School bans girls from wearing leggings claiming they distract male students, are similar to wearing a bikini and ‘sexualise’ pupils
- A Melbourne high school said it would ban girls from wearing leggings on Friday
- School said the item of clothing ‘sexualised’ girls and distracted male students
- The move was met with backlash from students and parents but remains in place
- Australian Parents Council President Jenni Rickard called the rule ‘ridiculous’
A Melbourne high school has come under fire after it banned girls from wearing leggings, claiming it was similar to wearing a ‘bikini.’
The inner suburbs school, which was not named, addressed the change on the online student portal on Friday, saying the item of clothing distracted male students and ‘sexualised’ girls.
The post was taken down hours later, but the ban remains in effect, 3AW reported.
The decision was met with backlash from students, as well as parents, who have argued that the ban perpetuates an antiquated view on gender stereotypes.
A Melbourne high school has come under fire after it announced it would ban girls from wearing leggings because it distracted male students (stock image)
‘This is ridiculous. Can I just check what decade we are in? I thought it was 2019, not the 1980s,’ Australian Parents Council President Jenni Rickard told host Neil Mitchell.
Ms Rickard said while schools do have an obligation to make sure students are appropriately dressed, they could enforce dress code rules based on professionalism as opposed to singling out gender.
‘What is it saying about our boys? Let’s forget about the girls. This is saying that our boys haven’t had any growth over the last decade, and that they’re these sexed-up beings,’ she added.
The mum also slammed the idea that leggings are as revealing as bikinis, saying they provide full coverage.
Sunrise’s Matt Doran also weighed in on the issue on Saturday calling the move ‘stunningly unsophisticated.’
‘Who decided that leggings sexualised the girls and if they are being sexualised, isn’t that the problem of the blokes? I can’t get angry enough,’ he said.
Social commentator Gretel Killeen said the notion surrounding sexuality and women being painted as victims was ‘ludicrous.’
‘It’s not even the notion that boys are unrestrainedly attracted and can’t control themselves but also this notion that girls would never be lured by boys or be looking at them,’ Killeen said.
‘Quite frankly, what are we doing about men’s outfits, what are we doing about those tradies with no shirts on?’ she quipped.
TV host Gretel Killeen said the notion surrounding sexuality and women being painted as victims was ‘ludicrous’