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Why do we still make girls wear skirts and dresses as school uniform?

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Wearing a skirt at school can make girls less likely to participate in physical activity, and it’s time schools changed their uniform policies.

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History of School Uniforms
Traditionally favored by private and parochial institutions, school uniforms are being adopted by US public schools in increasing numbers. According to a 2020 report, the percentage of public schools that required school uniforms jumped from 12% in the 1999-2000 school year to 20% in the 2017-18 school year. School uniforms were most frequently required by elementary schools (23%), followed by middle (18%), and high schools (10%).

The first recorded use of standardized dress in education may have been in England in 1222, when the Archbishop of Canterbury mandated that students wear a robe-like outfit called the " cappa clausa." The origin of the modern school uniform can be traced to 16th Century England, when the impoverished "charity children" attending the Christ's Hospital boarding school wore blue cloaks reminiscent of the cassocks worn by clergy, along with yellow stockings. As of Sep. 2014, students at Christ's Hospital were still wearing the same uniform, and according to the school it is the oldest school uniform still in use. When Christ's Hospital surveyed its students in 2011, 95% voted to keep the traditional uniforms. Read more history...

Pro & Con Arguments

Pro 1

School uniforms deter crime and increase student safety.

In Long Beach, California, after two years of a district-wide K-8 mandatory uniform policy, reports of assault and battery in the district's schools decreased by 34%, assault with a deadly weapon dropped by 50%, fighting incidents went down by 51%, sex offenses were cut by 74%, robbery dropped by 65%, possession of weapons (or weapon "look-alikes") decreased by 52%, possession of drugs went down by 69%, and vandalism was lowered by 18%.

And, school uniforms prevent the display of gang colors and insignia, reducing gang activity and pressure to join on school property. The U.S. Department of Education's Manual on School Uniforms stated that uniform policies can "prevent gang members from wearing gang colors and insignia at school" in order to "encourage a safe environment." Educators in the Long Beach Unified School District have speculated that the sharp reduction in crime following the introduction of school uniforms was a result of gang conflicts being curbed. Osceola County, Florida School Board member Jay Wheeler reports that the county's schools had a 46% drop in gang activity after their first full school year with a mandatory K-12 uniform policy. Wheeler explains that "clothing is integral to gang culture... Imagine a U.S. Armed Forces recruiter out of uniform trying to recruit new soldiers; the success rate goes down. The same applies to gang recruitment." [35] [37] [67]
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Pro 2

School uniforms keep students focused on their education, not their clothes.

Wearing uniforms also enhances school pride, unity, and community spirit, which can boost interest in education. A study of over 1,000 Texas middle school students found that students in uniform "reported significantly more positive perceptions of belonging in their school community than reported by students in the standard dress group." Christopher P. Clouet, former Superintendent of the New London Public Schools in Connecticut, stated that "the wearing of uniforms contributes to school pride." Arnold Goldstein, PhD, head of the Center for Research on Aggression at Syracuse University, points out that uniforms help troubled students feel they have the support of a community: "There is a sense of belonging." Further, "teachers perceived an increase in the level of respect, caring, and trust... throughout the school" and "students are made to feel 'important' and as if they are a part of a team by wearing a uniform," according to a peer-reviewed study.

Plus, school uniforms can improve attendance and discipline. A study by researchers at the University of Houston found that the average absence rate for girls in middle and high school decreased by 7% after the introduction of uniforms, and behavioral problems lessened in severity. School uniforms make getting ready for school easier, which can improve punctuality.
When uniforms are mandatory, parents and students do not spend time choosing appropriate outfits for the school day. According to a national survey, over 90% of US school leaders believe school uniform or formal dress code policies "eliminate wardrobe battles with kids," make it "easier to get kids ready in the morning," and create a "time saving in the morning." Tracey Marinelli, Superintendent of the Lyndhurst School District in New Jersey, credits the district's uniform policy for reducing the number of students running late. Lyndhurst student Mike Morreale agrees, stating that "it's so much easier to dress than having to search for clothes and find out that something doesn't match." A Youngstown State University study of secondary schools in Ohio's eight largest school districts found that school uniform policies improve rates of attendance, graduation, and suspension.
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Pro 3

Students' legal right to free expression remains intact with mandatory school uniforms.

