Schoolboys defy critics and wear skirts to class

Schoolboys in the western French city of Nantes took a stand against sexism on Friday by ditching their trousers and donning skirts for the day. The day of action has provoked outrage from conservative groups who plan to protest. Here's some images ofthe initiative.
Male pupils in Nantes ignored the controversy that their stunt had provoked among conservatives and donned skirts for their day of action to promote equality on Friday.
The event, backed by education chiefs, prompted protests from anti-gay marriage group Manif pour Tous on Thursday and more protests are planned on Friday.
However the furore and the nationwide headlines it has provoked did not put of dozens of boys from attending city's Clemenceau high-school in skirts. As seen in these images below.

(Schoolboys cross the road in skirts outside the Lycée Clemenceau. Photo: AFP)
@aureliamoussly: Filles et garçons en #jupe ce matin au lycée Clemenceau de #Nantes pour lutter contre le sexisme pic.twitter.com/6Qrf5FTsCT
— Aurélia Moussly (@aureliamoussly) May 16, 2014
Se mettre en jupe pour dénoncer le sexisme: des lycéens nantais ont osé ce matin au Lycée Clémenceau pic.twitter.com/6wpY7chCSE
— Alexandra Turcat (@alexandraturcat) May 16, 2014
Lycée Clemenceau Nantes:plusieurs garçons en jupe pour montrer leur soutien à la lutte contre le sexisme . pic.twitter.com/WFqPrf4QcH
— Metronews Nantes (@MetroNantes) May 16, 2014
Des lycéens en #jupe contre le sexisme pour la #JourneeDeLaJupe pic.twitter.com/FY9zPNiSRM (via @LeNouvelObs )
— Charles Meiller (@CharlesMeiller) May 16, 2014
And here is a short video from AFP with interviews of the young men who donned skirts. The interviews are in French without subtitles.
There were tense scenes outside a school in the centre of Nantes, western France, on Thursday, when around 200 supporters of the right-wing group Manif Pour Tous turned up to protest against the stunt.
The protest was organized soon after it emerged that education authorities in Nantes has invited boys to wear skirts to classes in 27 high schools as part of an anti-sexism day designed to promote equality in schools.
The thought of schoolboys wearing skirts has not been welcomed by the Manif pour Tous group, which led the protests against gay marriage back in 2013.
Protesters believe the initiative is concealing the fact that gender theory – the belief that children’s gender is not fixed at birth – is going to be taught in French schools.
See Also
Male pupils in Nantes ignored the controversy that their stunt had provoked among conservatives and donned skirts for their day of action to promote equality on Friday.
The event, backed by education chiefs, prompted protests from anti-gay marriage group Manif pour Tous on Thursday and more protests are planned on Friday.
However the furore and the nationwide headlines it has provoked did not put of dozens of boys from attending city's Clemenceau high-school in skirts. As seen in these images below.
(Schoolboys cross the road in skirts outside the Lycée Clemenceau. Photo: AFP)
@aureliamoussly: Filles et garçons en #jupe ce matin au lycée Clemenceau de #Nantes pour lutter contre le sexisme pic.twitter.com/6Qrf5FTsCT
— Aurélia Moussly (@aureliamoussly) May 16, 2014
Se mettre en jupe pour dénoncer le sexisme: des lycéens nantais ont osé ce matin au Lycée Clémenceau pic.twitter.com/6wpY7chCSE
— Alexandra Turcat (@alexandraturcat) May 16, 2014
Lycée Clemenceau Nantes:plusieurs garçons en jupe pour montrer leur soutien à la lutte contre le sexisme . pic.twitter.com/WFqPrf4QcH
— Metronews Nantes (@MetroNantes) May 16, 2014
Des lycéens en #jupe contre le sexisme pour la #JourneeDeLaJupe pic.twitter.com/FY9zPNiSRM (via @LeNouvelObs )
— Charles Meiller (@CharlesMeiller) May 16, 2014
And here is a short video from AFP with interviews of the young men who donned skirts. The interviews are in French without subtitles.
There were tense scenes outside a school in the centre of Nantes, western France, on Thursday, when around 200 supporters of the right-wing group Manif Pour Tous turned up to protest against the stunt.
The protest was organized soon after it emerged that education authorities in Nantes has invited boys to wear skirts to classes in 27 high schools as part of an anti-sexism day designed to promote equality in schools.
The thought of schoolboys wearing skirts has not been welcomed by the Manif pour Tous group, which led the protests against gay marriage back in 2013.
Protesters believe the initiative is concealing the fact that gender theory – the belief that children’s gender is not fixed at birth – is going to be taught in French schools.
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.
Please log in here to leave a comment.