[News] [UK] Harriet Harman plays down skirt ban in schools
Stephanie Stevens
Harriet Harman plays down skirt ban in schools
By Jason Beattie
22/02/2010
Harriet Harman has played down suggestions that skirts might be banned
in schools because they discriminate against transsexuals.
The Equalities and Human Rights Commission warned that requiring
pupils to wear "gender-specific clothes" was "potentially unlawful".
Gender equality and human rights rules which currently apply to public
authorities are set to be extended to schools under the Equality Bill
currently going through Parliament.
But Equality Minister Ms Harman said: "I have got plenty else to be
dealing with, like unequal pay for men and women, like people from
poorer backgrounds not having an equal start in life - I'm getting on
with those things and I'm not worrying about skirts right now."
Ehrc said research showed female pupils with gender dysphoria
experienced "great discomfort" when forced to wear "stereotypical
girls' clothes" such as skirts.