Sexism and school uniforms

Off Our Backs, Apr 1998 by Dominish, Meg

New York City schools are experiencing some debate about the advent of school uniforms in the public schools there. The problem is whether to require girls to wear skirts. Galen Sherwin, president of the New York City chapter of the National Organization for Women said, "There are enough problems with sexual harassment in school and we should not make it worse [by requiring girls to wear skirts]." She suggested that girls in short skirts are a male fantasy.

Dr. Diana Everett, executive director of the National Association for Girls and Women in Sports said, "This is especially so in the age group where they tend not to change clothes for sports. It would be the wrong thing to do when we want girls to be as active as they can be."

One New York City student, Shameika Terrell, hates her uniform. She says, "I don't like it. I want to be able to wear my slacks and shirts,and my sneakers. I want to be able to play basketball without my skirt flying up. I can't dribble in a dress." Her mother is in favor of Shameika's wearing a skirt and says "It makes the female have a mature look-a sense of being a lady." I guess ladies can't play basketball.

--info from New York Post 2/11/98 and 2/12/98