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Essay / Examining Changes and Gender Issues of School Uniforms later stages of life. A child plays with a toy and a person who played with toys in childhood remembers different toys. Similarly, different objects from childhood have an impact on a person's life later. However, the impact of these objects depends on a socially constructed context which may be based on race or gender. This essay is also based on an object from childhood and its relationship with a socially constructed context that is gender. School uniform is the childhood object chosen for this essay which has been studied and examined in this essay in relation to gender. Usually a child is admitted to school at the age of five and this age reflects an important age in childhood. Additionally, schools have made it compulsory for children to wear uniforms and it is also noted that they are different depending on gender. Therefore, this essay discusses school uniform as an object of childhood and the socially constructed context is that of gender, related to the study of school uniforms. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get the original essayChildhood ObjectSchool Uniform It is noted above that the school uniform has been adopted by schools and has been made compulsory for students admitted to a school. Children come into contact with this object in their lives and they are once confronted with social contexts and an institutional environment. School uniforms have undergone many changes since the 1980s, although the traditional school uniform already existed before the 1980s. However, the nature and style of school uniforms has changed during this period. The difference in the style of the uniform is also significant and the gender aspect is also reflected in the school uniforms. School uniforms are differentiated based on boys and girls as there are different uniforms for both sexes. Therefore, this essay will study the changes in school uniforms and then it will be followed by the socially constructed context for the subject. In this essay, this socially constructed context is gender. Therefore, the essay will study the changes in school uniforms with regard to changes based on gender. Changing school uniform over time In the 1980s, school uniform policies became very flexible and boys and girls had the freedom to choose a flexible uniform code. However, there are differences between girls' and boys' school uniforms. Shirts and polo shirts were common in schools' school uniforms during the decade. Then came the 1990s, when school uniforms were further modified. Polo sweaters were there but pants started being used in gray or black color. Skirts were also popular at school during the decade. Additionally, it was observed at the time that shorts were compulsory in schools despite the fact that students were sometimes not willing to wear shorts. Unfortunately, it was also customary for schools to make the wearing of shorts compulsory during the winter season. Then came the modern era in the 2000s and during this period the uniform was closely monitored in schools and even shoes and other accessories were taken care of by the school administration. Regarding the uniform,At this time, polo shirts and trousers were fashionable for boys and girls, while other schools also adopted other styles and colors of uniforms. Blazers have also been adopted by some schools as they became the norm in modern schools in the 2000s. These are the changes in school uniform over time since the 1980s. It is also noted that the Change was constant and was moving towards more modern and flexible school uniforms for students. There is a gender perspective in school uniform as well as there is a clear difference in uniforms between boys and girls during the periods mentioned above i.e. 1980s, 1990s and 2000s ( ROBERTS, 2018). Today's School Uniform Today, school uniform has changed significantly as the majority of schools have adopted blazers into their school uniform policy and there are more modern styles in student uniforms. It is further considered important that the pace of change in school uniform is mainly for girls as their designs and styles have changed a lot. However, there are controversies in school uniform policies as gender has largely taken precedence over them. In one of the examples at Poynton High School in Cheshire, boys were not allowed to wear shorts even though the temperature was around 90F. It was July when the country was hit by heatwaves, but school uniform policies did not allow boys to wear shorts. On the other hand, girls were allowed to wear skirts to school. This is current news related to school uniform and its relationship with the gender of students. It shows a clear contradiction between boys and girls on the types of school uniforms and also highlights how boys and girls think about their uniforms. Boys took on girls' uniforms to criticize school policy, when apparently boys' shorts and girls' skirts are similar. This is just one example, but it has drawn attention to the socially constructed context of gender around the childhood object of the school uniform. This incident is just one example, but there is growing awareness and belief that boys and girls should wear similar uniforms and there should be no differences in uniforms (MIDDLETON , 2018). Gender and School Uniforms There is a difference between school uniforms for boys and girls and this has been the accepted standard throughout the history of school uniform. It has been noted above that the socially constructed context of gender has been predominant in school uniform policy. A uniform for boys and another for girls creates a context in society in which children perceive differences based on gender. It's the beginning of their lives and they are somewhat unaware of the biological differences between the two sexes, because they notice biological differences when they are adolescents. However, this apparent difference through school uniform has a direct influence on their thinking and perception that boys and girls are different. This is the context that stays in the minds of children from childhood and they begin to perceive and think differently about boys and girls. “In schools, we know that the construction of individual and gender identities affects subject choices and student results” (Eden 2017 page 81). This quote tells you that their interests are related to their gender, for example during playtime they havealways different areas related to their gender, so there will be toys for boys, games, role plays in police stations, etc., and similar things for girls, like toys, games and role playing games for girls in the kitchen. Sometimes this can affect them, because sometimes it can feel like pressure to have to follow their gender. Additionally, this may affect the options available to secondary school pupils for their GCSEs. Boys are perceived to do well in science, so they will choose this field because they might think it is for boys. For girls, they can choose technical subjects like cooking or sewing. A leading physicist blames toys for the gap between boys and girls in science. Ian Sample (2015) states: “We introduce social constructs by stereotyping the toys that boys and girls are given from a young age. “Toys for girls” are generally likely to lead to passivity – combing Barbie’s hair, for example – not building, imagining or being creative with Lego or Meccano. (Sample, 2015:2) This quote tells you that the author blames those who make these different toys for boys and girls, so for example, for girls always get dolls and such. But boys are given a variety of toys including electric, technological and many other things to explore. This is just another example of how boys and girls are treated differently. However, it is important to note that the school uniform is only one object and other objects have their role in the development of socially constructed contexts (Heath, 2016). Girls must wear specific clothing including skirts or other school attire specific to girls. According to a study in the Asia-Pacific Journal of Health, Sport, and Physical Education, girls' specific uniform constitutes a barrier to their physical activity. By the time they enter secondary school, they are less likely to be physically active because their uniform is not suitable for physical activities (Shad, 2017). As a result, recently the Washington government allowed girls to choose shorts or pants if they wish. Then the common uniform for boys and girls is becoming more and more accepted and there should be no difference between the uniforms of the two sexes. When a girl wears shorts or pants from a young age, there is not much physical difference between the two sexes, because both are children and can wear a common uniform. Student rights groups began to raise their voices in favor of the same school uniform for boys and girls. Many surveys show that girls do not consider themselves equal to boys and consider that they are treated differently compared to boys (Wood, 2017). This perception of inequality among girls increases as their age increases. “Unless schools make conscious efforts to intervene, they inevitably perpetuate the assumption that underlies this inequality” (Tutchell 1990, page 80). This quote tells you that they need to stop treating them differently. They don't have to follow their gender to do things and they should just let them do what they want, for example in class they should be able to play freely in mixed activities. Additionally, they must choose the uniform they wish to wear; whatever they feel comfortable with. However, making just one uniform for boys and girls has also raised concerns about its impact on/9037508
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