Index Change of Childhood Object in School Uniform over Time Current School Uniform Gender and School Uniforms Conclusion References Childhood Objects Connect Something Special with a person in later stages of life. A child plays with a toy, and several toys are remembered by a person who played with toys in childhood. Likewise, there are several objects in childhood that impact a person's life in later life. However, the impact of these objects depends on the socially constructed context which could be based on race or gender. This essay is also based on a childish object and its relationship with a socially constructed context that is gender. The school uniform is the child object selected 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. Furthermore, schools have made it mandatory for children to wear uniforms and it is also noted that they are different based on gender. Therefore, this essay discusses school uniform as a child object and the socially constructed context is gendered, related to the study of school uniforms. We say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get Original EssayChildhood ObjectSchool Uniform It is noted above that school uniform has been adopted by schools and has been made compulsory for students gaining admission in school. Children come into contact with this object in their lives and come into contact with this object when facing social contexts and an institutional environment. School uniforms have seen many changes since the 1980s, although traditional school uniforms existed even before the 1980s. However, the nature and style of school uniforms changed over the period. The difference in uniform style is also important, and the gender appearance is also reflected in school uniforms. School uniforms are differentiated between boys and girls because there are different uniforms for both genders. Therefore, this essay will study the changes that have occurred in school uniforms and then will be followed by the socially constructed context for the object. In this essay, this socially constructed context is gender. Therefore, the essay will study changes in school uniforms versus gender-based changes. Changes in school uniform over time In the 1980s, uniform policies by schools became very flexible, and boys and girls had the freedom to choose a flexible uniform code. However, there were differences between girls' and boys' school uniforms. Polo shirts and sweaters were common in school uniforms in schools during the decade. Then came the 1990s, when school uniforms changed even further. There were polo sweaters, but trousers began to be used in gray or black color. Skirts were also popular in school during the decade. Furthermore, during that time it was observed that shorts were mandatory in schools despite the fact that students were sometimes unwilling to wear shorts. Unfortunately, it was also common for schools to make wearing shorts mandatory during the winter season. Then came the modern era in the 2000s and during this time the uniform was monitored closely in schools and the footwear and other accessories also received attentionby the school administration. As for the uniform, polo sweaters and trousers were in use for boys and girls in this period while other schools also adopted other styles and colors of uniform. 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 has been constant and has been towards more modern and flexible types of school uniforms for students. There is also a gender perspective on school uniform because there is a clear difference between boys' and girls' uniforms during the above-mentioned periods, i.e. the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s (ROBERTS, 2018). Current School Uniform Nowadays, school uniform has changed significantly as most schools have adopted blazers into their school uniform policy and there are more modern styles in student uniforms. It is also considered important that the pace of change in school uniform has been mainly aimed at girls as their designs and styles have changed a lot. However, there are controversies over school uniform policies because the gender aspect has heavily prevailed over them. In one of the examples that happened at Poynton High School in Cheshire, kids were not allowed to wear shorts while the temperature was around 90F. It was the month of July when the country was hit by heat waves, but school uniform policies did not allow boys to wear shorts. In contrast, girls were allowed to wear skirts to school. This is current news related to school uniform and its relationship to student gender. It shows a clear contradiction between boys and girls regarding the type of school uniform and also highlights the way boys and girls think about their uniforms. The boys took the girls' uniforms to criticize school policy, while the boys' shorts and skirts are apparently similar to each other. This is just one example, but it has drawn attention to the socially constructed gender context around this childish object, for example the school uniform. This incident is just one, but there is growing awareness and thinking that boys and girls should have similar uniforms and there should be no differences in terms of uniforms (MIDDLETON, 2018). Gender and School Uniforms There is a difference between school uniforms for boys and girls and has been accepted as the norm throughout the history of school uniforms. It has been noted above that the socially constructed gender context has been prevalent in school uniform policy. One uniform for boys and another uniform for girls create a context in society where children perceive differences based on gender. It is the beginning of their life and they are a little unaware of the biological differences between the two sexes as they notice the biological differences when they are in their teenage years. However, this apparent difference through school uniform directly influences their thinking and perception that boys and girls are different. This is the context that remains in children's minds from childhood and they begin to perceive and think about boys and girls differently. “Within the school environment, we know that the construction of individual and gender identities influences subject choices and pupil outcomes” (Eden 2017 page 81). This quote tells you that their interests are related to their gender, for example during the game they always have some different areas related to their gender, so there will be toys for boys, games, role playing in police stations and soaway, and similar things for girls, such as toys for girls, games and role-playing games in the kitchen. Sometimes it might affect them because sometimes it might feel like pressure to have to follow their gender. It can also influence the options for secondary school pupils for their GCSEs. Boys are believed to do well in science, so they will choose this because they might think it is for boys. For girls they can choose technical subjects such as cooking or sewing. An eminent physicist blames toys for the gap between boys and girls in science. Ian Sample, (2015) states: “We introduce social constructs by stereotyping what toys boys and girls receive from an early age. "Girls' toys" are generally likely to lead to passivity - combing Barbie's hair, for example - not building, imagining or being creative with Legos or Meccano. (Example, 2015: 2) This quote tells you that the author blames those who make these toys different for boys and girls, so for example for girls always get dolls and the like. But boys get a variety of toys including electric, technological and other things to explore. This is just another example that shows 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 which includes skirts or any other girls specific school attire. It has been studied by the Asia-Pacific Journal of Health, Sport, and Physical Education that girls' specific uniform poses a barrier to their physical activity. When they enter high 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 WA Government has allowed girls to choose shorts or trousers if they wish. Then there is a growing acceptance of the common uniform for boys and girls and there should be no difference between the uniforms of both sexes. When a girl wears shorts or pants in her early age, there is not much physical difference between the two genders because both are children and can wear a common uniform. Student rights groups have begun to speak out in favor of the same school uniforms for boys and girls. There are many surveys that show that girls do not consider themselves equal to boys and feel that they are treated differently than 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 underlying assumptions of 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 should just let them go and do what they want, for example in class, they should have free play in mixed gender activities. Additionally, they should choose the uniform they wish to wear; whatever they feel comfortable with. However, making one uniform for boys and girls has also raised concerns about its impact on inclusivity and freedom of choice because, for boys, only one uniform for both genders would limit choices (Bergman, 2017). However, it is important to note that school uniforms have seen many changes from the 1980s to today; it will be the same for both sexes. This implies that school uniform has an impact on both genders and also creates a socially constructed context. Here/9037508