Dunedin North Intermediate, a primary school in Dunedin, New Zealand, has abolished gendered school uniforms in an effort to avoid stereotyping.
It all started in 2016 when female students complained about having to wear kilts. Teachers decided the girls would be allowed to wear trousers, but it prompted teasing for any girl who was dressed "like a boy", so head teacher Heidi Hayward decided to create five gender-neutral uniform options.
Students at DNI can wear shorts, long pants, a kilt, long trousers and culottes, and are able to choose any of the options no matter their gender.
"The decision was really simple and has caused no significant issues," Hayward told BuzzFeed News. "We have simply removed the labels 'boys and girls' and said, 'these are the uniform options, pick what feels most comfortable for you'."
People online are applauding the school's decision.
Well done kids at Dunedin North Intermediate. https://t.co/lW9apwxlNi
Take a bow Dunedin North Intermediate. #Dunedin #WearWhatYouWant https://t.co/5oCzaYMbqu
DNI school has stopped the gender uniforms and it makes me so happy that you don't have to wear a specific uniform for your gender. One +
This's the best thing I've heard in weeks- school changes uniform rules to be inclusive/practical WITHOUT PROMPTING. https://t.co/GbS09bqUeA
"Last year I had a couple of kids who challenged me. They said: 'Why do we have to wear kilts? You can wear pants. Why can't we?' That seemed pretty logical to me," Hayward told The Otago Daily Times.
"It was 2016 and I thought it was odd that we still have these stereotypes."