I was in a great mood yesterday. I had two doughnuts for lunch and that wasn’t even the highlight of my weekend! Then, as the sugar crash kicked in, I got a message from an old friend telling me that her 4 year old daughter starts school next week. At a trial run earlier this week, the teacher took her aside and told her that the girls had to wear shorts under their dresses when they weren’t wearing tights so that FOUR YEAR OLD BOYS couldn’t see their knickers when they sat down. A FOUR YEAR OLD GIRL GOT DRESSCODED BEFORE SHE EVEN STARTED SCHOOL. This is an ‘outstanding’ London school and I am disgusted that they think it is acceptable to be sending children, boys and girls, the message that girls’ bodies are sexual objects to be covered up in case they distract the boys from their learning. These are children who have every right to run, jump, play, climb, cartwheel and dance without a care in the world and without adults enforcing dangerous gender based dress codes in the guise of modesty and respectability. We already teach young women to hate their bodies and that they should be ashamed of their bodies but are we really going to start with children who are barely out of nursery? I strongly believe that every trainee and practicing teacher should receive gender equality training to be able to able to support the children in their care. How often were you told by a teacher that a boy was mean to you because he liked you? It is one of the most dangerous myths taught to girls yet it is perpetuated by adults they trust and look up to. We owe children more than this. (PS have another pic of my beaut of a tee from @deepbreathscollective for @ruby.rebellion who are working to end period poverty)
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