Besides, students can still express their individuality in school uniforms by introducing variations and adding accessories. Junior high school student Amelia Jimenez wrote in her op-ed for the Pennsylvania Patriot-News that "contrary to popular belief, uniforms do not stop students from being themselves. Uniforms do not silence voices. Students can wear a variety of expressive items, such as buttons or jewlery." Students can inject their personal style into their daily look with hairstyles, nail polish, and colorful accessories such as bags, scarfs, and fun socks. 54% of eighth-graders said they could still express their individuality while wearing school uniforms.

Further, students dressed in uniform are better perceived by teachers and peers. A 1994 peer-reviewed study found that students in uniform were perceived by teachers and fellow students as being more academically proficient than students in regular clothes. The study also found that students in uniform were perceived by peers and teachers as having higher academic potential, and perceived by peers as being better behaved. Students need to learn a balance between free expression and working within the confines of expectations.
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Con 1

School uniforms do not stop bullying and can actually increase violent attacks.

Further, a peer-reviewed study found that "school uniforms increased the average number of assaults by about 14 [per year] in the most violent schools." A Texas Southern University study found that school discipline incidents rose by about 12% after the introduction of uniforms. And, according to the Miami-Dade County Public Schools Office of Education Evaluation and Management, fights in middle schools nearly doubled within one year of introducing mandatory uniforms.
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Con 2

School uniforms do not improve attendance, academic preparedness, or exam results.

The problems arise because focusing on uniforms takes attention away from finding genuine solutions to problems in education. Spending time and effort implementing uniform policies detracts from more effective efforts to reduce crime in schools and boost student performance. More substantive improvements to public education could be achieved with smaller class sizes, tightened security, increased parental involvement, improved facilities, and other measures. Tom Houlihan, former Superintendent of Schools in Oxford, North Carolina, stated that school uniforms "are a distraction from focusing on systematic and fundamental transformation to improve our schools."

That uniform policies are a distraction is most evident when we realize that the push for school uniforms is driven by commercial interests rather than educational ones. Americans spend around $1 billion on school uniforms every year. Retailer J.C. Penney Co. says school uniforms are "a huge, important business for us." In one year alone, uniform company Lands' End spent $3 million on marketing efforts directed at public schools and districts. Multiple studies used to promote the effectiveness of uniforms were partly funded by Lands' End, and at least one of those studies is "so wholly flawed as to render itself useless," according to David L. Brunsma. Reuters reported that retailers were "sensing their opportunity... stepping up competition in the uniform aisles and online. Walmart has set up 'uniform shops' or temporary boutiques within some stores."

The commercialization of school uniforms in public schools also undermines the promise of a free education by imposing an extra expense on families. Parents already pay taxes, and they still need to buy regular clothes for their children to wear when they're out of school and for dress-down days. The Children's Commission on Poverty (UK) found that over "95% of parents on low incomes reported difficulties in meeting school-related costs," including uniforms, despite their children attending tuition-free schools. Anderson, Indiana, parents Laura and Scott Bell argued against their children's school uniform policy, saying the $641 for their children's uniforms broke the guarantee of a free public education. In York County, Pennsylvania, a local NBC affiliate reported that some children were missing class because their families couldn't afford to purchase the required uniforms. And, all of that is before the uniform policies themselves are examined. Most operate like dress codes and are classist, racist, and sexist.
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Con 3

School uniforms restrict students' freedom of expression.

