Melbourne schoolgirls call out sexism as teachers give them detention for their short skirts

High school students have claimed they’re getting detentions over the length of their skirts because they are ‘distracting’ male teachers.

A number of Victorian schools have rules for the girls’ uniforms but not for the boys’ – with punishments for female students on the rise for their short skirts. 

Female students also complained they were being forced to have their skirt lengths checked including making sure they hadn’t been rolled up to look shorter.

Girls from two Victorian high schools claimed they were told to not wear short skirts by school staff because it would make male teachers uncomfortable

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One year 11 girl in a school in Melbourne’s east told the Herald Sun she was slapped with a detention for wearing a skirt that was too short after being pulled out of her class.

‘I was told the reasoning was because it’s ”distracting to the male staff and students”. Then when mum had something to say about it, they told her, ”I can assure you that was never said”,’ she said.

She also said teachers have been turning up winter skirt hems and inspecting tops of girls’ skirts to check if they have been altered. 

A student from another school in the east of Melbourne said a relief teacher told her the length of her skirt was distracting male teachers, causing them to feel uncomfortable. 

‘I told them they shouldn’t be looking but I still got detention,’ she said. 

One student teacher at a school in Melbourne’s north called out the college for the ‘sexism’ she experienced after she said the outfit she wore drew unwanted attention. 

One student claimed teachers have been turning up winter skirt hems and inspecting tops of girls’ skirts to check if they have been altered or rolled up

Three different schools in Victoria have skirt length rules for female students, but no short length regulation for boys. 

A Department of Education and Training spokesperson stated to Daily Mail Australia on behalf of one Melbourne school that policies regarding uniforms for government schools are determined by school councils.

‘They must be consistent with department policies and developed in consultation with school communities,’ their statement read. 

DET policy says it is paramount that schools ‘clearly and regularly communicate uniform policies and expectations to students and families, and how these policies and expectations will be enforced’. 

It also states female students at all Victorian government schools have the option to wear pants and shorts to school throughout the year. 

The criticism came after a Brisbane Catholic school copped flack after students claimed it enforced a strict dress code at its recent Year 12 formal. 

Students were outraged when the Mary MacKillop College requested photos of the girls’ gowns to be approved prior their big formal night.

The school also issued a formal booklet stating strict attire rules and had photographic examples of appropriate and inappropriate dresses.

Plunging necklines, low backs below the waist and high slits were among the banned outfits.

Yet since then online commenters have shown overwhelming support for the dress regulation, saying conservative dresses have more class than ones that look like ‘swimwear’.

Three different schools in Victoria had skirt length rules for female students, but no short length regulation for boys