MY DAUGHTERS STORY

My daughters attend a Queensland public high school in Brisbane. They are permitted to wear shorts on sports days (usually one day per week) but MUST wear a skirt as part of their formal uniform at all other times. Pants are an approved school uniform item for winter for both boys and girls however shorts are not permitted during the warmer months unless you are a boy.

My daughters, like many other girls, simply want the choice to wear either a skirt or shorts (culottes). Culottes give girls the freedom to move without embarrassment, whilst still giving the appearance of looking formal.

"Why can't I wear shorts like the boys?".

"Just because I am a girl I have to wear a skirt?". 

GIRLS ARE ACTIVE TOO
Skirts disadvantage girls like my daughters who want to play footy, soccer, run, climb and ride a bike to school. The boys get to wear shorts which facilitate these activities far better than a skirt. I won't stand for a policy that only encourages and promotes girls to be active on sports days (at my daughters school this is usually once per week). What about the rest of the time?

The Australian Government recently launched a new campaign prompted by alarming research showing girls are only half as active as their male peers by the time they become teenagers. This campaign called “Girls Make Your Move” http://www.health.gov.au/internet/girlsmove/publishing.nsf/Content/home is a fantastic initiative. However it flies in the face of our young girls who are forced to wear limiting skirts that risk bearing their underwear should they want to be active like their male peers.

GENDER DISCRIMINATION
It seems pretty clear to me that anti-discrimination legislation is in breach when schools can so blatantly enforce that girls must wear a skirt when there are other options available to other students in the same school (i.e. the boys get to wear shorts).

UNIFORM GENDER EQUALITY NEEDS TO BE RECOGNISED
The purpose of this petition is to bring awareness to the CSHS P&C Association who can then act on bringing forth changes for uniform gender equality. The CSHS P&C Association enjoys a productive and successful partnership with the school believing that when parents/carers and the wider community share the school’s vision, success will follow.

ALL schools that require students to wear a uniform MUST offer options that don't discriminate based on gender. What is offered to one student should be offered to all. So for my daughters if they want to wear a skirt they can but they are not forced to. If they want to wear shorts (culottes) they have the choice (not just on sports days). 

PROPOSED UNIFORM CHANGE                                                                         Give all girls the option of either the existing skirt or navy culottes as part of the Formal Uniform at centenary State High School.

PLEASE SIGN AND SHARE, SHARE, SHARE! #girlswearshortstoo 
My daughters will appreciate your support - as I'm sure generations of children will in the future. #girlswearshortstoo