No, This Photo Does Not Show Scottish Students Being Forced to Wear Skirts to Promote Gender Equality
The Claim
The photo shows students protesting being forced by their school in Scotland to wear skirts to promote gender equality.
News posted on
Emerging story
Accounts and pages on social media have recently circulated a photo allegedly showing students being forced at one of Scotland’s schools to wear skirts to promote gender equality.
Misbar’s Analysis
Misbar investigated the circulated claim and found it misleading. The video clip does not show students in Scotland being forced by their school administration to wear skirts to promote gender equality. It also dates back to earlier than claimed. The photo first appeared online in June 2017 when students at Isca Academy, based in the UK’s Exeter City, protested the academy’s insistence on students not to wear shorts despite the worst heat wave to hit Europe since 1976. The academy had later announced that it understands students’ concerns and is reconsidering its uniform policy. The academy also justified its position by stating that it did not want to change uniform policy without first consulting students and their parents.
According to the UK government's website, the educational system in the UK prohibits "discrimination on the basis of sex, race, disability, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief." Additionally, it states that "the head teacher has the authority to discipline your child for failing to wear the school uniform. If your child repeatedly violates the uniform rules, he or she may be suspended or expelled."
Translated by: Ahmed N. A. Almassri
