IMAGINING OTHERWISE: SCHOOL UNIFORMS The unification of children’s school clothing as a way to equalize the student-teacher interactions between male and female students

Linda B. Reilly: Gender Specific Aspects of Children's Clothing and Teacher-Student Interaction “effect of the gender specific aspects of a child's clothing and a child's sex on the type of interaction that occurred between the child and the teacher” (Reilly, pg. 3). Hypothesis: male and female students dressed in unisex attire would receive more positive interactions Previous research: Clarken 1995: expectations that teacher have for male students positively affects their career goals and academic success Limited interactions with female students negatively affects their learning opportunities Reilly wanted to test the interactions between students and teachers based on clothing choice

Experimental Methods Stratified group of second grade students dressed in four different categories: Unisex Minimally gender specific Moderately gender specific Extremely gender specific Interactions included: Positive interactions: verbal/physical, positive attitude of teacher or acknowledgement of student Negative interactions: negative attitude of the teacher

Results Behavior differences in the teacher in relation to the student are related to gender AND the type of clothing worn by the student The main characteristic to which teacher reacted to was gender, but teachers showed more reproof (criticism of a fault) to children who were dressed in the extremely gendered outfits (i.e. pink ruffles for girls and military fatigue for boys) (Reilly, Pg. 11). “The children dressed in the unisex clothing received the most total and positive interactions” (Reilly, pg. 12). Teacher/student interaction is crucial to creating a good learning environment

My Project Based on Reilly’s data, unisex outfits benefit the student in relation to the student/teacher interactions Unisex uniforms

The Shirt:

The Pants:

The Shoes:

Accessories: Hair rubber bands, uncolored No make-up No jewelry Black/white socks Every item would have to be size appropriate