncomfortable for girls playing sports, color white being a challenge for a girl child on their period and girls having to wear shorts under the skirts for modesty.

One of the parents, while agreeing to the post said that she was privileged that her daughter wears trousers to school. “Another factor is two wheelers. How can a girl sit on two wheelers with a skirt?”

Meanwhile, another member of the Facebook group Samudyata Kadur said, “I hate (am using the word mindfully) the concept of girls wearing skirts to school. Consciously selected a school which had gender neutral uniforms. My daughter wears trousers to school, has no pressure of behaving like a girl in skirts – I.e., mindful of the way she sits, waxing etc. She is athletic and doesn’t give a shite about body hair – exactly how a teenage girl should be! (sic).”

Srobono Das, a parent, said, “Grey, dark blue is neutral, and track pants are comfortable and sensible. It’s time that schools do away with ties, skirts, stiff uncomfortable clothing for children and just let them be!”

Meanwhile, Srilakshmi K Murthy, a member of the Bangalore Schools group said, “We have a blue frock which is pretty and decent, but the girls must wear shorts inside. I had this in my mind too.  Simple trousers and t-shirts would be so comfortable, and girls could squat on the floor or the benches without exposing their thighs.”

Also read: Assam to file FIR for school uniform irregularity