The Stream

French schoolboys wear skirts to defy sexism

Students partake in “Skirt Day” despite protests from conservative groups.

In taking a stand against sexism, male students in the French city of Nantes ditched their pants and wore skirts to class on Friday. The “What Raises the Skirt” anti-sexism campaign was launched on Thursday by elected high school student representatives. Twenty-seven schools in the city signed up for the event that was sanctioned by the Ministry of Education. The event took place despite criticism and protest on and off-line from various conservative groups.

Using #JourneeDeLaJupe (Skirt Day), French netizens discussed the controversial campaign.