The hidden cost of school uniforms
Traditional clothing policies could be stopping young girls from leading an active lifestyle, and contributing to the difference in movement habits between girls and boys.
Key Findings
- Girls are less physically active than boys in countries worldwide, often not getting the recommended 60 minutes of daily physical activity.
- Where school uniforms are required, the activity gap between boys and girls increases. This adds weight to previous studies, suggesting gendered clothing policies limit how much girls move.
- Younger students may be more affected than older ones. Children tend to move spontaneously, whereas teens are more likely to plan their exercise, and may change from their daytime uniform into sports clothes.
- Uniforms don’t just impact girls — they also slow down boys. Better uniform designs and materials may help all young people to be more active.
Source*
Ryan, M., Ricardo, L. I. C., Nathan, N., Hofmann, R., & van Sluijs, E. (2024). Are school uniforms associated with gender inequalities in physical activity? A pooled analysis of population-level data from 135 countries/regions. Journal of Sport and Health Science, 13(4), 590–598. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jshs.2024.02.003
*All evidence briefs are informed by one or more peer reviewed research studies. All study publications used to inform this article are listed at the bottom of this brief with links.
What's this about?
School clothing policies may impact younger children more than teens, as primary students tend to engage in more spontaneous movement throughout the day, often in their uniforms.
School uniforms might be holding young girls back when it comes to health, an international study finds.
In primary schools, uniform policies widen the gap in physical activity levels between boys and girls, with girls being less active. Interestingly, boys are also a bit less active in places where uniforms are common.
From the very start of their education, girls tend to be less active than boys. While previous studies have looked at things like break-time play, PE, and sport for answers, the role of uniforms has largely flown under the radar.
To investigate this, University of Cambridge researchers looked at studies from 135 countries to see if uniform policies are linked to the physical activity gender gap.
Their findings reveal that in primary schools, the activity gap is bigger in countries where uniforms are common.
Researchers think that older students might not be as affected, potentially because they get more movement from structured activities like PE and after-school sport, requiring a change of clothes.
Younger students, though, move around more spontaneously throughout the day. Dresses or skirts, which are often used, might stop young girls from climbing, jumping, and engaging in other forms of active play.
It’s worth noting the researchers found that boys are also slightly less active in uniformed settings, suggesting that all students could benefit from a change in traditional clothing policies.
While the researchers found a link, they stress more studies are needed to determine whether specific uniform policies directly influence students' movement habits. They also don't yet know how factors like footwear or fabric affect young people from different backgrounds.
The World Health Organisation recommends students aged 5-17 get at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day, but many fall short. Designing environments that promote movement and removing barriers to physical activity could significantly improve the health and well-being of millions of children worldwide.
Research Toolkit
Researchers investigated the link between school uniforms and physical activity. We report a breakdown of their main findings and some other factors to consider when interpreting these results.
Key Insights
- KEEPING THINGS FAIR
- Girls are less active than boys in places with uniforms. Schools should consider revising uniform policies, allowing movement-friendly clothes for all.
- AGE MATTERS
- Primary schools, take note! Uniforms may impact activity levels more for children under 12, than for older students. Restrictive clothing can limit a kid's natural inclination to jump, climb, tumble, and move.
- IT’S NOT JUST ABOUT GIRLS
- Boys are also less active in uniformed settings, indicating that changes to design could enhance physical activity opportunities for all students, not just girls.
- LOOKING BEYOND UNIFORMS
- Even in non-uniformed settings, girls tend to be less active than boys (though the gap isn't as big). Schools should consider uniform adjustments alongside other measures to promote more physical activity among girls.
What else
- MANY PUZZLE PIECES
- Lots of things affect how much young people move, including their age, interests, and environment. Involving students in discussions about barriers can help create effective school policies that encourage active lifestyles.
- NOT ALL UNIFORMS ARE CREATED EQUAL
- Uniform policies really differ between schools. Factors like design, fit, fabric, footwear, and even colour, could all impact movement habits.
- WIDER BENEFITS
- As schools integrate more active lessons, energisers, and brain breaks into their curricula, thoughtful uniform design could increase the effectiveness of various physical activity initiatives.
- AFTER THE BELL RINGS
- Remember that uniforms might affect how much students move long after the school day finishes. They could affect choices about active travel and after-school activities.
Related Topics
- School uniforms
- Physical activity
- Primary school
- Secondary school
- Gender
- Inequalities