Uniforms take away the ability to use clothing as means of expressing support for social causes. Students at Friendly High School in Prince George's County, MD, were not allowed to wear pink shirts to support Breast Cancer Awareness Month and 75 students received suspensions for breaking the school's uniform restrictions. Removing these choices can delay the transition into adulthood. Adults make their own clothing choices and have the freedom to express themselves through their appearance. Denying children and teenagers the opportunity to make those choices may make them ill-prepared for the adult world. Adolescents see clothing choices as a means of identification, and seeking an identity is one of the critical stages of adolescence, according to the late developmental psychologist Erik Erikson.

When students have to wear the same outfits, rather than being allowed to select clothes that suit their body types, they can suffer embarrassment at school. Child and teen development specialist Robyn Silverman says that students, especially girls, tend to compare how each other looks in their uniforms: "As a body image expert, I hear from students all the time that they feel it allows for a lot of comparison... So if you have a body that's a plus-size body, a curvier body, a very tall body, a very short body, those girls often feel that they don't look their best." A study by researchers at Arizona State University found that "students from schools without uniforms reported higher self-perception scores than students from schools with uniform policies." Some students also find uniforms less comfortable than their regular clothes, which may not be conducive to learning.
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Did You Know?

1. The first school district in the United States to require all K-8 students to wear uniforms was Long Beach, CA, in Jan. 1994.

2. Americans spend around $1 billion per year on school uniforms.

3. Students at Eton, one of England's most prestigious schools, were required to wear black top hats and tails on and off campus until 1972.

4. US schools with a minority student population of 50% or more are four times as likely to require uniforms than schools with a minority population of 20-49%, and 24 times more likely than schools with minority populations of 5%-19%.

5. A government agency in Sweden declared that mandatory school uniforms were a human rights violation, stating that students should decide their dress and appearance as "a matter of the individual's freedom and integrity."

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School Uniforms Pros and Cons - 13 Arguments For and Against

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Proponents say uniforms may increase student safety. Opponents say uniforms restrict expression. Explore both sides of the debate.

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Newsela | New Zealand school's gender-neutral uniform choices don't hem students in

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Newsela | School uniform shift in U.K. allows students to express own identity

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Dress code allows both boys and girls to wear pants or skirts

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Washington High School may do away with uniform policy

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Principal tells South Bend school board uniforms may hurt enrollment at struggling high school

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School uniform study: College of Education researchers conduct study on uniform impacts

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Student opinions, discipline referrals and school police data studied

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School uniforms help prevent bullying, making them worthwhile

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Recent studies have shown that school uniforms help the students' school experiences in may ways. They prevent bullying and/or people getting hurt, show children discipline, and help students stay focused. Also, if schools had uniforms it would prepare students for everyday jobs because many jobs today require them.

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A student's opinion on school uniforms varies depending on factors like age, gender, and socio-economic status. While many kids instantly dismiss the idea of school uniforms because they want to be able to choose their own clothes, others point to more compelling reasons, such as gang involvement and school pride, for why they should or shouldn't wear specific clothing.

Disadvantages of School Uniforms

The vast majority of kids don't want to wear school uniforms. According to one districtwide survey in Volusia County, Florida, nearly 70 percent of students said they were against a uniform policy. The reasons why kids don't want to wear school uniforms are diverse, from not wanting to wear ugly school uniforms to wanting more self-expression. Kids' opinions on school uniforms include the following.

School Uniforms Are Ugly

Uniforms don't follow any of the current fashion trends and often they have been the same for generations. Kids feel that uniform colors and styles are too old-fashioned. Young Post, part of an English newspaper in Hong Kong written for and sometimes by kids, offered students a chance to share what they'd change about their school uniforms in 2016 and many said the ugly school uniform style was most in need of help. Savannah, age 13, says "Our uniforms are scratchy, boring, and ugly... I want them to be as nice looking as our casual, everyday clothes."

"I think they SHOULDN'T have to wear uniforms because it makes them insecure" -- Reader comment from Markeya

School Uniforms Restrict Individuality

Kids love to experiment with their clothing and accessories; a student's apparel is an extension of her personality. People say you only get one chance to make a first impression, and for kids, clothing is an important part of that first impression. Kids often feel constricted by the rules and regulations of the classrooms and school uniforms only further emphasize that restricted feeling. As Maryam, age nine points out on Discovery Girls "Sometimes clothes can show your emotions and expression... and you should be happy you're different." Ashley, age thirteen, adds "People should have choices." According to The Comet, many kids feel uniforms limit self-expression. Sophomore student Deandre Jones says: "...everyone should be able to wear what they want."

School Uniforms Are Expensive

One idea advocates for school uniforms push is uniforms save families money. However, kids are quick to point out that they still want to buy stylish clothing to wear outside of school or more unique accessories to wear with their uniforms. This means that students essentially have two wardrobes. If they didn't have uniforms, they could wear a lot of their same clothes to school. On one classroom blog, third-grader Kaitlyn shares how expensive it can be for parents to buy items of clothing that cost around $30-$40 each especially because "kids are sometimes careless with their clothes" and "if they get them stained or dirty, then their parents have to spend more money." Kaitlyn adds "there are never sales" on this type of clothing.

"(Y)eah you can only wear school uniforms in school and nowhere else!" -- Reader comment from ali

Uniforms Aren't Flattering

Uniform requirements often require tucked in shirts for boys and girls and skirts for girls. Some kids feel these styles aren't flattering to certain body types, and they increase students' feelings of insecurity. In a 2016 article for Howler News from Westside High School in Houston, Texas, students share opinions about fashion and school uniforms, including concerns over fit. Miguel comments "When students have to wear the same outfits, rather than being allowed to select clothes that suit their body types, they can suffer embarrassment at school."

Advantages of School Uniforms

There are some students who support the idea of uniforms although they may feel like a minority for their positive opinion on school uniform dress codes. Their reasons for agreeing with the implementation of uniforms include the following.

Uniforms Eliminate Clothing Competition

Kids who wear uniforms don't feel the need to compete with each other on buying the latest, and sometimes most expensive, clothing brands. Irish media outlet TRTE polled viewers on their opinions about school uniforms in 2017 and got a variety of results including several comments about eliminating bullying based on clothing brands. Amelia says, "I think uniforms... help prevent bullying. You are less likely to be teased about the cost or style of your clothes."

Uniforms Eliminate Choices

Some kids love the idea of not having to decide what to wear each day. Instead of spending time putting together outfits, a student simply puts on his uniform. Chant'e Haskins shared her opinion after going from a school with no uniforms to one with uniforms. She says after wearing the uniform for a whole school year she "was so used to wearing the uniform it did not even bother me anymore." Chant'e adds she saved time in the morning by not having to pick out an outfit and was able to customize her look with accessories to keep some individuality.

"Uniforms equalize everyone. There are no hierarchies in the uniform world. That needs to be realized. It makes dressing up more fun after school, too!" -- Reader comment from aja

Uniforms Create Equality

Kids who are proponents of uniforms also point to the fact that everyone looks virtually the same, cutting down on socio-economic cliques throughout the school and helping identify everyone as part of the same student body. Callum from the TRTE poll suggests "... it makes all children equally the same." In the same article, students from Ms. Gill's class add uniforms "... show that everybody goes to the same school, all are included and are a part of the school."

Uniforms Promote Positive Behavior

Proponents suggest kids who wear school uniforms feel more connected to their school, encounter less bullying, and have a more professional attitude. All of these factors contribute to more positive behavior in the school. In one school's online survey, about 25 percent of student respondents said they believe school uniforms would promote positive behavior.

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What Do Kids Think About School Uniforms? | LoveToKnow

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A student's opinion on school uniforms varies depending on factors like age, gender, and socio-economic status. While many kids instantly dismiss the idea ...